# The Harvard Strategic Data Project Partners with Nebraska to Launch Statewide Data Leadership Fellowship December 05, 2025 - [ News ](/news-categories/news) **December 2025 — Cambridge, MA** – The Strategic Data Project (SDP), an initiative of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, in collaboration with the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Education Reporting System (NSWERS), is proud to announce the launch of the SDP Nebraska Strategic Data Leadership Network, a new fellowship program designed to strengthen data capacity across Nebraska’s postsecondary public education institutions and agencies. This new two‑year initiative will bring together up to 32 fellows representing public postsecondary institutions and state agencies from across Nebraska. With a focus on expanding high‑quality data analysis and evidence‑informed decision-making, the new program aims to build a cohesive community of postsecondary data leaders equipped to advance educational outcomes statewide. “For more than fifteen years, SDP has trained and convened a national network of fellows representing early education through postsecondary,” said SDP Senior Director Miriam Greenberg. “Now, by working closely with institutions and agencies across a single state, we can help build lasting systems for strategic data use—creating a model for how coordinated, statewide data efforts can accelerate meaningful progress for students. This fellowship is possible because Nebraska already has remarkable data talent, and we’re honored to work with leaders across the state who bring deep expertise, commitment, and vision to this work.” Over the course of the program from spring 2026 until spring 2028, fellows will participate in a rigorous sequence of in‑person workshops, alongside ongoing virtual professional development, technical support, and cross‑institutional collaboration. Under SDP’s guidance, each fellow will receive an expert advisor to support a strategic data project aligned with organizational priorities and NSWERS’ outcome indicators. These projects will address urgent analytic needs, strengthen data governance and infrastructure, and inform state‑level understanding of opportunities to better serve students. “The launch of the SDP Nebraska Strategic Data Leadership Network represents an exciting step toward building sustainable analytic capacity across Nebraska’s postsecondary education landscape,” said Matt Hastings, Executive Director at NSWERS. “By partnering with SDP, we can access a national network of training and support to transform data into action and move our state’s educational and workforce priorities forward.” Recruitment for the inaugural cohort will begin in late 2025, with applications accepted through early 2026. Fellows will be selected from data-focused professionals across public postsecondary institutions and state agencies, each nominated and supported by a senior leader within their organization. Through this collaboration, NSWERS and SDP aim to create a statewide model for strategic data leadership that strengthens Nebraska’s educational ecosystem and supports long‑term student success. Learn more: **About the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Education Reporting System** The Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System, or NSWERS, is an interlocal agency with member representatives from Nebraska’s six Community Colleges, the Nebraska Department of Education, the Nebraska State College System, the University of Nebraska System, and in affiliation with the Nebraska Department of Labor. NSWERS enables seamless integration of data across educational and workforce systems, provides data literacy education, and promotes the use of this data to further evidence-based policy and practices across Nebraska’s educational landscape. **About the Strategic Data Project** The Harvard Strategic Data Project (SDP) works with education agencies to find and train data leaders to uncover trends, measure solutions, and effectively communicate evidence to stakeholders. SDP’s network of system leaders, fellows, and faculty come together to share how to best use data to make a difference in the lives of students. SDP Fellows are driving data-informed change in over 300 school systems and organizations. Learn more at sdp.cepr.harvard.edu. **About the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University** The Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, seeks to transform education through quality research and evidence. CEPR and its partners believe all students will learn and thrive when education leaders make decisions using facts and findings, rather than untested assumptions. Learn more at cepr.harvard.edu. *For questions, contact Alison Guerriero, SDP’s Associate Director of Partnership and Outreach at* [*alison\_segal@gse.harvard.edu*](mailto:alison_segal@gse.harvard.edu), *or Katie Bieber, NSWERS’ Communications Director, at* [*katie.bieber@nebraska.edu*](mailto:katie.bieber@nebraska.edu)*.* See also:- [ Press Release ](/tags/press-release) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)