Michael J Zenz

Policy and Planning Analyst University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

About

Data and policy analyst with a PhD in political philosophy

Experience

  • Founder and Developer at Madison Councilytics, councilytics.com
    Dec 2024 - Present · 1 yr 7 mos

    Build and maintain civic transparency web application (councilytics.com) tracking Madison Common Council and commission voting records on housing policy. Developed automated data pipelines in R and python for scraping, processing, and visualizing voting data with YIMBY scoring methodology. Leverage AI coding and editing tools, especially Claude Code, to enable non-technical team members to contribute commission reports, reducing administrative burden, and making the project sustainable with limited paid and volunteer staff.

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison (Full-time · 9 yrs)
    • Policy and Planning Analyst II
      Jun 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 1 mo

      - Worked in Academic Information Management office within the College of Letters and Science - Led data analytics for program reviews of 160+ programs; automated biannual reports using R/Quarto; developed models for curricular completion, student success, and program redundancies - Predicted student enrollment using regression and random forest models; visualized results in Tableau/Quarto for leadership - Analyzed grade gaps between various student group (ex. first-generation students) and used inferential statistics to explain causes - Predicted likely impacts of policy and curricular changes on major and course demand through statistical modeling and scenario analysis - Developed automated degree clearance system processing 4,000+ students/year with 100% accuracy over 8 years - Developed and maintain two internal R packages standardizing common data operations to reduce code duplication and improve analytical accuracy and efficiency - Cochaired Data Wonks, a campus professional development forum; spearheaded UW IT-sponsored SQL training database

    • Curriculum and Policy Analyst
      Jul 2017 - Jun 2019 · 2 yrs

      - Worked in Academic Information Management office within the College of Letters and Science - Developed automated degree clearance system using R and Tableau to process degree audit data, determine completion status for 4,000+ students per year, and generate reports for Registrar, students, and advisors - Developed campus's first Tableau self-service visualizations using student degree audit data, enabling faculty and administrators to analyze major coursework patterns, curricular exceptions, and degree clearance deficiencies - Collaborated with campus DBAs to design, plan, and test new data warehouse for campus degree audit system (DARS), establishing technical infrastructure for institutional reporting - Produced statistical analyses and custom data reports at the request of academic departments for program reviews and changes in accordance with campus data governance policies

  • Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Arizona
    Aug 2016 - May 2017 · 10 mos

    Researcher and Teacher in the interdisciplinary Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Law program. I specialize in the study of democratic theory, especially democratic leadership and the uses of public opinion, using formal models from political science and economics.

  • Adjunct Professor at Madison College
    Aug 2015 - Jul 2016 · 1 yr

    Taught practical ethics, entitled Ethics: Theory and Application.

  • Adjunct Professor at Carroll University
    Aug 2015 - Jul 2016 · 1 yr

    Taught the following courses: Ethics, Values, and Judgement Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Environmental Philosophy Introduction to Philosophy