The California Association for Institutional Research (CAIR) has selected WSCUC Vice President and data lead Stephanie Huie as the first-ever recipient of its Trailblazer Award, recognizing her bold, forward-thinking leadership in institutional research and data innovation.

Created to honor individuals whose work reshapes how colleges use evidence to inform decisions, the Trailblazer Award highlights innovation, impact, and leadership across California’s higher education sector. The award celebrates professionals who introduce transformative approaches or technologies; improve institutional or regional decision-making; take strategic risks to challenge established norms; and develop models that can be adopted by institutions statewide.

“Throughout my career, I have focused on effectively capturing and demonstrating the value of higher education—highlighting student outcomes and economic impact using innovative data tools that help colleges and universities identify opportunities for growth and success,” said Dr. Huie. “By making data more accessible, understandable, and meaningful, my goal has been to empower institutions, policymakers, and stakeholders to make informed decisions that advance educational excellence.”

Under Dr. Huie’s leadership, WSCUC has significantly strengthened its data capabilities and the tools that institutions, policymakers, and the public can use to understand student outcomes. She launched WSCUC’s Key Indicators Dashboard (KID) in 2021 and has continued to expand its utility and reach. This year, she integrated the new Carnegie Classifications into KID, expanded the dashboard’s economic return indicators, and introduced the Data Narrative, a new tool designed to help institutions and stakeholders make sense of complex data on costs, debt, and earnings.

Through this work, Dr. Huie has broadened access to meaningful, outcomes-focused data, giving families, institutions, and policymakers a clearer picture of the value of a college degree. Her contributions reflect WSCUC’s commitment to strengthening student success through transparent, actionable evidence.

“Stephanie’s ability to turn data into insight has elevated our work and helped institutions focus more deeply on the outcomes that matter for students,” said Maria Toyoda, WSCUC president and CEO. “Her leadership and vision keep WSCUC at the forefront of accreditation innovation.”

Dr. Huie will join the 2025 CAIR Conference program with a presentation on developing and deploying data tools that support a culture of student success, as well as strategies for encouraging adoption across stakeholders and integrating these tools into accreditation processes to maximize their impact.