Function
Assessment and Research at the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (AROMAD) provides data/assessment services in relation to federal (NIH, NSF, US Dept. Ed…), state, private, grant and gift proposals, annual performance reports within OMAD and select campus units. We also process and produce organized information to help staff/faculty with better decision making in day-to-day operations, planning, and future policy formation and practice. All operations are aimed at maintaining and enhancing performance and opportunities for first-generation, low-income, and other underserved students.
History
1) Assessment and Research at the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (AROMAD) was created and organized by Gene Kim, Arlyn Arquiza, and Candy Kamekona on 2014/2015, when Gene was appointed as the first ever full-time Director of Assessment and Research in OMAD from his previous role of running the TRIO McNair Scholars Program and Early Identification Program.
2) Change in philosophy and practice:
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The 2 primary goals of the new team were: 1) To have all of OMAD recognize AROMAD as the assessment/research/data unit rather than scattered individuals in different programs doing things part-time at spur of the moment; 2)To bring the new team out of the 1980s/90s “point and click” technology and finally modernize and automate highly complex and high volume tasks via programming languages. In result, complete data tasks in minutes/hours instead of weeks or months after the completions of specific algorithms.
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The new team was introduced to broader yet standardized vocabularies, concepts, and procedures (ex. Mutual respect and benefit, standardization, interchangeable parts, uniform operational definitions, collective action) for more consistent, reliable, speedy, and accurate delivery of data/assessment requests/projects.
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Carefully structured project calendar and project planning meetings with specific deadlines and checkpoints were implemented to eliminate constant state of panic, chaos, confusion, and diffusion of responsibility (prior to the formation of the new team) after year 2015.
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To put above objectives in motion, Gene introduced the new team members 3 programming languages (JUPYTER: Julia, Python, and R) with standardized “interchangeable parts” which could be integrated in one algorithm and/or be utilized as overlapping safeguards in case one programming language model/system breaks/fails based on his previous experiences in S-Plus and “((((((((((XLispStat)))))))))” programming languages during his days at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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3) The AROMAD became a constantly training and flexible unit to deliberately and consciously approach problems with open mind and humility to provide the most efficient and effective problem solutions for our OMAD clients.
Our Services
Demographic and Student Performance Data and Reports
Data Requests and Data Training specifically customized for respective program need(s) are reserved for full time OMAD staff members only.
Workshops and Training
Workshops are opened to all UW staff (who are authorized to examine and work with FERPA protected student data).
Maximum Representation
One student, multiple identities respected for increased inclusion in academic and non-academic opportunities.
Meet the Team
Gene Kim, Ph.D.
Director of Assessment and Research at OMAD
Current Programming Languages: Python, R, Julia, and SQL
Data Workshops: https://www.washington.edu/omad/aromad/workshops-training/
Education:
Postdoc 1999-2001, University of Wisconsin-Madison (Automating student demographic and performance data. Automating fiscal data.)
Ph.D. Education 1999, University of Wisconsin-Madison
MS Counseling 1995, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Arlyn Arquiza
Senior Computer Specialist (Senior OMAD Data Analyst)
Education:
BS Computer Engineering, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
