Data Foundation Welcomes New Fellows

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 16, 2025 – The Data Foundation, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to advancing data-driven decision-making and fostering innovation in the public sector, is pleased to announce a new cohort of fellows and senior fellows. Their diverse expertise, spanning data science, policy analysis, and public administration, enhances the Data Foundation's ongoing initiatives.

As fellows, they will work within the Center for Data Policy, Center for Evidence Capacity, and Climate Data Collaborative. Fellows conduct original research on emerging data governance challenges and contribute to policy recommendations in support of the organization's mission of promoting data transparency, use, and accessibility in government.

Center for Data Policy 

Taka Ariga brings more than 25 years of experience of driving large-scale, data-driven innovations that empower organizations to make evidence-based decisions. He has taken on key data leadership roles, including Chief AI Officer, Chief Data Officer, and Chief Data Scientist, and was the lead author of the Government Accountability Office’s AI Accountability Framework. As the founder of Sol Imagination, he advises both public and private sector organizations on how to effectively leverage data to address policy, legislative, and operational challenges. 

Hyon Kim has established herself as a leader in open government data and brings more than a decade of experience in the development and implementation of open data policy that improves transparency in government and paves the way for better services for the public. She recently served as Program Director of Data.gov at the General Services Administration, where she led the development of the U.S. government’s open data program, from its inception to its expansion, under the OPEN Government Data Act. She also has significant experience in national security, having previously worked at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and served as counsel to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. 

Center for Evidence Capacity 

Lauren Damme, Ph.D., is a policy and evaluation expert, bringing more than 20 years of experience in leading global policy reforms that have improved education, labor, and health outcomes for millions of workers and children. As a former Director of Research at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Chief Evaluation Office, she has built expertise in driving organizational changes and digital transformation within government agencies. Lauren is currently an adjunct professor at the George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. 

Susan Jenkins, Ph.D., has extensive experience in evidence-based policymaking and program evaluation, and has more than 25 years of experience in transforming complex datasets into actionable insights that drive effective policy and program development. She most recently served as the Director of the Division of Evidence, Evaluation, and Data Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and has held key leadership roles at the U.S. Administration for Community Living, including Evaluation Officer, Chief Data Officer, and Performance Officer. In 2023, she was recognized by the Data Foundation as the Federal Evaluation Officer of the Year in the Datum Awards. 

The cohort of new fellows also includes Ben Macdonald, Catherine Atkin, and Liv Watson, who bring expertise ranging from AI and data strategy, to financial and business reporting, and climate data infrastructure. Together, they will bridge the gap between data governance frameworks and practical implementation, and work alongside Executive Director Ryan Alexander at the Data Foundation’s Climate Data Collaborative.

The Data Foundation looks forward to collaborating with these fellows to strengthen its mission of advancing data innovation, data policy, and enabling evidence capacity in government decision-making.

###

About the Data Foundation

The Data Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that champions the use of open data and evidence-informed public policy to make society better for everyone. As a nonpartisan think tank, we conduct research, collaborative thought leadership, and advocacy programs that advance practical policies for the creation and use of accessible, trustworthy data. Our activities proactively address emerging data-related needs in the country with the goal of devising realistic solutions, accelerating policy coordination, and advancing innovation. The Data Foundation is recognized by Candid Guidestar with the Platinum Seal of Transparency and received 4-Stars from Charity Navigator. To learn more, visit www.datafoundation.org. (LEI: 254900I43CTC59RFW495)