Taylor Odle

Children develop their career aspirations early in life, and their aspirations mirror our unequal world. When students and families don’t see people who look like them go to college or work in fields like science and technology, and when the educational institutions they attend don’t encourage them to take steps toward those futures, inequalities are reproduced.

Taylor Odle harnesses data science to provide institutions and policy makers with evidence to make informed decisions and break recurring cycles of inequality. He believes the best way to accomplish this is by eliminating barriers like application forms, fees, and recommendations, instead using data about individual students to connect them with educational opportunities. For example, K-12 schools can use student data to flag potential for success in STEM and advanced courses, nudging students toward paths they might not otherwise consider. Colleges and universities can use high school data for direct admissions, where qualified students are automatically admitted to campuses.

Odle is motivated by the Wisconsin Idea and wants his research to impact people’s lives. He aims to answer the high-stakes questions policy makers are asking, with the goal of giving everyone access to economic prosperity.

“Students aren’t making optimal decisions because they have imperfect information. What data science can do is provide individuals with real-time information to help them make more informed decisions. It can give them a confidence boost and help correct their beliefs around their own abilities.”