“There’s a voice behind all those data points — the Foundation’s research reports reveal the people behind the numbers and what they really mean.”

Data analyst Sara S. Spiers’ devotion to public service began in college, where she attended Virginia Tech for both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The school’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), helped shape the trajectory of her research career.

“I think about my career in terms of how I could use my time and talents to be of service to the community,” Sara says. Her deep background in data management and evaluation supports the Foundation’s Learning & Impact department and is vital to initiatives such as Oregon by the Numbers and Oregon Voices.

After graduating with a master’s in public administration in 2017, Sara’s first job was evaluating a human equine program in a minimum security prison in rural Virginia. She then moved to Portland for a research job at the Center for Public Service at Portland State University. She came to the Foundation after seven years at Washington State University’s Vancouver campus, where she helped with implementation and evaluation of the Fostering Higher Education program for foster youth. While there, she earned a second master’s, this one in prevention science.

“I wanted to take all these rich experiences of working with different types of communities and really focus on telling stories through evaluation and data collection,” she says. “The Foundation really aligns with my mission-driven mindset.”

In her free time, Sara enjoys exploring new running routes and trails in Oregon.