College Welcomes Director of Institutional Research

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By Sam Blakley, ‘16

Brevard College is pleased to announce that Sherry Downing will join our campus community as the new Director for Institutional Research and Planning.

Ms. Downing will report to Vice President of Strategic Planning and Athletics Juan Mascaro and will be responsible for developing and leading institutional research efforts for the College.

Ms. Downing most recently served as Institutional Research Director for Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, North Carolina. She has nearly 30 years of experience developing and coordinating research efforts of both educational institutions, like Brevard, and commercially. Her professional background includes serving as Director of Institutional Assessment, Research, and Planning at Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Senior Product Analyst for Keane Corporation. Ms. Downing earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Diplomacy/Foreign Affairs and Political Science from Miami University and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati. She has worked as a research consultant throughout Ohio.

Mascaro noted that Downing’s experience and passions make her a great fit for the college and surrounding community.

“She’s very knowledgeable and very experienced,” Mascaro said. “We’re excited to fill a long-vacant position. She is going to give us the ability to make data-based decisions, which is important for us to better learn about ourselves.”

In her downtime, Ms. Downing enjoys cycling with her husband, trail running, and volunteering with Australian Shepherd rescue organizations. She said she has visited the area for years with her husband and is excited to finally be able to make it their home.

“Being able to come in and mold the position,” Downing said. “It’s a huge challenge but it’s also an exciting opportunity. It’s something I’ve done before, and I look forward to the opportunity to do so here.”