Meet Our Staff
Katy Casey, Ph.D.
Director of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Planning
Email: caseyk@uww.edu
Katy Casey received her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2009. That same year, she started at UW-Whitewater as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education. In 2017, she started as Assistant Dean in the College of Education and Professional Studies. Her professional interests include program assessment and teacher attrition. As Assistant Dean, she supported programs in creating assessment plans, strategic planning, meeting Department of Public Instruction licensure requirements, and chaired the College Curriculum Committee. Currently she serves as the Co-Chair for the 2023-2028 Stratigic Planning Team and oversees the university Higher Learning Commission accreditation audit process.
Research and Policy
The Research and Policy area is responsible for supporting institutional decisions and policy formation by providing data and analytics needed for data-driven decision making. This includes management of ad-hoc research projects related to student success and routine institutional reports, and completion of external surveys related to outcome mesaures.
Jess Clayton, Ph.D.
Assistant Director of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Planning
Email: claytonj@uww.edu
Dr. Jess Clayton joined UW-Whitewater in 2016. Prior to joining the university, she spent four years working at the Graduate School at UW-Madison supporting the professional development initiatives. As a member of the Research and Policy team within the office, Jess is responsible for managing the administration and reporting of university administered student surveys, collaborating with other offices on campus to use data for improved student success, and data reporting for external surveys. Jess received both her M.S. and Ph.D. in Political Science with a focus on International Relations from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, as well as an MSc from the London School of Economic and Political Science in the Political Economy of European Integration. She is also the co-author and editor of a textbook on European integration entitled: The Student's Guide to European Integration (Polity Press, 2004).
Data Management and Reporting
The Data Management and Reporting area supports the office through ad-hoc reporting, development of data models to support routine and special-project needs including regulatory and compliance requirements, involvement with campus data governance, and involvement with software used for data management such as databases/data warehouses, Tableau server administration, and software for analytics, data visualizations, and online surveys. In addition, this area is responsible for university data submission to UW System, including completion of data edits and verifications.
Becky Jones 
Institutional Data Analyst
Email: JonesRL@uww.edu
Becky has worked at UW-Whitewater since 2009 - holding prior positions within Andersen Library, ICIT, and Academic Assessment. She earned a BA with a double major in Art/Graphic Design and Print Journalism from UW-W, and a master's degree in Library and Information Studies (MLIS) from the University of Alabama. Becky serves as chair of the Academic Staff Assembly (2023-24) and is a member of the Enrollment Management Committee, Chancellor’s Leadership Council, and the Strategic Planning & Budget Committee.
Data, Analysis, and Accountability
The Data, Analysis, and Accountability responsibilities include data reporting and analysis in select data domains, data verification and integrity, peer and benchmark reporting, expertise regarding accountability measures, survey completion including US News and World Report, Common Data Set, guidebook surveys, consortium data submissions, IPEDS surveys, and coordination of UW System surveys.
Laura VanDerLinden 
Institutional Research Analyst
Email: Vanderll@uww.edu
Laura joined UW-Whitewater in 2021. She holds a B.S. in Statistics from UW-La Crosse and a M.Ed. from Marquette University. Laura brings a wide variety of experiences in higher education and academic affairs including IR, advising, learning support, departmental support and teaching.
Project Coordinator
This position provides administrative assistance and support to the Office of Institutional Research and Planning, reporting to Chief of Institutional Research and Planning. The incumbent supports the work of all staff members within the office and manages office tasks. Support includes office/budget management, travel arrangement and purchasing, scheduling and committee support, project management and support, and website maintenance.
Yadira Foulker
Project Coordinator for the offices of Academic Assessment and Institutional Research
Email: Foulkery@uww.edu
Yadira joined the team in the summer of 2022 and she is currently pursuing her B.A. at UW-Whitewater in Spanish with a minor in Latinx/ Latin American Studies. Yadira serves as project coordinator for and provides support with a skill set developed from working for private corporations as well as community-based nonprofits. In her position she supports processess such as Audit and Review with logistcal support and day to day office opperations.