Meet Gray DI
We are industry leaders in academic program evaluation and management
About the Gray DI team
Gray DI’s experienced and talented team members work collaboratively across departments to develop program evaluation management software that empowers higher education. Gray DI clients have the tools and knowledge to make data-informed decisions and develop successful long-term strategies in academic program management.
Gray Decision Intelligence Leadership
Bob Atkins
Founder
Bob led Gray DI’s entry into the education industry and the development of Gray DI’s proprietary industry databases and service offerings. He has worked directly with many of Gray DI’s education clients, consulting with CEOs and CMOs on business strategy, pricing, location selection, curricular efficiency, and program strategy.
Steve Probst
SVP, Customer Success and Data Integrity
Steve works with colleges and universities to assess current and identify new academic programs, evaluate potential new geographic markets and campus locations, improve curricular efficiency, and address other strategic, enrollment, and financial challenges.
Mary Pahissa Upchurch
EVP, Customer Success
Mary leads Gray DI’s relationships with many of the firm’s largest education clients, including state-wide systems with their unique concerns and requirements. Her work includes institutional strategy development, market location, and program portfolio analysis including market vitality, program economics and pricing offer optimization. She specializes in facilitating the critical engagement processes needed to support various governance models, key stakeholders and ensuring transparency of process for institutional alignment and success.
Zachary Paz
EVP & COO
Zach has developed and led Gray DI’s data analytic capabilities and tools. He has drawn together more than a dozen industry and proprietary sources to create comprehensive education industry analytical software. He works with Gray DI’s education clients, consulting them on program strategy, pricing, marketing, financial analysis, and location selection.
Pete Starrett
EVP & CFO
Pete has worked extensively on marketing, operations, program, and location strategies for both on-ground and online colleges and universities across the country. He has developed a method that Gray DI’s education clients use to review and assess their programs and campuses across dozens of U.S. markets.
Ned Caron
EVP & CRO
Ned leads the Marketing Team at Gray DI with a data-informed approach. He is fluent in Gray DI’s leading-edge technology, which is helping to guide and shape efficient and smart decision-making as the most dynamic landscape the higher education industry has ever seen continues to unfold.
Elizabeth Atkins
VP, Decision Intelligence Analysts and Product
As a Vice President at Gray DI, Elizabeth has worked on projects spanning Gray DI’s capabilities and with clients, including a state council on post-secondary education. She has designed, developed, and implemented Gray DI’s PES Academic Program Management dashboard.
Team Members
Youssef Aljabi
Manager, Data Science and ProductJamie Allsbury
RVP, Business DevelopmentBilal Amiri
Decision Intelligence AnalystEllen Atkins
VP, AdministrationMonica Bilson
Senior Project ManagerLorlei Boyd
Decision Intelligence Developer IJessica Randall
Account ManagerAndy Gates
RVP, Business DevelopmentBlair Bullock
Data Engineer IILiu Chang
Decision Intelligence AnalystAndy Dunn
Manager, CS and AdminRalph Garcia
Senior Business Development RepresentativeMichael Hunter
Director, Customer Success and ProductMitchell Jillson
Decision Intelligence Managing AnalystTravis Johnson
Director, Business DevelopmentHaneesha Boppana
IT Security AdministratorAndy Ivory
CTOMichael Ficke
AI Developer INick Jones
Senior Manager, Customer Success
Reeghan Kerns
Manager, Marketing
Kara Kimberl
Decision Intelligence Senior Analyst
Vladimir Landaverde
Senior Director, DI Development I
Ravi Lanka
Senior Decision Intelligence Developer II
Juanel Oriach
Senior Director, Customer Success
Dave Pearce
RVP, Business Development
Chris Shenk
VP, Business Development
Prabhat Tuladhar
Data Engineer I
Mary Ann Romans
AVP, MarketingAndrew Romans
Decision Intelligence AnalystElaine Millar
AVP, ResearchNick Rowles
Lead Data Engineer ISiva Sanapathi
Decision Intelligence Developer IIXinxin Zhang
Decision Intelligence AnalystJennifer Ziegler
VP (CS, HR, and Compliance)Peter Agricola
RVP, Business DevelopmentBrooke Sandoval
Customer Success AssociateDid you know that many of our team members are not only experts in their fields but also published authors of books and articles on academic program evaluation, program growth, and institutional economic viability?
Their thought leadership shapes conversations in higher education and drives meaningful change across institutions. We invite you to explore the links below to read some of their published work and see how their insights continue to influence strategic decisions. You’ll quickly see why institutions across the country trust our team to lead the way forward.
Robert (Bob) Gray Atkins
Bob is the best-selling author of Start, Stop, or Grow?: A Data-informed Approach To Academic Program Evaluation And Management (Hardcover) He has also written many authoritative articles that focus on academic program evaluation strategies. Find Bob’s blogs here.
Zach Paz
Drawing on his expertise in higher education strategy, Zach authored Fiscal Fitness: Launching New Programs to Attract New Student Populations—a guide designed to help institutions boost enrollment through innovative program development.
Elizabeth Atkins
Elizabeth is an expert in using data to make strategic decisions for financial viability and growth. Read Elizabeth’s blogs here.
Elaine Millar
Elaine combines expertise in research and higher education to write some of our most insightful articles. Find Elaine’s blogs here.
Mary Ann Romans
Mary Ann’s favorite piece is a collaboration titled, “Cellular Agriculture Programs: When “Tastes Like Chicken” Takes on New Meaning.” You can find Mary Ann’s blogs here.
Monica Bilson
Monica holds the Gray DI record for the most-read blog piece, “The Artists Are Not Starving: How Arts Programs Profit Students and Schools.” Read Monica’s blogs here.
Authorities in Academic Program Evaluation and Management
From market evaluation and curricular efficiency to machine learning and predictive analytics, Gray team members are masters of data analysis for academic program evaluation. They serve as public speakers, authors, writers, and expert sources in the field of academic program evaluation and management.