Development Analytics 102

Friday, July 12, 2013

Before diving with the twists and turns of predictive analytics, one must make sure the pools of data are as clean as possible, else we face the possibility of emerging from our deep dives with spurious (i.e., "dirty") associations!

Join with others within and outside the NEDRA community for a presentation on data "PET-ing," that is, data preparation, exploration and transformation. As part of the presentation, an introductory tutorial on SPSS, a statistics software, will be given. Following the tutorial, participants will be given time to do some "data PET-ing" exercises on mock fundraising data. The presentation and tutorial are geared towards those who have little to no exposure to formal statistics training and software use. The presentation and tutorial will also be held in a computer lab with SPSS already installed; no hardware or software are required for event attendees at the time of attendance.

Faculty:

James Cheng currently holds the position of Assistant Director of Prospect Identification & Analytics in Development Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Like many folks in development research, James' background is not directly related to philanthropy or fundraising. Other than resource development, he's made intellectual and professional forays into cell and development biology, secondary science education, as well as educational research, measurement, and evaluation. While finishing up a doctorate degree in applied statistics in education at Boston College, James' interest in development was piqued when he also took on the role of Prospect Data Mining and Modeling Specialist at MIT from 2006 to 2008. After spending time in the corporate world as a healthcare market researcher, James returned to the Light, working at Dana-Farber since January of 2011.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/a-z/maps/s-approach.html

FROM POINTS NORTH AND SOUTH:

Take Interstate 95 (Route 128) to Exit 24 (Route 30). Proceed east on Route 30, also known as Commonwealth Avenue, and follow for about five miles to Boston College.

FROM POINTS WEST:

Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) to Exit 17. At the first set of lights after the exit ramp, take a right onto Centre Street. Follow Centre Street to the fourth set of lights, and turn left onto Commonwealth Avenue. Follow Commonwealth Avenue 1-1/2 miles to Boston College.

FROM DOWNTOWN BOSTON:

Take the Massachusetts Turnpike (Route 90) to Exit 17. Take a left over the bridge after passing the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Take the first right onto Centre Street. Follow above directions from Centre Street.

GPS AND GOOGLE MAPS NAVIGATION:

If you plan to park on campus, please use the following addresses for navigation. Parking is extremely limited on middle campus. Adequate parking is available in the garages below. Please see the visitor parking information to the right for access times for each garage.

FOR THE BEACON STREET GARAGE:

Use the intersection of Beacon and Chestnut Hill Drive, Boston, MA 02135. Head west on Beacon and the entrance to the Beacon Street Garage is just a few blocks headed west on Beacon Street.

FOR THE COMMONWEALTH AVENUE GARAGE:

Use the intersection of St. Thomas More Road and Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. From St. Thomas More Road, take Campanella Way to the Commonwealth Garage.

To enter Boston College via its Main Gate, use the 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA address for navigation.

VISITOR PARKING:

From September through May, all visitors should park in the Beacon Street Garage above level three, unless instructed otherwise.

From June through August, all visitors should park in the Beacon Street Garage as well, unless instructed otherwise or visiting the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Visitors to Undergraduate Admissions during these months may park in the Commonwealth Avenue Garage above level three.

Parking locations are subject to change due to weather, construction, large events or other conditions.  Please pay attention to signs and University personnel when on campus.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

The Boston College branch of the MBTA's "Green Line" (B) ends at the Boston-Newton boundary on Commonwealth Avenue. Cross the street and walk by St. Ignatius Church and follow the perimeter road around to campus entrances.

Pricing:

NEDRA Members: $85

Non-members: $125