About
Hi, I'm Michael
I build data systems that help communities. As Director of Data at Child Poverty Action Lab, I've spent nearly six years designing infrastructure that turns administrative data into action—from eviction records that connect families to legal aid, to tools that help organizations identify residents eligible for housing assistance.
My background in psychology, anthropology, and public policy shaped how I approach this work. I'm most effective at the intersection of technical and programmatic—translating between technical teams and community stakeholders, ensuring analytical rigor while keeping the focus on real-world impact.
What I've Built
At CPAL, I've led the development of data infrastructure that serves real community needs:
- Data pipelines processing 40,000+ eviction records annually, used by partners including Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center and Eviction Lab
- 30+ interactive dashboards (R Shiny) informing decisions on housing stability, public safety, and resource allocation
- Project management systems and operational processes now used org-wide
- Currently leading migration to Databricks, systematizing 35-40 data pipelines for long-term scale
Technical Skills
Languages & Analytics
- R (tidyverse, sf, ggplot2)
- SQL
- Python
- Statistical Modeling
Data Infrastructure
- Databricks
- ETL / Data Pipelines
- Git / CI/CD
- CKAN / Jenkins
Visualization & Apps
- R Shiny
- Tableau
- Quarto
- Leaflet / Mapbox
Domain Expertise
- Housing & Eviction
- Public Safety
- Social Policy
- Community Development
Let's Connect
I'm always interested in connecting with others working at the intersection of data, technology, and social impact.