Igniting Curiosity through a Data Summit

Session Abstract: Curiosity is the spark that ignites data engagement. At Tarrant County College, the Office of Institutional Research launched the Data and Research Summit, an annual event designed to inspire faculty and staff to explore data beyond compliance and reporting. This session shares how we leveraged storytelling, visual dashboards, and strategic partnerships to cultivate a data-curious community. Attendees will learn how curiosity-driven design led to the creation of the IR Data Hub and IR Corner, which laid the foundation for the Summit and transformed data access and engagement across the college. Along the way, we’ll share key lessons learned from our journey, what worked, what didn’t, and what we’d do differently. Join us to explore practical strategies for hosting your own summit and fostering a culture where curiosity leads to data-informed action.

Keywords: Stakeholder engagement, Storytelling, data literacy, data engagement/utilization