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Kim Pierson, Strategic Initiatives & Operations Manager
Kim Pierson (she/her) provides operational support to the RILDS Center. She also leads the development of cross-sector research and data initiatives at the intersection of education, workforce, and economic policy. She has held roles including data analyst, director of data analytics, and program director (2016–2021), bringing over 16 years of experience in quantitative and geospatial analysis to support state agencies, academic institutions, and community organizations.
Kim holds a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois.
Meet Kim: In my free time, I love spending quality time with my husband and children, exploring on my bike, diving into a good book, and raising monarch caterpillars and butterflies during spring and summer.
Sarah Cote, Data Analyst
Sarah Cote (she/her) joined the RILDS teams as a Data Analyst in 2024. She is responsible for performing quantitative analyses and developing insightful visualizations that generate understanding, collaboration, and public good in our state.
A born and raised Rhode Islander, Sarah holds a Master of Social Work degree from Rhode Island College and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Providence College. Prior to joining RILDS, she was the Director for the Health Equity Zone in Cranston. She brings a passion for data democratization, cross-sector collaboration, and supporting opportunities for agencies to infuse data in their work.
Meet Sarah: You can often find me cooking up a new vegetarian recipe, taking a barre or power yoga class, or spending as much time as possible in warm weather with my husband and our 20-year-old long-haired dachshund, Sophie.
Padmashri Saravanan, Data Analyst
Padmashri Saravanan (she/they) is a Data Analyst that joined RILDS in 2024 after completing their Master of Health Science in Epidemiology. They have previously worked as a Data Science Fellow at the National Institutes of Health, have led various data analysis efforts at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and have been an R educator since 2019. They are also passionate about promoting accessibility in data science education. Padma additionally holds a Master of Science in Mathematics.
Meet Padma: In my spare time, I enjoy trying out new recipes and digging into the lives of reality TV stars.
Taylor Young, Data Analyst
Taylor Young (he/they) joined the RILDS team in 2024 as a Data Analyst. They previously worked as an epidemiologist for the Center for Health Equity at Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as well as in finance and business operations. They are excited to continue their focus and passion for equity through their work at RILDS.
They hold a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Epidemiology from the University of Louisville in Kentucky, where they are originally from.
Meet Taylor: When I am not working, I enjoy cooking/baking, reading, being outdoors, working in the garden, and going on adventures with my husband and our dogs.