About Robert:
Title: Senior Institutional Research & Planning Analyst, University of Maine System
Email: robert.zuercher@maine.edu
My path has been a winding one. I have served as a Senior Institutional Research & Planning Analyst for the University of Maine System (UMS) since 2017. I regularly report data related to admissions, enrollment, student success, and other areas across the UMS. My career as an institutional research analyst started in 2013 at the University of Alabama. I attended the University of Kentucky, earning a bachelor’s in telecommunications, as well as a master’s and PhD in communication. In my free time, I like to get outside: hiking, skiing, and wrenching on cars are some of my hobbies.
“We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.” – George Takei
What DEI means to me:
In my work within the UMS, I study trends in education and strive to translate data into actionable insights. Within that work, it is not enough to simply monitor aggregated metrics, such as overall retention and graduation rates. Instead, I see a clear need for disaggregation in order to understand the realities of diverse groups of students and employees within our institutions and overall system. Our success starts with illuminating the areas where we can improve the experiences of all of our students and employees.