Geethika Fernando Joins Connecticut Data Collaborative

The Connecticut Data Collaborative has announced that Geethika Fernando of Southington has joined the organization as Data Manager.

The Connecticut Data Collaborative (CT Data) is a public-private partnership that advocates for the public availability of open and accessible data, serving nonprofits, advocates, policymakers, community groups, and funders in using data to drive policy and improve programs and services, budgeting and decision making at the state, regional and local levels.

As Data Manager, Fernando manages the data governance aspects of the shared data infrastructure including stakeholder engagement, communication, oversight of the data license request process, and management of formal governance committees and review processes.

She joins CT Data with extensive experience in designing and executing quantitative and qualitative evaluations of social, educational and public health programs, in presenting complex analyses to diverse audiences, and in conducting high priority research and evaluation projects.

Most recently, she was Manager of Data & Accountability at the Coalition for New Britain’s Youth, where she developed and managed the Results Based Accountability system that monitored data across the “cradle-to-career” continuum, led data collection and analysis, and frequently presented data to community strategy groups, school district officials and various stakeholders. She also tracked and analyzed population level data to identify trends and translated complex analyses into formats for dissemination to broader audiences.

Executive Director Michelle Riordan-Nold said that Fernando “will be a tremendous asset in advancing our work to integrate data into decision-making in the public and private sector in Connecticut. Her experience and expertise will be an asset, helping to advance our collective efforts to expand the ecosystem of data users throughout the state, and improve data literacy.”

CT Data strives for informed decision-making across Connecticut, empowering an ecosystem of data users by democratizing access to public data and building data literacy skills. More than 200 data sets are now accessible to the public on the CT Data website, including a wide array of subjects and policy categories.

“I am passionate about engaging communities in data and improving usability and access to community level data,” said Fernando, who was born and raised in Sri Lanka. “Helping communities understand and treat data as an asset and then leverage it to better their lives and outcomes are values that are important to me.”

Fernando will be a key contributor to efforts to expand publicly available data, including visualizing data for public consumption, convening data forums and conferences, and increasing data literacy through CT Data Academy.

She previously served as Program Manager & Data Analyst at the Vennue Foundation in Stamford, a Senior Associate in monitoring and evaluation at AmeriCares Foundation, and a Program Associate for the Global Health Initiative at Children’s Hospital Boston/Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Geethika Fernando earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Beloit College in Wisconsin, and a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University, with a focus on population studies and global health. She has worked with communities locally and internationally, including in Peru, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The Connecticut Data Collaborative, among its areas of responsibility, has been designated as the lead organization for the State of Connecticut in the U.S. Census Bureau’s State Data Center Program and as Connecticut’s official source for Census data related to the 2020 Census. Riordan-Nold is a member of the state’s Complete Count Committee, led by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz.

In addition to its work with the U.S. Census and various state and municipal agencies, CT Data has established a partnership with Trinity College’s Liberal Arts Action Lab to work on projects of mutual interest, including health and housing data visualization and analysis of Hartford neighborhoods. CT Data offices are located on Constitution Plaza in downtown Hartford; more information and datasets are available on the website at ctdata.org.