The Office of Institutional Analysis converts raw data into usable information. This information helps support the decision-making process, and provides oversight to UWinnipeg policy development and review. The office analyzes and interprets institutional data, and assists with identifying and tracking metrics related to the University’s Strategic Directions. They explore best policy practices at other post-secondary institutions and apply them to UWinnipeg. They coordinate surveys, conduct environmental scans, and more. A concrete example of what they do can be seen in the recent President’s Report to the University of Winnipeg Board of Regents.
You can find them on the third floor of Wesley Hall and they invite you to come by and say hello, and ask them about university data or policy, “our favourite things to talk about!,” shares the team. Meet your institutional analysis team (in alphabetical order):
Jodene Baker, ©UWinnipeg
Jodene Baker
Director of the Office of Institutional Analysis
Jodene Baker works with faculty, students, and staff. She finds this work incredibly rewarding and interesting.
“My job is so diverse,” shared Baker. “I definitely learn something new about the University every day.”
Baker’s favourite spot on campus is the library, and her favourite go-to lunch is a grilled cheese sandwich on rye and matzo ball soup from the University Club.
When she is not at UWinnipeg, you can find her at home with her husband and two sons — Osborn, who is four and Mikko, who is two. You may also find her playing ultimate frisbee.
“This summer I was a member of Winnipeg’s Masters Women’s Ultimate team and we took home a bronze medal at the Canadian National Championships,” said Baker.
Her favourite movie is a toss-up between Dirty Dancing and Footloose, “Just don’t ask me to think about all of the gender stereotypes in them, it’ll break my heart,’” shared Baker.
Her favourite book is The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
If she had a super power it would be “the ability to wrestle two toddlers into their winter gear in less than 5 minutes.”
Melissa Dupuis, ©UWinnipeg
Melissa Dupuis
Research Analyst
Melissa Dupuis takes pride in her role as research analyst.
“I like to think that our office fulfills the really important role of tracking the success of the University,” shares Dupuis. “UWinnipeg plays such an important as an anchor institution in this city. It is important to reflect on that role and understand how we are succeeding and where we need to improve.”
Her favourite spot on campus is the library.
“I spent a lot of time there as a student in the early 2000s. It has changed some, but still maintains the same look and feel. It’s a lot louder there than it used to be.”
Dupuis is also a big fan of Diversity Food Services on campus.
“As a vegetarian, I appreciate the amount of healthy options that are available.”
When she is not on campus, you can find Dupuis riding her bike and hanging with her children Agnes, who is three and George, who is one. Dupuis also keeps bees and is known to collect a yummy honey that she sells.
When asked about a favourite movie, she admitts to not watching many, but her favourite of the past few years is probably Get Out, and her longtime favourite is the original Jurassic Park.
If she had a super power it would be teleportation.
“It would make travel easier, but also you wouldn’t have to bundle up as often in the winter,” she said.
Her favourite word for how it sounds is “superfluous” and she likes “festooning” – if you are talking about a chain of honey bees.
Daniel Leonard, ©UWinnipeg
Daniel Leonard
Senior Analyst of Policy and Planning for the University
Daniel Leonard enjoys working with a wide range of people and departments at the UWinnipeg.
“I have great colleagues,” said Leonard.
His favourite spots on campus include the library and the atrium in Lockhart Hall. Food wise, he is “a big fan of the University Club chicken fingers.”
When he is not on campus, you can find him running or walking his mini labradoodle Sandy Koufax. You can also find Leonard birding. He enjoys seeing snowy owls, along with American Redstarts and cedar waxwings in warmer temperatures.
His favourite movie is a tie between A River Runs Through It and The Royal Tenenbaums.
His favourite book is Gilead by Marilynne Robinson and his favourite superhero is Squirrel Girl from Marvel.
Leonard loves his job, but if he had a super power it would be early retirement.
Jori Thordarson, photo supplied
Jori Thordarson
Senior Analyst
As a senior analyst, Jori Thordarson’s primary goal is to conduct research and analysis that helps decision making at UWinnipeg. She is responsible for facilitating the review of University policy, which allows her to work with people across campus on a wide range of topics.
“I appreciate that I learn something new every day — whether it’s new subject matter, a new research method, or a new way of talking about and presenting data so that it’s useful for people,” shared Thordarson. “Most of all, though, I love that I get to work in a place where ideas about our world are formed, refined, and debated each day!”
Her favourite spot on campus is the library; she loves getting lost in the stacks.
Her favourite lunch/snack on or around campus is Diversity Food Services’ beet salad when she needs to grab a quick, healthy snack.
When she is not on campus, you can find her by the lake in Gimli with her eight-month-old daughter Fjóla.
As for her favourite book, it was difficult for her to choose.
“I’m going to have to say Puff the Magic Dragon and Carol Shields’ Unless; and anything written by Adrienne Rich, Audre Lorde, and Alice Walker,” she said. “And the poetry of Mary Oliver.”
Her favourite word is an Icelandic one.
“I’ve always loved the word ‘ratiljóst,’ which in English basically means ‘enough light to navigate.'”
To meet other people on campus, please visit The people that you meet.
