Deborah Derden has been named the new Director of Institutional Research at Sul Ross State University in an announcement Tuesday, January 21.
Derden began her duties at the beginning of the Spring, 2020 semester.
A native Texan, Derden earned two Bachelor’s Degrees in Elementary Education and Computer Science and a Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Derden comes to Alpine from Blacksburg, Virginia where she served as Coordinator of Program Evaluation for the Technology Enhanced Learning and Online Strategies Division at Virginia Tech University.
She has also worked at the School of Aerospace Medicine at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Glaxo Pharmaceuticals in North Carolina, Kathmandu University in Nepal and Wake Technical Community College in North Carolina.
“I’m happy to finally be back home in Texas,” Derden said. “I’m excited to begin this new chapter at Sul Ross as Director of Institutional Research.”
Institutional Research (IR) is responsible for Sul Ross official reporting to the U.S. Department of Education, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Legislative Budget Board, the Texas State University System and others.
The primary focus of IR is to transform data into information and to provide the University administration and Sul Ross stakeholders with timely and accurate high quality information that allows informed decision making and planning.
IR disseminates facts that support academic planning and assessment including statistics such as enrollment, student demographics, awarded degrees, graduation rates and more.
“We’re thrilled to have Deborah on board at Sul Ross,” said Dr. Jeanne Qvarnstrom, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness.
“She brings with her a wealth of expertise in working with data and information tracking and reporting and I’m looking forward to collaborating with her in our efforts to prepare and present information to our administration and other governing bodies.”
For more information, contact Derden at (432) 837-8224 or email deborah.derden@sulross.edu.