Robert Jason Cottrell

·       Report to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Planning.

·       Coordinate efforts standardizing processes, procedures, and guidance for data collection, reporting, visualization, and analyses.

·       Coordinate and plan the implementation of data strategy and governance policies to improve OPE’s ability to leverage data as a strategic asset and foster a data culture.

·       Build and maintain good working relationships with stakeholders and colleagues.

·       Maintain objectivity and treat people with impartiality.

·       Develop and utilize new opportunities for cross-collaboration among OPE.

·       Serve as the OPE representative for the Performance Improvement Office’s performance planning group.

·       Establish and report key performance indicators for the Department’s strategic plan.

·       Serve as a strategic advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Planning, coordinating data initiatives that support planning and performance goals.

·       Lead standardization of data collection, reporting, visualization, and analysis procedures.

·       Implement data governance policies strengthening a data-driven culture and strategic asset use.

·       Cultivate partnerships across OPE and with external federal partners.

·       Represent OPE on Department’s performance improvement group, influencing enterprise data strategy.

·       Define and track key performance indicators aligned with the Department’s strategic plan.

·       Provide strategic data and performance support for 60+ federal grant programs distributing over $1B annually to institutions, students, and community organizations.

·       Principal research advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs.

·       Led research and evaluation projects to assess and strengthen institutional capacity grants.

·       Managed eligibility process for Titles III and V grants serving minority- and low-income institutions.

·       Redesigned and modernized performance reporting for Titles III, V, and VII, improving data clarity and program oversight.

·       Represented OPE as liaison to the Department’s Evidence-Leadership Group, aligning program evaluation with agency-wide goals.

·       Authored and submitted Congressional research and eligibility reports on Titles III and V programs, informing legislative oversight and funding decisions.

·       Supervised a team of two staff and two interns, mentoring junior analysts and overseeing grant-related data operations.

·       Delivered training and technical assistance to grantees on eligibility, reporting, and compliance.

·       Created guidance and documentation for federally approved information collections, ensuring OMB compliance and clear data standards.

·       Interpreted federal education statutes and regulations in coordination with legal counsel.

·       Supported over 40 federal programs that allocate millions in grants annually to postsecondary institutions nationwide.

Selected Achievements (2016–Present)

-      Led the modernization of the designation process determining institutional eligibility for Titles III and V grant programs (Minority-Serving Institutions) and the Title IV federal cost-share waiver.

-      Collaborated with the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development to establish operational frameworks and methodologies for allocating COVID relief funds.

-      Designed program priorities, requirements, and definitions for Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) grants, including a $2 million, three-year Center of Excellence in Spatial Computing (CESC) grant and a $100 million, five-year Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) grant supporting HBCUs, TCCUs, and other MSIs.

-      Assisted in developing the Department’s Learning Agenda under the Evidence Act, partnering with the Evidence Leadership Group to advance evidence-building in postsecondary education.

-      Supported OPE data initiatives in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Data Officer on the Data Backbone, data.gov, and the Department’s Data Maturity Assessment.

·       Key member of the Enrollment Management leadership team.

·       Led the design and execution of orientation and first-year experience programs impacting 1,000+ incoming students annually.

·       Advised the NCCU Parents and Family Association, fostering parent engagement to support student retention and success.

·       Oversaw departmental marketing, communications, and assessment strategies, leveraging surveys and digital platforms to improve student engagement.

·       Supervised a team of 40+, including full-time staff, graduate and undergraduate student leaders, and national interns, to deliver comprehensive orientation programming.

·       Managed a $200K budget and implemented cost-saving strategies that reduced expenditures by $85K in FY15 without compromising program quality.

Selected Achievements

-      Developed and implemented a strategic plan for New Student Services aligning with national CAS standards for orientation and student transition programming. Assessed and enhanced the transfer orientation process, doubling student enrollment guarantees by the May 1 deadline.

-      Established and led a collaborative Week of Welcome featuring creative and inclusive programs from Move-In through Convocation.

-      Oversaw enhancements to the summer reading program by incorporating small group discussions aligned with the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan.

-      Created a comprehensive communications plan for new students, improving engagement with students, parents, and families through an Orientation Guide, transition planner, weekly e-newsletter, parents and family calendar, semester postcards, and ongoing publication of the NCCU Parent Guide.

-      Provided peak-period support to Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid by processing applications, leading regional admitted-student events (Eagle Days) in collaboration with partnering K12 school districts, and assisting students with financial aid navigation during orientation and the first week of classes.

-      Increased Parents and Family Weekend attendance from 40 to over 400 participants through targeted marketing strategies and implementation of a registration fee.

·       Served on the University College leadership team, reporting to the Associate Dean.

·       Oversaw new student enrollment coordination across nine colleges and schools, ensuring a seamless transition for diverse academic disciplines.

·       Managed a diverse team of 60+, including full-time, graduate, and undergraduate student staff, to deliver university-wide orientation programs.

·       Led assessment strategy for University College programs, establishing outcomes and data-informed improvements to new student initiatives.

·       Developed and managed a $700K annual budget, aligning resource allocation with institutional priorities and program outcomes.

Selected Achievements

-      Contributed to the establishment of the University Transfer Center by collaborating with local community colleges, editing the online transfer guide, creating the University’s transfer equivalency tool, and maintaining a military transfer credit database.

-      Redesigned New Student Orientation by expanding the mandatory first-year program from one day to two days and enhancing the transfer orientation program to better address the unique needs of transfer students.

-      Developed and implemented strategic programs for new students, including living-learning communities including the summer bridge program, Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs), New Student Convocation, Parents and Family programs, a new core curriculum, and an attendance tracking system for core curriculum courses.

·       Served on the leadership team of the Campus Learning Center, reporting to the Director.

·       Founded and directed all aspects of VCU’s Supplemental Instruction program, from initial design and staffing to evaluation and outcomes assessment for high-enrollment STEM courses.

·       Supervised a team of 50 SI Leaders and 4 Coordinators delivering peer-led academic support across high-enrollment gateway courses.

·       Position and program funded by a $1.8M Title III Grant (Project PRISM) to increase success in science and math through structured academic support programs.

Selected Achievements

-      Established the university’s first campus-wide Supplemental Instruction (SI) program, which grew to over 50 student leaders, 160+ weekly study sessions, and 250,000+ student contact hours per semester. Improved participants’ academic performance and increased persistence rates.

-      Contributed to the creation of University College, the Core Curriculum, and the Summer Reading Program by supporting planning, policy design, and program implementation.

·       Designed and implemented student life programming across three distinct community college campuses, increasing student engagement and leadership development opportunities.

·       Restructured student organization governance and funding models to enhance accountability and sustainability across campuses.

·       Organized campuswide Student Life Leadership Retreat to train and engage student government and organization leaders.

·       Managed a $108K budget supporting student engagement initiatives, leadership development, and co-curricular programming.

Selected Achievements

-      Established foundational student life policies and procedures for campus programs and organizations, published in the inaugural Student Life Handbook.

-      Coordinated a student activity fee budget reduction from $226,000 to $108,000 while maintaining essential programs and supporting organizational continuity.

·       Advised students and families on federal, state, and institutional financial aid policies, ensuring compliance and promoting access to higher education.

·       Co-supervised a team of six federal work-study students supporting front-desk advising, records processing, and financial aid document intake.

Selected Achievement

-      Contributed to the administration and disbursement of over $130 million in financial aid, supporting undergraduate, graduate, and professional students through federal, state, and local programs.