Meet & Greet: Maria O’Connor

Maria O’Connor is Oberlin’s Associate Vice President and Chief Data Analytics Officer in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning. She arrived at Oberlin in summer 2025 after previously working at John Carroll University, Hiram College, and Emerson College. Maria’s office—in the Cox Administration Building—coordinates campus surveys and a whole lot more. We asked her to fill us in.

Tell us about your role and the work of IEP.

I oversee a team that collects, analyzes, and reports institutional data to inform decision-making, planning, and assessment efforts across the college. Our work supports strategic initiatives and promotes the effective use of data at the institution.

What do you like most about your role here?

One of my favorite aspects of working at Oberlin is the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across the college who are doing such interesting and meaningful work. I also enjoy the variety of projects we take on—it keeps the work engaging and fresh.

What's something people might be surprised to learn about your work or your office?

We tend to operate behind the scenes, so not everyone is aware of our office. However, we collaborate with nearly every department on campus, supporting initiatives that span the entire institution. In the time since I arrived, our team has worked with the President’s Office, General Counsel, Financial Aid, the Registrar’s Office, Career Exploration and Development, and Athletics, to name just a few.

What's your favorite Oberlin space and why?

Tappan Square is my favorite space on campus. I love being able to step outside my office and immediately be in the middle of a green space. It’s a great place to reset during the day.

Please share a fun fact about you or something you're good at.

In 2022, I successfully defended my dissertation and later that same day went to the hospital to deliver my first daughter!