Scott Powell, Chief Data Officer, State of Michigan
Scott Powell is the chief data officer for the State of Michigan. As the founding director of the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics (MCDA), Scott leads efforts to enhance and promote evidence -based decision making across state government. He directs the MCDA team in turning data into actionable information, specializing in advanced analytics, program evaluation, and administrative data systems. His recent work focuses on developing cross-agency collaboration and analytic capacity in state government and promoting data literacy in the public sector. Before taking on his current role, Scott served as the center’s research director, leading numerous projects evaluating the effectiveness of state programs in labor and higher education. Prior to joining the State of Michigan, Scott held appointments as a researcher with the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, where he developed multiple research projects for the State of New Jersey, and as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee. Scott is a native of the Flint, Michigan area and holds degrees from Michigan State University and Ohio State University.
