University of Arkansas at Little Rock Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Zulma Toro has announced the appointment of William C. “Cody” Decker as director of the Office of Institutional Research. He will join UALR on July 1.

With 13 years of experience in information systems, research, and technology, Decker comes to UALR after serving six years at the Arkansas Department of Education, most recently as assistant commissioner of education and chief information officer. During his tenure, he led the development of a three-year strategic plan for research and technology and managed a budget of nearly $14 million, while also doubling the performance efficiency of the statewide information system.

Decker also implemented cost-saving measures to account for a 10 percent reduction in federal grants and delivered $780,000 in annual cost savings by transferring business intelligence to internal infrastructure at the agency.

“Dr. Decker is an accomplished executive with years of experience in data-driven decision making, information quality, leadership, and budget management,” said Toro. “He is also a distinguished UALR alumnus whose experience in education makes him uniquely qualified for this position.”

Prior to his appointment as assistant commissioner/CIO, he was division leader and director of information systems, research and technology, where he launched and piloted a new data certification system and was the architect of the first statewide education system (SIS) in the nation capable of data collection down to the classroom level.

He has also worked as network project manager in research and technology at Dawson Education Cooperative and technical support manager at Environmental and Spatial Technology, Inc. (EAST).

Decker received a doctorate in philosophy in integrated computing in 2014, an M.S. degree in information quality in 2007; and a B.S. degree in information science in 2006, graduating magna cum laude, all from UALR. In 2007, he received the Graduate Student Outstanding Achievement Award.