Data User Conference Registration Now Open

Registration for the 2024 Pennsylvania Data User Conference is now open at pasdcconference.org. We invite you to join us this year in State College at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. This conference, co-sponsored by the Center for Rural PA, spans two days filled with presentations on applied data analysis and demographic research.

The first day includes concurrent sessions led by U.S. Census Bureau staff and other analysts and researchers from across the state. The day’s plenary session will spotlight Penn State Extension’s National Broadband Navigator. Leaders of this session include Harry Crissy, Geospatial Intelligence Analyst; Jim Ladlee, Program Leader of Emerging and Advanced Technologies at Penn State Extension; and Kyle Snyder, Broadband Planning Specialist at the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development. They will discuss both the development and the significant impacts of the Navigator, crucial for advancing broadband accessibility throughout Pennsylvania and beyond.

Our keynote speaker, Philip Falvo, Public Policy Director at the United Way of Pennsylvania, will share insights into the use of ALICE data for shaping public policy and enhancing community initiatives. His talk will highlight how demographic and socioeconomic data analysis supports the United Way’s mission and informs strategic decisions across various projects.

The second day focuses on population change in Pennsylvania and its broader implications. The morning session, “Population Projections: Methodologies and Impacts,” will feature experts from the U.S. Census Bureau and Center for Rural PA. The session will explore various techniques used in demographic forecasting and the effects these projections have on planning and policy.

The day continues with a panel discussion, “Perspectives on Pennsylvania’s Changing Population.” Panelists will discuss how demographic shifts are reshaping education, public policy, and community services in Pennsylvania. Moderated by Kyle Kopko, PhD, Director of the Center for Rural PA, the panel features:

• Raffy Luquis, PhD, Interim Director, School of Behavioral Sciences and Education, Penn State Harrisburg

• Charles Patterson, PhD, President, Shippensburg University

• Phil Sirinides, PhD, Director, Institute of State & Regional Affairs, Penn State Harrisburg

This year’s conference is in-person only. We hope to see you there!