Krystal Rider to Head the Omaha Data Science Academy

The Omaha Data Science Academy (ODSA) is excited to announce the hiring of Krystal Rider as its new president. 

As a former director of a code school and a technology library, Rider has spent her career at the forefront of educational and technological advancement. Her work in these roles has consistently demonstrated her dedication to engaging the community, as well as her unwavering commitment to tech equity that she will bring to the ODSA’s mission. 

“I have ambitious goals for our little trade school,” says Rider. “The ODSA is an amazing resource for Nebraska to find its tech talent, but we are going to make it better.”

Until recently, the top leadership position of the ODSA was held by Nate Watson, president of Contemporary Analysis, the parent company of the ODSA. But now, with Rider at the helm,and backed by a grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Develop, the tech training school is positioned to expand its scope greatly. 

As the new president, Krystal is excited to help to make a tech career more accessible to Nebraskans, particularly women, people of color, and low-income residents. Rider also plans to build and foster mutually beneficial relationships with local businesses. In addition to its 6 current certs (Data Visualization, Business Intelligence, Data Engineering, Machine Learning, Data Science, and Data Science Manager), Rider wants to create new certificates like AI and Cybersecurity. These certs are designed to provide businesses with the tech talent they need, while launching ODSA graduates into lucrative tech careers. Rider also plans to work with other code schools such as Code Black to build a menu of certificates that magnifies the ODSA’s impact and minimizes duplication of services. 

According to Nate Watson, former dean of the ODSA, Rider’s unique blend of expertise and passion makes her the ideal leader for the school. “Krystal’s vision and strategic approach will drive the academy toward tremendous success and community impact.” 

Started in 2016, the ODSA is a Nebraska Department of Education licensed trade school and a division of Contemporary Analysis (CAN). Working as a two-part solution for organizations, CAN and the ODSA have built more than 100 data science and AI solutions, trained more than 60 individuals for tech careers, and awarded more than 100 IT certificates. The nonprofit and scholarship arm of the ODSA, the Tech Access and Inclusion Fund, awards scholarships to women, people of color, and low-income individuals that cover the cost of training through the ODSA. For more information about Ryder’s appointment or any of the organizations mentioned above, contact Nate at nate@canworksmart.com or 531-333-DATA.