Amanda H. Email and Phone Number

I joined Atana as Chief Scientific Officer in 2022, having consulted with the business as a Data Scientist. Through strategic data analyses of responses to training products from 100K+ learners, I have built analytics models to illuminate opportunities for Atana to lead the workplace culture and training industry.We recognized that our customers—Fortune 1000-500 companies and more—had little insight into whether the individuals they trained through our programs truly changed their behavior. All they could do was count the number of participants who completed the learning modules on leadership, diversity, anti-harassment, anti-violence in the workplace, and more. This was good, but not good enough. By 2022, as Chief Scientific Officer, I designed the roadmap for and embarked on an entirely fresh way of thinking about Atana’s outcomes.My leadership is now transforming our broader programs into intentional strategies that genuinely change learners’ mindsets toward the goals our clients hope to achieve. In addition to assessing learning outcomes—a mainstay of our prior methodologies and those of our competitors—I have worked with my team of data scientists to build strategies assessing behavior change after training, evaluating the ROI for our customers in terms of change in thinking and intentionality.Atana is refreshing the conversation in the training and development industry, supported by proprietary, cutting-edge psychometric data analytics. We are proving this year over year, as our customer base grows, our prior clients return to us for further support based on their new knowledge about their learners, and our revenues accelerate.To learn more about our approach to transforming workplace environments, please connect with me on LinkedIn.

Teaching in the Department of Data Analytics & Information Systems in the John Huntsman School of Business is a complete pleasure! As a PhD, I love the opportunity to contribute and mentor students as so many did for me. With a team, I shape curriculum and teach classes for undergraduate and graduate students on data analysis, data communication, and visualization. Earlier (2018), I taught research methodolies to masters and doctoral students in the School of Education.

I consult with businesses on data science strategy.

BYU Pathway Worldwide (BYU-PW) is a non-matriculating, digital academic program dedicated to helping students (mostly nontraditional adult learners) around the globe attain crucial academic credentials for attending college. Serving 51K students per year, this program has grown significantly since its launch in 2017, producing several pilot programs dedicated to increasing student participant outcomes.I joined BYU-PW in 2020 to help them understand the value of these pilot programs and understand which to continue which to abandon in favor of more high-impact opportunities.To evaluate these programs properly, I deeply investigated them through complex multivariate analyses. Adding to a large existing dataset that captured some crucial data, we added a variety of dimensions that measured student engagement / outcomes and calculated operational costs (including cost of US vs non-US faculty).Using Python, AWS lambdas, and more, and presenting our data analyses in visualizations via PowerBI and Tableau, I and my team (2 data scientists, multiple interns, one of whom later joined me at Atana, see above) significantly influenced the direction of the program. Examples of my leadership primarily included assessing the effects of changes to instructional models and modalities:For example, we evaluated the impact of shifting to a non-US faculty, which we calculated to be 6 figures of cost savings. We also analyzed the costs of various pilot programs, examining historical data on class size, timing of class delivery, and instructor support models, including a chatbot ‘instructor’ that provided near-real-time responses to student requests while reducing faculty workload.In one case, the results of our research rescued a program that was nearly closed by demonstrating its success in the context of the unique circumstances of its delivery (timing, enrollment, teaching modalities, and more), enabling future students to benefit from the academic experience.

I influenced the academic culture by developing a comprehensive data science and data analytics program to change institutional thinking around enrollment and retention, primarily of at-risk and diverse students. I had one direct report, a data science analyst, and I reported to the Director of the Center for Student Analytics at Utah State University.My first-in-class program produced innovative, ROI-positive initiatives that leveraged my expertise in data collection, cleaning, modeling, visualization, and interpretation via machine learning strategies. Additionally, I trained students, faculty, and administration on data collection, analysis, and messaging, as well as the measurement of outcomes against the goal attainment of programs shaped by our new knowledge.With this comprehensive data strategy and program implementation, I proved that departments with better analytics tool and program adoption rates improved student retention. In fact, we increased student retention 2.3%, representing $3M retained adjusted tuition.Using a variety of specialized data science tools and techniques, we answered larger questions concerning the goals of the University with respect to the needs of at-risk students (diverse population in many cases), and we helped individual departments drill down into their goals and ways in which tailored data analyses could further help them.We developed models for diverse student retention that became nationally recognized best practices presented on the National Association of Student Personnel Administration Podcast. As the foundation of new practices and better outcomes sponsored by the University’s Inclusion Center, the benefits of the work we completed persisted into the future and influenced broad strategic practices, including those coming from the Office of the President of the University.

You might wonder what Sociobehavioral Epidemiology is—you're not alone! It’s the study of contextualized behavior trends across time. When I was looking at PhD programs, I chose this path in the School of Education and Human Services because it operates at the intersection of behavioral science and practical application. Through the University’s Land Grant mission, I gained invaluable skills in psychometrics, statistical analysis, and real-world evaluation. I credit where I am today to this diverse, application-based training.For my dissertation, I focused on trends in substance misuse across human development. What I really loved about this work was learning how to track data trends in statistical and meaningful ways—skills I continue to apply throughout my career.My research centered on the transition to adulthood, a time when substance misuse can be both socially celebrated and problematic. While intoxication may lead to short-term effects, my study looked at whether it also impacts the ability to achieve long-term self-sufficiency.Many might think, “Adulthood? Not something I’m aiming for anytime soon.” But when you think about what defines adulthood—making independent choices, taking responsibility, and being financially independent—it’s clear these milestones are universally relevant as we all work towards self-sufficiency.I compared young adult outcomes between those who “Matured-Out” of substance use and those who continued to use cannabis or illicit substances into young adulthood. I found that while those who matured out had similar developmental outcomes to their non-misusing peers, continuing users faced challenges in achieving self-sufficiency.These findings are particularly relevant for policymakers considering drug legalization campaigns. As access increases, community leaders should be mindful of providing young adults with the support systems they need to gain independence and thrive.

The Benninghoff lab is dedicated to investigating cancer preventitve and suppressive qualities of bioactive foods.The Polejaeva lab worked to develop an atrial fibrillation model in goats, through transgenises and cloning.

Organize and lead NIH and UAES research projectsPlan and initiate tasks based on goals and milestonesAdjust methodology based on group and project needsTrain, support and guild undergraduate and volunteersMaintained inventory of controlled chemicalsCoordinated laboratory schedule for use of facilitiesFamiliar with USU student, employee, and graduate school policies

Caisson Labs research team works to develop innovative agribuisness products.

Sales with expedition teamTrained a variety of employees to promote product knowledgePrepared and analyzed data for quarterly reportsAssisted in writing and reviewing federal and private grants proposalsPresented company research at national conventionCreated and maintained record of procedures

Worked with university students living on-campus. Provided information about school policy, promoted university activities, resolved roommate conflict. My efforts facilitated a smooth transition into college life as most residents were incoming freshmen.Served as a resource for University information (academic programs, University services and policies, club and involvement opportunities)Resolved interpersonal conflictCounseled individuals, assessed needs, tracked progress, and directed students to University services as neededLiaison for students with housingMaintained office work (customer service, balanced cash flow for office, filing, etc.)