Meet Our New Intern: Natalie Gross

May 26, 2026

Meet Natalie Gross, one of our new interns in the Data & Advanced Analytics Unit. Natalie recently graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in public policy.

We recently caught up with her to hear about her educational goals and what new and exciting things she will be learning through her CPE internship.

What drew you to CPE?

I was drawn to CPE because of its mission to use data and research to improve higher education across the state. I was especially interested in how our data can help expand opportunity and strengthen our communities. The chance to work with large-scale data and contributing to projects that inform statewide decision-making made this opportunity incredibly exciting to me.

Why do you think the work of CPE's Data Unit matters? Why should people listen? 

The work of the Data & Advanced Analytics Unit matters because good policy depends on good information. The data collected and analyzed by CPE helps leaders understand what is working and where gaps exist. The data can also help understand how resources can be used more effectively to support students across Kentucky. People should listen because the unit turns complex information into actionable insights that can directly shape educational access, affordability and student success.

Why does higher education matter to you? 

Higher education matters to me because it creates opportunity and gives people the tools to improve their own lives and communities. My experience at the University of Kentucky has shown me how education can open doors professionally and personally. I also believe higher education plays a major role in economic mobility and in building a stronger future for Kentucky.

What skills/insights do you hope to gain out of this experience?

I hope to strengthen my technical skills in structured query language, Tableau, and data visualization while gaining experience working with large administrative datasets. I’m also excited to learn more about how research and analytics support real policy decisions at the state level. Beyond technical skills, I hope to gain insight into how to communicate data clearly and effectively to different audiences.

Ultimately, what difference do you hope your contributions will make for higher education in Kentucky? 

I hope my contributions help support data-driven decisions that improve student outcomes and expand access to higher education in Kentucky. Even in a small way, I want my work to contribute to policies and research that help students succeed regardless of where they come from. As someone who cares deeply about economic opportunity and public policy, being part of that work and those conversations is an opportunity to contribute to important change.

Fun fact about Natalie: She loves cats and has two named Spicy and Kodak.

CPE's Data and Advanced Analytics Unit plays a critical role in driving the agency’s strategic agenda by providing meaningful insights on higher education issues to the Governor’s Office and state legislature. The unit is also nationally recognized for its innovative research and longitudinal data system.

To learn more about CPE’S data center, click here: https://cpe.ky.gov/data/index.html.