Published February 6, 2018 This content is archived.
Each month, we'll introduce you to an interesting member of the Professional Staff Senate. This month's featured member is Rachel Link, Research Analyst with the Office of Institutional Analysis.
I started at UB in the Office of Institutional Analysis as a Research Analyst in January 2013.
Every day is different! In Institutional Analysis, I have the opportunity to work on a variety of interesting and engaging projects and interact with individuals from all parts of the university community. Providing information and analysis for decision support and the energetic environment in our office makes working here fun.
Too many ideas and not enough time to accomplish them all. Sometimes, a project request opens up possibilities to explore related ideas or solve other problems, and there's not always enough time to explore all of the interesting questions that arise.
I'm proud of the many data visualizations I've built, in particular ones utilizing UB admissions data and the National Student Clearinghouse, to perform marketing analysis for various programs, identify competitors and see where undergraduates go on to seek advanced degrees. These tools allow users to really drill down into the data and discover patterns and insights that aren't always readily apparent. I've also done a lot of work with various college rankings to predict where UB might be positioned in the future, given what we know today, as well as assessing our performance compared to peers.
While our office is the source for official data, we also do a great deal of strategic planning, predictive modeling and comparative analysis. If you need information about students or faculty, help with a survey or data analysis, we are here for you.
Take advantage of all UB has to offer! There are so many exciting events happening on campus, from speakers to training sessions to art exhibits. I am a big user of the libraries here and also like to attend concerts and lectures.
I am a distance runner and have completed three marathons and an ultramarathon in the last two years. Running is my time to think about projects and work through problems. I also like to read, especially non-fiction, watch documentaries and spend time outdoors.
I enjoy cooking Spanish food, especially paellas.
Hawaii has been my dream vacation spot for many years.
I made it to the final round of the Jeopardy tryouts, but didn't make it to TV. It was still a great experience!
Did you know there are special offers and promotions for PSS members? Find out more!