Announcing UAIR Executive Director

Dear colleagues,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Francisco Ramos as the new executive director of University Analytics and Institutional Research, effective Dec. 15. 

Dr. Ramos is a strategic data and research leader with more than a decade of experience advancing organizational learning and impact through analytics, data strategy, mixed-methods research and evaluation, and cross-campus collaboration.

Most recently, he served as director of Data Science and Analytics at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, where he led the enterprise data strategy and launched a Data Science Research and Analysis unit that served as a hub for analytics and institutional insight. His work blends mixed-methods research, predictive analytics, and data governance to translate complex information into actionable insights that guide strategic decision making.

Previously at Duke University, Dr. Ramos served as assistant dean of Assessment and Evaluation, leading analytics, evaluation, and accreditation efforts for more than 100 academic programs. He designed and implemented the Graduate Pathways System, a university-wide platform that tracks the educational and career trajectories of all Ph.D. and master’s students and co-authored a Sloan Foundation grant that established the University Center of Exemplary Mentoring, advancing inclusion in graduate education and strengthening student support systems.

A native of West Texas, Dr. Ramos holds a B.A. from the Honors Program at the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in social sciences from Indiana University. He completed both predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania. His work centers on cultivating data cultures rooted in trust, transparency, and impact, where analytics strengthens decision-making and the communities it serves.
I am grateful for your dedication and resilience during this period of leadership transition. I would like to extend sincere appreciation to UAIR leadership team members Eddie Caratachea, Mark Ray, Ashley Hurand, Shiva Chidara and Doug Hester for their steady guidance and continued support of the department’s important work.

Please join me in extending a warm Wildcat welcome to Dr. Ramos. He will work remotely through the end of the calendar year and will join us on campus in January. I look forward to his leadership and working together to advance the mission of the department and the university.

Warm regards,

Jenna Rickus
Senior Vice Provost

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