Carolyn Mata

Carolyn Mata, PhD, serves as the Director of Research for North Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities since January 2017, managing research and data analysis related to higher education in North Carolina. Concurrently, Carolyn Mata is an IPEDS Lead Educator for the Association for Institutional Research, a role upheld since July 2015. Previous experience includes serving as Vice President for Research & Planning at Oglethorpe University, where responsibilities included overseeing research, supporting institutional planning, and ensuring SACSCOC accreditation. Carolyn Mata also held the Vice President for Research position at the Georgia Independent College Association, successfully securing significant federal grants. Early academic roles include Assistant Professor at the University of West Georgia and Graduate Instructor at Florida State University. Educational qualifications comprise a PhD and M.S. in Sociology from Florida State University, various degrees and certificates in education and curriculum, and extensive teaching experience across multiple institutions.