2026 Keynote Speaker: Carolyn Sloane Mata
Carolyn Sloane Mata, Ph.D., is the Coordinator of Data and Research for South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, Inc., and a higher education consultant working mostly with private, not-for-profit colleges and their state associations (GA, LA, NC, OR, SC and TX). Bringing 20 years of higher education experience as a faculty member, college administrator, and association executive, her expertise lies in the areas of policy, institutional research, and institutional effectiveness. She has served on the NCES National Postsecondary Education Cooperative for IPEDS and Sample Surveys, served as moderator for the NCES IPEDS TRPs, and has been a National IPEDS Educator since 2016 where she develops, revises and leads many of the AIR workshops.
Keynote Session: “The Data Whisperers: Elevating IR/IE in Uncertain Times”
In a time when higher education is navigating political crosswinds, funding pressures, and shifting public trust, the work of institutional research/institutional effectiveness has never been more critical—or more misunderstood. This session will explore the emerging trends reshaping the landscape, from the erosion of trust in data to the growing need for clear, concise, and compelling storytelling.
We’ll tackle big questions:
- Why does IR/IE so often feel invisible—until someone wants numbers, fast?
- How do we help demonstrate our effectiveness in a landscape that feels everchanging?
- How do we stay agile in environments where advocacy feels risky and data infrastructure feels fragile?
- What does it mean to do “good enough” analysis in a world of imperfect data and tight timelines?
Through real-world examples and candid reflections from her work with colleges nationwide, Carrie will challenge IR/IE professionals to step beyond compliance and into impact—to ask better questions, ground their work in purpose, and reclaim the narrative. Whether you’re answering a legislator’s call or informing your campus’s next big move, this session is a call to action for IR/IE to lead with clarity, courage, and strategy.
2026 Plenary Speaker: Christopher Robinson
Christopher Robinson, Ph.D., is the data manager and assistant director in the Office of Information Technology and Data Analysis at the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Christopher has been with the Commission since the fall of 2018. In addition to assisting with the CHEMIS data collection, he serves as the coordinator for uploading CHEMIS data into IPEDS, the SREB Data Exchange, and PSEO, while also leading the CHE Data Team. One of his primary projects since 2024 has been working on the CHEMIS 2.0 data migration. He holds a M.A. degree from Georgia State University and a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina.
Plenary Session: “An Introduction to CHEMIS 2.0”
The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (SC CHE) is excited to announce our new data system (CHEMIS 2.0) is tentatively scheduled to go live in August 2026. This presentation is an introduction to CHEMIS 2.0 that covers general changes to data reporting as well as highlighting new functionality data reporters will gain access too. Topics presented will be relevant to all CHEMIS data reporters. Join us in this discussion on CHE data collection moving into the 21st century!
