Veteran Institutional Research Professional to Lead Data-Driven Initiatives and Accreditation Efforts
Tacoma, WA — University of Puget Sound will welcome Kevin Riordan as director of institutional research, effective Sept. 4, 2024. Riordan brings a wealth of experience in institutional research and assessment to Puget Sound, having spent 25 years in the field.
Riordan joins Puget Sound from South Suburban College in Illinois, where he served as director of institutional research. In this role, he built an entire department from the ground up, developed new methods for assessing student learning, and created the college’s first data warehouse system. His accomplishments include leading successful accreditation teams and securing nearly $3 million in grants. Prior to his role at South Suburban College, Riordan held positions at Governors State University and Loyola University Chicago.
Riordan holds a B.B.A. in Economics and an M.A. in Research Methodologies from Loyola University Chicago, as well as an Ed.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He has taught mathematics, statistics, probability, and managerial statistics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Additionally, he is a certified online instructor with experience developing online curricula for these subjects.
"I am very excited to have Kevin join the academic leadership team here at Puget Sound,” said Provost Drew Kerkhoff. “Institutional research is at the center of how we learn and improve as an institution of higher education, and Kevin brings to his role not just a wealth of experience and expertise, but a friendly, collaborative attitude and an earnest commitment to the principles of a liberal arts education."
In his new role, Riordan plans to focus on university accreditation, official Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) reporting, course evaluation, and data governance.
“Institutional Research is a vital component of identifying how successful the administration, staff, and faculty are with respect to the university’s mission and goals,” Riordan said. “As a partner to others, IR can help to provide context and nuance to every strategic decision and create better cultures of assessment and data literacy. As a voice and champion for student success, IR will make the university more aware of its strengths and can help make improvements where needed. Ultimately, this will translate into improved student outcomes and an even greater and more inclusive atmosphere.”
Riordan was chosen through a highly competitive national search. The search committee includes:
- Gareth Barkin, sociology and anthropology professor, and dean of Operations & Technology — chair
- Debbie Chee, associate dean of students and director of residence life
- Jake Harrison '22, lead institutional research analyst and developer
- Maggie Mittuch, associate vice president for Student Financial Services
- Michael Pastore, registrar
- Kristen Spiese ’92, director for Enterprise Applications
Riordan loves Greek and Roman literature, photography, and traveling to new places. His dream is to visit Australia and New Zealand. Riordan says he looks forward to moving to Tacoma to take in all the lovely sites surrounding the Puget Sound campus.
The Office of Institutional Research supports institutional management, planning, and decision-making by providing reports about Puget Sound’s students, faculty and staff, instructional activities, and finances. The office’s responsibilities include developing and reporting assessment studies on students’ college experiences and educational outcomes, producing strategic indicators for Puget Sound and its comparison institutions, maintaining Sound Reports, providing internal reporting on admission, financial aid, and tracking student demographics, instructional workload, retention, and graduation statistics.
