For the past five years, the Data Foundation and George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration has invited the academic community, policy-makers and -influencers, practitioners, and data scientists to present examples and use cases where the public and private sectors are successfully using data and evidence to improve decision-making.

This year's symposium marks an important milestone as we revisit select presentations from previous years to evaluate their long-term impact. Our focus will be on four key areas:

• Examining which data-driven approaches yielded measurable results and sustainable improvements
• Exploring successful models of public-private sector collaboration in data sharing and analysis
• Identifying practical frameworks for implementing evidence-based and data-informed decision making within government institutions
• Evaluating governance mechanisms for responsible data use that balance innovation with privacy protections and appropriate standards for data stewardship

The symposium aims to build upon our collective knowledge, share best practices, and strengthen the data community's capacity to drive meaningful improvements in governance and policy implementation. By reviewing past successes and challenges, we can help identify forward-looking strategies that can further advance the use of data as a cornerstone of effective decision-making.

Presentations

Real-World Projects Utilizing Administrative Data: "Show and Tell" (2024)

• Matt Berry, Ph.D., Executive Director, Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS)
• Yvette Chocolaad, Senior Policy Advisor and Managing Director, Multi-State Data Collaboratives, NASWA
• Cynthia Forland, Ph.D., State Engagement and Special Projects, Multi-State Data Collaboratives, NASWA
• Ewa Gallagher, Ph.D., Research Economist, Illinois Department of Employment Security
• Ellie Hartman, Ph.D., Chief Evaluation Officer, Workforce Data Integration, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
• Bryan Huebsch, Chief Data Officer, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
• Stephanie Walsh, Ph.D., Assistant Director and Director of the New Jersey Statewide Data System, John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, Rutgers University's Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

Transforming Community Hazard Mitigation Planning with Generative AI: The PARC Pilot by FEMA (2024)

• Brian Burdi, Data Scientist, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Daisy Henderson, Digital Services Exepert, United States Digital Services (USDS)

Best Practices for Monitoring and Evaluating the ARP, IIJA and Other Programs: Report of the Department of Commerce Data Governance Working Group (2022)

• Whitney Duffey Jones, Chief of Staff, U.S. Census Bureau
• Ron Jarmin, Ph.D., Acting Director, U.S. Census Bureau
• Carla Medalia, Ph.D., Senior Technical Advisor to the Chief Scientist, U.S. Census Bureau
• Ben Page, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development and Chief Operating Officer, Economic Development Administration
• Ryan Smith, Policy Advisor for the Office of Regional Affairs, Economic Development Administration
• Oliver Wise, Chief Data Officer and Acting Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, U.S. Department of Commerce

Education Research-Practice Partnerships: Innovative Structures to Build and Use Evidence (2022)

• Rachel Anderson, Director, Policy and Research Strategy, Data Quality Campaign

Improving Morbidity and Mortality Reporting for Large Scale Epidemics and Natural Disasters (2021)

• Maureen Lichtveld, MD, MPH, Dean Graduate School of Public Health and Jonas Salk Chair in Population Health, University of Pittsburgh
• Charles Rothwell, former Director of the National Center for Health Statistics
• Michael A. Stoto, Ph.D., Professor of Health Systems Administration and Population Health, Georgetown University
• WC (Craig) Vanderwagen, MD, Former Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Matthew Wynia, MD, MPH, Director of the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities