Title: From Public Data to Insight: CTData Makes Sense of Data

Presented by Michelle Riordan-Nold, Executive Director of the Connecticut Data Collaborative (CTData).

DATE: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 3:30 PM, AUST 434

Meeting Link: WebEx link

Coffee will be available at 3:00 PM in the Noether Lounge (AUST 326)

Abstract: Michelle Riordan-Nold, Executive Director of the Connecticut Data Collaborative (CTData), will provide an overview of CTData and share examples of how public data has been analyzed and shared to promote informed policy making in the state. Ms. Riordan-Nold’s talk will provide examples of what we can learn about Connecticut by analyzing data, and how insight from data can drive important policy in the state. Specific examples will cover the following topics: evictions, Census data, and traffic stop data. CTData makes public data accessible, builds the data capacity of nonprofits, state agencies, and the public to help make data informed decisions and work toward equity. The talk will be of interest to anyone who wants to learn about what data assets exist in Connecticut and how public data can achieve more equitable outcomes in the state.

Bio: Michelle Riordan-Nold is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Data Collaborative (CTData), an organization to provide the public with accessible data that informs public decision making. She has a demonstrated history of working in open data, policy analysis, and civic engagement. She helped build and grow the organization and is a recipient of several Robert Wood Johnson grants. She holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Boston College.