The Perfect Pair

Peanut Butter and Jelly. Milk and Cookies. Pink and Green. 

There are so many things that just pair so well together. Throughout my professional career, and even in my current role, I’ve worked on many types of collaborations, but my favorite pairing is the one that brings together two powerful perspectives: data and student voice.

I had my first real taste of this combination in higher education while working as a graduate assistant for the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). Working at a research center on nationally administered surveys is an experience I don’t take for granted. At the end of both the NSSE and its sister survey for faculty (FSSE), participants responded to a series of open-ended questions. And that’s where the data truly came to life. 

This practice wasn’t unfamiliar. As a journalist, I didn’t just report statistics on Chicago’s gun violence; I told the stories of the people directly impacted. Those experiences shaped how I think about partnerships today; numbers matter, but stories give them meaning.    

The Power of Data

Data is powerful because it gives us patterns, trends, and measurable outcomes. In higher education, data shows where students are thriving, where they’re struggling, and where institutions need to focus attention. Numbers can illuminate inequities that might otherwise remain hidden, such as persistence gaps for first-generation students or differences in faculty workload.

But data has its limits. It can tell us what is happening, but not always why. Without context, numbers can be too abstract—important, but incomplete. And too often, data reflects the experiences of the majority while overlooking the realities of smaller, marginalized groups.

The Power of Student Voice

That’s where student voice comes in. If data shows us the map, the student voice tells us what it actually feels like to walk the terrain. Student perspectives - and those of faculty and staff - add depth, nuance, and humanity to the numbers. They explain the “why” behind the patterns we see in surveys, reports, or dashboards.

Student voice is especially critical for what researchers often refer to as “small populations”—groups often overlooked and even intentionally suppressed in large datasets, such as adult learners or Black and Brown students. Listening directly to their experiences helps institutions move beyond assumptions and into real understanding. For example, a survey may flag low retention rates, but conversations with students might reveal barriers like limited childcare options, advising gaps, or financial stressors that the numbers alone don’t capture.

On its own, student voice can sometimes be dismissed as anecdotal. But paired with data, it becomes undeniable. Together, they tell a story that leaders can’t ignore—and, more importantly, one they can act on.

Why This Partnership Matters 

For me, this pairing is also deeply personal. As a researcher, I know the power of disaggregated data because it’s the only way my own story would ever appear in a large dataset. That realization grounds my commitment to ensuring that others—especially those from small or overlooked populations—are also seen, heard, and honored when we bring data and voice together.

My dissertation journey reinforced this truth. Doctoral students are often told, “the best dissertation is a done dissertation,” and a mixed-methods study can sometimes feel too ambitious. But I chose to design my research in two phases: first, a qualitative study with interviews; then, survey questions built from those findings that reached a larger population. The interviews gave me stories, and the survey gave me patterns. Together, they painted a fuller, more honest picture than either could alone. 

Finishing that process was one of my greatest successes- not only because of the degree itself, but because it proved that pairing data with voice can transform research into impact. And if this approach can strengthen a dissertation, imagine what it could do for institutional decision-making: policies grounded in numbers and lived experiences that lead to more equitable outcomes. 

What This Looks Like in Practice

Pairing data with student voice doesn't have to mean launching a full-scale research project. It can start with small, intentional steps that shift how institutions make decisions. At SRS, we support campuses in taking these steps, helping them pair student perspectives into institutional data to make more informed decisions - an approach central to what we do.  

Disaggregate your data. Go beyond institutional averages to examine how different populations like first-generation students, adult learners, and students of color are experiencing your campus. Without this step, inequities remain hidden in the “big picture.”

Create space for stories. Focus groups, interviews, listening sessions, or even informal conversations can surface context that numbers alone can’t capture. These stories bring the data to life and uncover the barriers students are actually navigating. 

Close the loop. When students, staff, or faculty share their experiences, let them know how their input shaped the next step. Sharing back decisions or changes builds trust and shows that their voices are valued rather than extracted.  

When leaders consistently pair numbers with narratives, they build a culture where decisions are not just data-informed but also human-centered, and that’s where transformation happens. 

That’s why this partnership, data and voice, excites me. It moves conversations from abstract numbers or isolated anecdotes to meaningful change – and, when applied intentionally, policy change that institutions can act on and students can feel.

So, here’s my challenge: The next time you review survey results, ask yourself whose voices are missing. The next time you listen to student stories, ask what the data says about how widespread those experiences are. And above all, commit to bringing both to the table - because that’s where real, lasting change begins.