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Gartner Expert
Marlena Brown
Sr Director Analyst
Marlena Brown is a Senior Director Analyst in Gartner Research and Advisory focusing on Student Success & Academic technologies. Ms. Brown concentrates on education, primarily higher education, and K-12 (elementary/secondary) sectors, supporting Gartner clients globally. Ms. Brown research is on higher education data and analytics solutions with a particular focus on holistic analytic environment that support student success and the wider ecosystem of academic technologies in higher education.
Her technical experience includes data warehouse design and responsibility for academic technologies such as: HCM, Finance, Advancement, CRM, SIS, LMS and campus solutions. Her strategic background includes building data-driven cultures that utilizes analytics to drive actionable and measurable strategies around initiatives like recruitment, retention, and on-time completion. She also has experience in accreditation at both program and regional levels.
Her unique combination of direct technical experience and education leadership allow her to bridge the gap between IT and higher education functional strategic initiatives. She has worked with 100+ institutions around the world in crafting actionable plans aimed at achieving strategic opportunities both with IT and across institutions.
Previous experience
Ms. Brown's representative experience includes:
- Assisted organizations in leverage analytics resulting in increased admission, retention & completion rates
- Established collaborative and inclusive data governance structures to promote a "culture of analytics"
- Architected, Designed & Implemented data warehouses and delivered useful and usable information to inform strategic decision making
- Implemented K-12 and Higher Education ERP Suites (HCM, Finance, SIS) solutions
- Strategic leader for IT within an R1 University responsible for all academic and administrative computing systems
Professional background
Blackboard
Principal Higher Education Analytics Consulting
Purdue University
Assist Vice Chancellor Information Systems
Richard Stockon University
Directory Computer Services
Areas of coverage
Education Digital Transformation and Innovation
Education Technology Optimization and Modernization
Executive Leadership: Data and Analytics
Chief Data and Analytics Officer Leadership
Education
Bachelor of Science Economics, Drexel University
Master of Information Systems, Drexel University
Top Issues That I Help Clients Address
1Review and optimize current data & analytics environment to support learner success
2Create functional and technical environments that promote analytics driven cultures
3Select, review, and optimize learning management systems
4Creating a cohesive stakeholder (student, faculty, staff) experience across a complex education technology environment
5Establish an environment of collaboration to facilitate the identification and adoption of academic technologies