Strategic higher education leader Nick Branson brings nearly 20 years of applied research experience to College of DuPage as the new vice president of Analytics, Strategy and Research. 

“COD provides such a high-quality education to a large population of students in the community. I'm really grateful to have the opportunity to leverage my skills to advance the institution’s mission,” said Branson.  

As vice president of the Analytics, Strategy and Research Division, Branson serves as the College's champion for data, ensuring COD collects and uses meaningful information to guide transformational improvements. His role involves collecting and analyzing data, researching best practices in higher education and student success and leveraging evidence to develop initiatives that advance the College’s strategic plan. 

“High-performing colleges today really need to use evidence to inform work throughout the entire organization to identify and develop strategic improvements and better serve their students and the community,” he said. 

Branson holds a Ph.D. in research methodology from Loyola University Chicago, an M.A. in social sciences from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in sociology from Loyola University Chicago. After finishing his academic studies, Branson worked in market research in the corporate sector before switching over to educational research, looking to give back to higher education for the role it played in his life as a first-generation college student. 

“Higher education changed my life and my trajectory,” he said. “I spent a lot of time in my studies researching how education can do that for people, how it can improve socioeconomic mobility and the service it provides to society. So, I knew I wanted to give back to higher education for what it helped provide me.” 

Branson’s first role in higher education was as a research analyst in institutional effectiveness at National Louis University. At the same time, he taught sociology as an adjunct instructor at College of Lake County, where he later found a full-time position as the assistant director of institutional effectiveness, planning and research. 

Branson spent 14 years at College of Lake County, moving up the ladder to become the director of student success strategy, a new role that used data to drive initiatives aimed at improving the student experience. Through this work, he led and coordinated efforts that resulted in a 10-percentage-point increase in College of Lake County graduation rates over five years. 

His most recent position was assistant vice president of strategic advancement, where he oversaw student success strategy, institutional effectiveness and grants. 

“Most of my career I've spent engaged in work similar to what my team and I will be doing here at College of DuPage. Having experience as a research analyst provides me with the technical insights to understand the details, while my leadership roles have given me the perspective to see the big picture and bring those details together,” he said. 

Looking to build on his 16-year career in higher education, Branson looks forward to serving the COD community and helping transform students’ lives through strategic leadership. 

“It’s always important for me to remember that all the data and numbers I look at every day are people, and we're hoping to change their lives for the better,” he said.