McCourt School’s Massive Data Institute Welcomes New Executive Director

“I’m delighted to welcome Amy O’Hara as the new Executive Director of the Massive Data Institute,” said Dean Carole Roan Gresenz. “Amy’s expertise in federal statistical research and her commitment to using data to advance policy outcomes position her perfectly to lead MDI forward. I’m also deeply grateful to Lisa Singh for her exceptional service as Executive Director. Under Lisa’s leadership, MDI has grown in influence and impact, becoming a vital hub for cutting-edge research and policy engagement.”

Amy O’Hara is a research professor in MDI and the executive director of the Federal Statistical Research Data Center at McCourt. Prior to joining Georgetown, Amy was a senior executive at the U.S. Census Bureau, where she founded its administrative data curation and research unit. She received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Notre Dame.

An interdisciplinary research institute, MDI connects experts across computer science, data science, public health, public policy and social science to tackle challenges at societal scale. The institute partners with faculty and external organizations to advance research that improves public policy and equips the next generation of scholars and practitioners with innovative methods for conducting data-centric, interdisciplinary work.

MDI draws on expertise from across Georgetown’s campus through partnerships with the Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, city and state governments, academic institutions and think tanks. The U.S. Census Bureau has designated MDI a Federal Statistical Research Data Center, one of only 34 in the nation.