“Eversource’s partnership with Quinnipiac’s Department of Lifelong Learning reflects a forward-thinking commitment to workforce empowerment,” said Lifelong Learning Director Alison Witherspoon, Ed.D. “Continuous employee development and upskilling, especially in high-demand areas like data literacy, are critical to maintaining a competitive advantage.”

Mariette J. Collins, Eversource Enterprise Learning and Organizational Development Manager, said strong data literacy is no longer a “plus” — it’s essential.

“Integrating a course on Data Literacy Fundamentals into our Eversource Leadership Development curriculum is a strategic investment in building the competencies our future leaders need,” Collins said. “It equips them to confidently interpret data, ask the right questions, make informed decisions, and communicate insights through compelling stories and strong business cases. This foundation advances the analytical mindset required to lead with impact in a complex, fast-paced environment.”

Through this groundbreaking partnership, Eversource is leveraging Quinnipiac’s expertise to focus future company leaders on critical aspects of big data, an increasingly vital driver of strategic decisions.

“By integrating academic expertise into their operations, they are equipping employees with the analytical skills necessary to make informed, agile decisions. This collaboration exemplifies how industry and academia can work together to drive innovation and organizational transformation,” Witherspoon said.

Quinnipiac Lifelong Learning provides continuing professional and executive education by developing results-oriented programs for individuals, training workshops for teams, and custom solutions for organizations.

Eversource managers and high potential emerging leaders engaged in the customized Data Literacy Fundamentals course work closely with expert Quinnipiac faculty as they gained pivotal strengths in interpreting, analyzing, and communicating data to make strategic business decisions.

The virtual program consists of three interactive, two-hour sessions. Through engaging discussions and hands-on activities, Eversource program participants take away practical, immediately applicable data literacy skills that can enhance their daily work. Whether new to working with data or looking to sharpen analytical abilities, the program provides a valuable foundation for using data more effectively.

Quinnipiac School of Business Associate Professor Tamilla Triantoro, Ph.D., leads the Eversource Data Literacy Fundamentals course as well as an open course in data literacy recently launched by Quinnipiac Lifelong Learning.

Triantoro's expertise is in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human-AI Collaboration, and the Future of Work. She has shared her insights globally, presenting her research at academic conferences and industry events on six continents.

"This program is not about mastering one data analytics tool or one technique,” said Triantoro. “It is about learning to think with data so you can adapt to new tools as they come. Whether you are using Excel, AI-powered dashboards, or natural language interfaces, the core skill is the same: can you find the story in data, and can you explain it well?"

Eversource participants such as Sloane Peterson feel the learning experience has profoundly impacted personal professional development. Peterson said the program’s interactive coursework provided meaningful foundational skills to interpret, analyze, and communicate data.

“Through real-world case studies, and collaborative exercises, participants gain practical knowledge in data visualization and data-driven decision-making. The course relayed the importance of data to all departments of the company, especially Human Resources,” said Peterson. “A key component of the course is learning how to select and use the right types of charts to convey insights clearly and persuasively. Participants explore how to match data types with visual formats—such as bar charts for comparisons, line graphs for trends, and scatter plots for correlations—ensuring their analyses are both accurate and impactful. Before this class, I didn’t realize how much the wrong chart could confuse the message and relay the wrong data. Now I feel confident choosing visuals that present data in the best possible way.”

Eversource program participant Sara Grant said working with Quinnipiac faculty provided insights and information which has enhanced her knowledge and strengthened her skill set.

“Having worked in website production for over 15 years, I have been using data to make decisions every day,” said Grant. “This course helped me hone my skills and I feel more confident in data visualization and communicating results to different audiences. It’s easy to get blinded by numbers, but this course also reminded me of all the great qualitative data I should be seeking out and using in our decisions.”

Witherspoon said the ambitious partnership between Eversource and Quinnipiac Lifelong Learning is a powerful example of the type of collaboration which can unlock transformative opportunities to expand workforce knowledge.

“Partnering with Quinnipiac to build custom learning solutions enables organizations to tap into cutting-edge expertise and academic rigor, bringing the fresh perspectives and practical knowledge of our faculty directly into the workplace,” Witherspoon said. “Whether through comprehensive leadership development programs or future-ready skills workshops, it’s a powerful way to not only strengthen individual capabilities but also drive organizational resilience and long-term success.”