How do you go from a drum major to a Vice President? In this episode of Data Stakes, host Debbie Phelps sits down with Dr. Melanie Jenkins-Simpson, the Associate Vice President of Institutional Research at the University of Alabama, to map out the road to leadership in higher education.

Together, they explore the evolution of the Institutional Research (IR) field—from printing spreadsheets on green bar paper to the modern demands of data science and business analytics. Dr. Jenkins-Simpson shares her personal journey and offers actionable advice for professionals at every stage of their career, emphasizing that while technical skills get you in the door, soft skills and "staying in the know" help you rise.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Educational Path: Which degrees matter most for leadership (and why Computer Science is the new frontier).
• Soft Skills for Data Pros: Why a sense of humor, communication skills, and policy interpretation are just as vital as statistics.
• Professional Development: How to utilize resources from the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) and the importance of volunteering.
• Navigating Change: Preparing for the "enrollment cliff" and the future of data governance.

Join us to learn how you can carve out your own path and become a legend in the data field.