Pre-Conference Workshop | Data Analytics Hack-a-Thon
Sunday | May 3
8am - 1pm
Cost: $150. Registration required, space is limited.
WACUBO is pleased to bring back the popular pre-conference opportunity, the Data Analytics Hack-a-Thon! The illustrious Jean Vock will lead a team of seasoned facilitators for this popular event that brings together groups of people to develop creative approaches for solving problems. This session will focus on analyzing enrollment and academic cost data to inform financial decision-making and resource allocation strategies. Participants will dive into two high-impact data scenarios shaping higher education: one highlighting explosive growth in data science programs driven by AI demand, and another confronting financial pressures from declining enrollment and rising costs.
Attendees will be assigned to a hackathon team. Teams will review a business challenge, develop and refine questions for the data analysis, analyze a sample dataset, and develop a slide deck to summarize the findings and present a potential solution for institutional leadership.
This experience will help participants build their knowledge of higher education data, understand how to involve key stakeholders, develop skills to ask and refine data questions, leverage data tools, and collaboratively develop an action plan. To fully benefit from this session, participants should plan to bring a personal laptop.
Breakfast, refreshments and lunch will be provided as part of the experience. This pre-conference experience will be eligible for three (3) CPE credits.
Registration for the 2026 Annual Conference is required. There is an option to add this opportunity during the registration process. If you would like to add this event after you have registered, please reach out to the WACUBO office at [email protected].
Faculty
Jean Vock
Jean M. Vock has more than 30 years of leadership experience in higher education. Most recently, she served as senior vice president for Business Affairs and chief financial officer (CFO) for UNLV, where she directed the division that provides the business, financial, operational, planning, and physical infrastructure that support UNLV’s academic, research, and service mission.
Jean previously held both central administrative and college administration positions at University of Arizona, including chief financial officer for two academic colleges and assistant comptroller. Prior to her time in higher education, she worked for the State of Arizona and the defense industry in the financial, compliance, internal, and corporate auditing departments.
Jean currently holds the position of fractional CFO at a venture capital firm, and serves as a board member, mentor, and advisor in the education and non-profit organizations.
Vanessa Hayden Aguirre
Vanessa Hayden Aguirre is the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer at The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS), where she provides executive leadership over finance and administrative services supporting a multi-institution higher education consortium. Her portfolio includes Budget & Analytics, Financial Services, Central Facilities, Human Resources, Benefits Administration, Risk Management, and Environmental Health & Safety. She partners closely with campus leadership to align financial strategy, shared services, and operational priorities.
Since joining TCCS in 2016, Vanessa has held various leadership roles, including the Director of Budget and Analytics and Assistant Vice President of Business Support Services, before being appointed Vice President of Finance and Treasurer in 2021. She has over 20 years of experience spanning higher education, public accounting, and industry, with deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, and operational strategy. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology from Scripps College. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and has been actively engaged in professional and community leadership, including service on industry and alumnae committees.
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