I2D2 RESOURCE HUB TEAM
Meet The Trusted Team Behind the System
In 2015, Heather Rouse and Cassandra Dorius came together to leverage their combined three decades of experience in education, human services, public health, and integrated data systems.
They brought together leaders from across Iowa’s departments serving young children and their families, secured training and technical assistance to develop Iowa’s model and governance structure, and obtained funding to stand up the system and use it to demonstrate value for informing policy and program improvement. I2D2 was born.
In collaboration with strong Early Childhood Iowa partners spanning diverse systems in the state, this partnership has paved the way for Iowa success. In the words of former ECI Board Chair, the tandem of Rouse and Dorius brings a “palpable level of commitment, a deep understanding of a very complicated system, and a passionate and motivating approach” to the work, which has increased the national visibility of the state of Iowa and Iowa State University as leaders in the use of administrative data systems to inform evidence-based decision making.
In 2019, the dynamic duo was invited to share the successful development of I2D2 at the National Academy of Sciences Committee on National Statistics. With a panel of experts deliberating the value of administrative data, conversations included considerations of how state and municipal integrated data systems could inform national statistical approaches.
Meet our Leaders
Heather Rouse
Director
Cass Dorius
Co-Director
MEET OUR TEAM
Todd Abraham
Assistant Director of Data and Analytics
Todd joined the I2D2 team in 2019 with backgrounds in data management, quantitative research methodology, and program evaluation. He currently co-leads design and implementation of data processing protocols, data integration and record linkage algorithms, and project analysis planning. His research interests focus on the interplay between individual, family, and contextual factors as influences on child developmental trajectories.
Jeff Jackson
Strategic projects specialist
Jeff joined I2D2 in 2021, bringing a wealth of experience working with state and local decision-makers to inform strategic planning for children, youth, and families. In his role with I2D2 he supports the mission of evidence-based decision-making by working with stakeholders to ensure data are both used in strategic planning and that data and analytics are informed by high-priorities of ECI and the State of Iowa as a whole.
Giorgi Chighladze
Data Scientist
Before joining the I2D2 team as a data scientist in 2021, Gio worked as a data manager and analyst for multi-institutional cross-disciplinary projects involving more than dozen land-grant universities across the Midwest, government institutions and state organizations. Over six years he has curated data from agricultural and environmental studies, and has published two datasets in the National Agricultural Library.
Laura Betancur
Research Associate
Laura Betancur received her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020. Her research aims to increase understanding of how the context of children and families shape their wellbeing, focusing on disadvantaged populations in the U.S. and in low- and middle-income countries. In January of 2021, she joined the ECI Longitudinal Study where researches the relationship between families’ utilization patterns of early childhood education services and child developmental outcomes.
Jessica Bruning
evaluation & Communications Program Specialist
Jessica began her graduate studies at ISU and joined the I2D2 team in 2018. After completing her Master’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies in the Spring of 2022 Jessica joined the I2D2 team full-time. She is currently completing her dissertation to complete the requirements for her Ph.D. Her research interests include early childhood risk and development, equity and access, and public policy for children and families.
Cora Herbkersman
DATA ANALYST
Cora joined the I2D2 team in 2022 as a data analyst. Originally from Indiana, she came to Iowa State University in 2019 as a graduate student in the department of Rural Sociology. She is currently finishing her MS thesis using data from the Iowa Small Towns Poll. Her research interests included quantitative analysis, small towns, rural religion, and quality of life in rural areas.
Emma Kelley
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Emma graduated with a Bachelor’s in Science in Child, Adult, and Family Services from Iowa State University in December of 2019. She was an intern for the IDS team to fulfill her graduation requirements, working on the Statewide Needs Assessment in 2019 and using data from Iowa Head Start for her Honors project. She enjoyed it so much that she stayed on the team post graduation as a part-time employee. Emma lives in Kansas City and is currently working towards her Masters in Social Work from the University of Kansas.
Taylor Watson
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Taylor joined the I2D2 team in early 2023 as a Program Coordinator. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Political Science. Her career since graduation has centered around public health research, advocacy, policy, and non-profit management. At I2D2, Taylor will assist with project coordination and oversight to deliver results for stakeholders in the state of Iowa.