Damian Thorkelson

Biography

Damian Thorkelson serves as the Student Affairs Assessment Specialist at Oberlin College and Conservatory, leading program assessment designed to align with strategic priorities and processes. He collaborates closely across Student Affairs departments and units to create and implement assessment, evaluation, and learning outcomes. With the goal of supporting data-informed decision-making, Damian ensures assessment practices are strategically aligned with Oberlin's mission, directly contributing to institutional effectiveness and student success.

Damian holds a Bachelor of Arts in organizational psychology from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Science in human resource development from Indiana State University. He also earned an Associate of Arts with a focus in data analytics. His expertise is further supported by certifications in OpenAI and Prompt Engineering from Vanderbilt University, a Project Management Certificate from Google, and a Six Sigma Yellow Belt from the Six Sigma Institute. With a strong foundation in analytics and artificial intelligence, Damian is committed to using data to inform strategic decisions and enhance student success.