Improving student outcomes

Dr. Angela Baldasare, Founder and Principal
Wonk Research + Consulting

Dr. Angela Baldasare, founder and principal of Wonk Research + Consulting, is a researcher and strategist who helps organizations of all kinds effectively use data to achieve measurable outcomes. Prior to forming her own business, Angela was a principal consultant at Civitas Learning, where she conducted original research and provided strategic guidance on analytics and student success to colleges and universities across the country. With a PhD in sociology, she has always been interested in helping people understand and use data to effect meaningful change. From 2014 to 2018, she served as the assistant provost for institutional research at the University of Arizona, where her work helped improve student outcomes and ultimately earn the school double-digit gains in national college rankings.

Angela started her career as an assistant professor at the University of Dayton and then spent 10 years consulting on public health, human services, and justice projects for the Arizona Governor’s Office, U.S. Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Dr. Melissa Vito, Vice Provost for Academic Innovation
University of Texas at San Antonio

Dr. Melissa Vito is a recognized higher education leader with over 35 years of experience in public higher education and consulting. She served as both Senior Vice President for Enrollment and Student Affairs and Senior Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives and Student Success at the University of Arizona, retiring in July of 2018. She is currently Interim Vice Provost for Academic Innovation at University of Texas San Antonio and leads Melissa Vito and Associates Strategy Group.

She has earned a reputation as a transformational leader, forward-thinking and team-focused. Under her leadership, she initiated and developed University of Arizona’s online programs, launching in spring of 2015. At Arizona, she also co-founded the Gender-Based Violence Center; co-coordinated efforts resulting in Arizona’s designation as an Hispanic Serving Institution; envisioned and developed the Think Tank learning center, Arizona’s first comprehensive academic support area for students; and reimagined Career Services, linking a commitment of student engagement for all undergraduates and student leadership into a comprehensive four-year experience for students.

While consulting at University of Texas at San Antonio, she was invited to take on a longer-term commitment to lead the development of a full online program. Her work helped make the spring 2020 move to online education relatively seamless across the university.

She has a bachelor’s in Journalism and English as well as a Masters in Higher Education and Counseling from University of Arizona, and she has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.

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