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Gartner Expert
Marlena Brown
Sr Director Analyst
Marlena Brown is a Senior Director Analyst in Gartner Research and Advisory focusing on Student Success & Academic technologies. Ms. Brown concentrates on education, primarily higher education, and K-12 (elementary/secondary) sectors, supporting Gartner clients globally. Ms. Brown's primary research focuses on support student academic technologies (LMS), administrative systems in support of the 360 student experience (CRM) and how higher education CIO's can convey the business value of IT to foster digital transformation.
Her technical experience includes data warehouse design and responsibility for academic and administrative technologies. Her strategic background includes building data-driven cultures that utilizes analytics to drive actionable and measurable strategies around initiatives like recruitment, retention, and on-time completion.
Her unique combination of direct technical experience and education leadership allow her to bridge the gap between IT and higher education functional strategic initiatives. She has worked with 100+ institutions around the world in crafting actionable plans aimed at achieving strategic opportunities both with IT and across institutions.
Previous experience
Ms. Brown's representative experience includes:
- Assisted organizations in leverage analytics resulting in increased admission, retention & completion rates
- Established collaborative and inclusive data governance structures to promote a "culture of analytics"
- Architected, Designed & Implemented data warehouses and delivered useful and usable information to inform strategic decision making
- Implemented K-12 and Higher Education ERP Suites (HCM, Finance, SIS) solutions
- Strategic leader for IT within an R1 University responsible for all academic and administrative computing systems
Professional background
Blackboard, Principal Higher Education Analytics Consulting, 4 years
Purdue University, Assist Vice Chancellor Information Systems, 3 years
Richard Stockon University, Directory Computer Services, 10 years
Areas of coverage
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Education Technology Insights
Education
Bachelor of Science Economics, Drexel University
Master of Information Systems, Drexel University
Top Issues That I Help Clients Address
Optimize data & analytics programs to support learner success
Select, review, and optimize CRM solutions (recruitment/admission, student success, advancement) to create a 360 student environment
Select, review, and optimize learning management systems in higher education
Create support for digital innovation by conveying the business value of IT
Evolve institution strategy to enable environment for AI usage that impacts higher education outcomes