Who We Are
The Center for Predictive Analytics is comprised of a diverse staff of faculty, instructors and students.
Carrie Butts-Wilmsmeyer
Director
Carrie is a data scientist and statistical consultant who is the director of the Center for Predictive Analytics and an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at SIUE. As director, Carrie both serves as a data analytics consultant and brings projects to campus to support the training of the next generation of data analysts. Before coming to SIUE, Carrie was a faculty member at the University of Illinois in the Department of Crop Sciences, where she studied (and continues to study) the development of machine learning models that could better predict quantitatively inherited phenotypes based on both genomic and environmental data, as opposed to genomic data alone. Over her career, Carrie has taught courses in statistics and experimental design, statistical genetics, and statistical programming languages. She conducts workshops and leads continuing education courses in data analytics and machine learning that are tailored to individuals who want to learn more about Big Data and how to work with it.
Courtney Breckenridge
Research Fellow - System Strategic Plan
Courtney fosters multidisciplinary partnerships across the SIU System and the Illinois Innovation Network. She oversees all reporting and helps craft updates pertaining to the System Strategic Plan, writes collaborative grants, and helps to network with researchers across the State of Illinois and the St. Louis Metro Area. Her background is in Mass Communications, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Environmental Resources and Policy. Over her career, she has worked in workforce training, writing, and politics, and she helps to translate complex data outcomes into actionable policies.
Nina Conrad
Program Director
Nina is the person at C-PAN who makes the magic happen behind the scenes. Whether it is managing a team of individuals on the PROWD grant, keeping track of our participants and their needs across workforce training projects, or helping to make sure all of a project's logistical considerations are operating smoothly, Nina supports the research team at C-PAN and ensures that our team is able to deliver a quality experience for our partners.
Natalie Whitman
Senior PROWD Advocate
Natalie is one of our phenomenal advocates for the Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development (PROWD) project. Natalie has extensively studied the resources available to our returning residents, and she is familiar with the hurdles they often face. Her role is to advocate for resources for our returning residents by working with workforce agencies, federal facilities, and civic groups. This includes resources in the area of digital literacy, which is a major initiative that is supported by the State of Illinois.
Bethany Friedrich
Researcher
Bethany is another core member of the Partners for Reentry Opportunities in Workforce Development (PROWD) team. Her role is to work with project team members to understand research opportunities related to programmatic elements of the PROWD project.
Bob Dixon
Corporate Training/Microcredentialing Lead and Professor
Bob is a pioneer in the microcredentialing field. His interest in microcredentials, sometimes referred to as alternative digital credentials (ADCs) or digital badges, stems from his observation that not every student finds their way into the science disciplines through the same routes. Some students may not start off in a traditional four-year degree program, but they find out somewhere along the way that they really do like science. His work helps create pathways into scientific careers for these individuals.
Annette Dixon
Corporate Training/Microcredentialing Instructor
Annette brings to our microcredentialing program a joy and passion for teaching. Having taught several years as a middle school science teacher, Annette saw firsthand that while some students might not like the memorization aspects of science in the classroom, these same students were sometimes adept at working in an applied laboratory setting. She brings that same enthusiasm and applied science spirit to her work as an instructor for the lab tech corporate training and microcredentialing program.
Zack Woodall
Data Science Instructor
Zack is an alumnus of SIUE and brings with him a passion for teaching students. Knowledge of data science and artificial intelligence skillsets can drastically improve students' future earning potential, across all industrial sectors. However, these skills are often only taught in very specialized courses, and some courses students may not be able to take. Additionally, many high school students may not be aware that careers that leverage these skillsets exist. Zack is the lead instructor on all 11 data science microcredentialing programs at SIUE, and he is also exploring ways to bring these opportunities to students even before they begin their college careers.
Josh Wooten
Faculty Fellow
As a C-PAN Faculty Fellow, Dr. Wooten's research explores how machine learning can be used to predict recovery in female athletes. In addition to serving as a Faculty Fellow, Dr. Wooten is a Professor and serves as Chair of the Department of Exercise, Sport and Nutrition Sciences.
Chris Herndon
Faculty Fellow
As a C-PAN Faculty Fellow, Dr. Herndon's research explores how machine learning can be used to address the opioid epidemic in Illinois. Dr. Herndon is a Professor and Vice Chair of the SIUE School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Practice.
Jon Pettibone
Faculty Fellow
As a C-PAN Faculty Fellow, Dr. Pettibone's research explores the impact of student belonging on student retention and success at SIUE. Dr. Pettibone is a Professor and is the Undergraduate Program Director in the Department of Psychology.
