UA Little Rock leaders played a key role in the state’s first Chief Data Officer forum today at the State Capitol.

Chancellor Andrew Rogerson and Dr. Richard Wang, executive director of the Institute for Chief Data Officers, both spoke at the day-long meeting which brought together chief data officers from others states and Arkansas government leaders to discuss data exchange.

The Institute for Chief Data Officers is housed at UA Little Rock and is led by Dr. Wang, who is designing the framework for statewide data sharing.

Earlier this year, the Arkansas General Assembly passed Act 912 and created the position of the state’s chief data office. To fulfill that role, the state partnered with the new Institute of Chief Data officers.

“As the state’s metropolitan university, this role of outreach and collaboration is quite fitting with our mission,” Dr. Rogerson said. “We want to be community-engaged through meetings and conferences, outcome-based research, advocacy and public policy support, sharing best practices, and building rewarding connections with business and governmental partners on issues just like this one.”

Four state agencies – Arkansas Community Correction, Department of Correction, Arkansas Parole Board, and Arkansas Crime Information Center – also signed a public safety interagency agreement to share data during the forum. More interagency partnerships are expected.

Pictured (from left): New York Chief Data Officer Todd Harbour; Tennessee chief data officer Jeffrey Kriseman, Texas chief data officer Ed Kelly; State Representative Warwick Sabin; Governor Asa Hutchinson; State Representative Stephen Meeks; Chancellor Andrew Rogerson; and Dr. Richard Wang.