Susan Paykin

I lead data-driven social impact projects and communicate findings to audiences in approachable, accessible ways.

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Currently

My work integrates technical, programmatic, and big-picture strategic expertise.

I work at the Data Science Institute at the University of Chicago, where I’m an Associate Director of Community Centered Data Science and the Program Lead of the Open Spatial Lab. Dylan Halpern and I co-founded the Open Spatial Lab in 2022 to diversify perspectives in spatial data science practice through developing more accessible tools for data exploration, management, and visualization. We work closely with public and social sector organizations and develop open source data tools that serve their needs, like communicating programmatic impact to community or funders, or tracking the latest policy impacts.

I occasionally take on independent consulting and (geospatial) data projects.

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A bit about

I’ve always enjoyed building knowledge and getting my hands dirty in different fields. Prior to finding my niche in data science, I worked in farming & agriculture. I farmed diversified vegetables, flowers, and small-scale livestock, primarily in New York’s Hudson Valley Region by way of Shelter Island, NY and rural Tuscany, Italy. This has influenced my approach to data science and real-world understanding of food & environmental policy and sustainability issues. Today, I’m based in Chicago, IL, where I live in Bridgeport.

Among other things, I make maps with data. Above: I built an interactive map of Chicago wards, electoral precincts, and IL legislative districts for a political org partner running candidates in the 2023 municipal election.