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Peter A. Usinger, Director of Institutional Research
Peter is an expert in statistical analysis, with an academic background in social psychology, computer science, and communication engineering. He came to the United States from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Education in Berlin to join the Motivational Research Group at the University of Rochester in 1989. Then, he put his expertise in social psychology and data analysis to work as a founding member of the Institute for Research & Reform in Education, as MIS Director at P/PV in Philadelphia – a leading social policy think-tank – and as research consultant for various Fortune 500 companies.
Peter became PSC's Director of Institutional Research in December 2002 to help in forming a new IR team and to serve his passion for improving education and promoting social capital at the source. Since spring 2006, he is Director of Institutional Research, Effectiveness, and Planning; chair of PSC's IE committee; co-chair of the College Planning Council; and member of FACC's Institutional Effectiveness, Planning and Professional Development Commission. He is also very engaged in the community, where he serves as a member of the Polk Vision Executive and Steering Committees and as chair of the Polk Vision Benchmark Committee. Peter is also a member of the Association for Institutional Research and the Southern Association for Community College Research.
Mary Beth Freeman, Research and Reports Coordinator
Mary Beth started in March 2003 as PSC's Coordinator of Research and Reports. In this position she is responsible for coordination of data input from various departments for submission to the required state databases. She also handles various ad hoc data requests from within the College.
Mary Beth is a native of Winter Haven. She graduated with Honors from the University of Florida with a bachelors degree in Physical Education and then attended graduate school at the University of Houston studying Exercise Science. She received her Masters of Science in Public Health from the University of South Florida majoring in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Her thesis concerned the reliability and validity of children’s self-reported physical activity and associated non-response bias.
Since finishing her graduate degree, she has worked as Coordinator of Statistical Research at the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida; as Coordinator of Statistical Research at the Citrus Research & Education Center in Lake Alfred, an extension of the University of Florida IFAS; and in the area of Consumer Research at the Publix Corporate Office.
Lee Autrey, Consortium Systems Specialist
Lee Autrey is an Alumni of Polk State College and Warner Southern College. She is a true native of Florida; her grandparents, parents, and she were all born and raised in Florida. When asked what she considers her greatest accomplishments, her answer came straight from the heart: "My wonderful marriage and my three children (they are 30, 27, and 22)." Lee’s motto is “Life is too short — Don’t take it too seriously.”
Lee has enjoyed working at PSC since 1997. She started as a student worker in the TLCC and Business Office and became a full-time employee in the Business Office where she worked as an Accounts Payable Clerk. In March 2003, Lee accepted the position as Consortium System Specialist in Institutional Research. In this role she is largely responsible for managing the administrative system components of the College’s Course Dictionary and Degree Audits. She also ensures compliance of Polk State College’s programs and courses with Florida’s State Course Numbering System (SCNS).
Sonja Govey, Institutional Research Assistant
Sonja started in 1993 in the payroll department of Polk State College’s Business Office. From 1994 to 1998, she served as an MIS assistant for the Research and Reports unit and was promoted to Research Assistant in 2000. Sonja is a founding member of the Research Department (1994), which over the years evolved into Institutional Research.
Her responsibilities include acting as the IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Systems) key-holder, submission of college data to the state, maintaining both an electronic and hardcopy archive of state and federal reports as well as local surveys, and overseeing the distribution of internal surveys. On a daily basis, she provides a wide variety of operational services to the IR department and in support of other IR functions.
Sonja is a native of Maryland who came to Florida in 1969 and is a resident of Winter Haven since 1990. Outside of work, her love and devotion belongs to her husband, five kids, and ten grandchildren. She is currently finishing her AA degree at the College. |