Denise Swanson
Denise Swanson, Data Manager
Denise Swanson has worked for Behavioral Research and Teaching in a variety of capacities since 1992. Her responsibilities have included data collection; data file clean-up; scan form creation, production and scanning; website development and maintenance of the BRT Projects website; organization, cataloguing, and updating of research materials and resources; and customer service, providing email and phone-based support to K-12 educators throughout the United States. She works closely with researchers to prepare and clean data files in preparation for data analysis and in the production and management of research-oriented documents and assessment materials.
Denise came to BRT after a career as a seasonal Park Interpreter with the U. S. Park Service, U. S. Forest Service, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, and the Illinois Department of Conservation. She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a B.S. in Recreation (emphasis in Outdoor Education).
Celebrating 30 years at BRT
February 6, 2023
“How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon.December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” -Dr. Seuss
Denise Swanson: Looking back, it doesn't seem so long ago I was starting at Behavioral Research and Teaching. Thirty years compressed into a wealth of wonderful memories, experiences, and amazing colleagues who have grown into my family of friends (friemily).
It is both rare and wonderful to be able to work at one place for 30 years and still love the people and work that you do. The gift is not lost on me and I feel very blessed to have had this opportunity and experience.
Celebrating 25 years at BRT
February 8, 2018
On a fateful spring day in 1991, a mutual friend introduced me to Dr. Gerald Tindal. As luck would have it, I was in need of work and Jerry was in need of someone to do data collection. It was a chance meeting that would begin not only a great working relationship but blossom into a wonderful opportunity to be part of a new and growing team of researchers.
Fast forward twenty-five years and I am still working with Jerry Tindal and am now part of a phenomenal group of people who comprise Behavioral Research and Teaching here at the University of Oregon.
It has been a fantastic journey of growth and learning and I look forward to more years to come. I consider it a gift to have started on the ground floor of such an impressive research program and even more blessed to work with the most amazing group of people I call my family.
BRT Employee Receives Campus-Wide Recognition
August 26, 2016
Denise Swanson, BRT’s most senior employee, was one of only five people campus-wide to be awarded a 2016 Classified Star award in recognition of her outstanding service to the University of Oregon.
The Classified Star awards are presented by the Classified Staff Training and Development Advisory Committee in partnership with the Office of the President and Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and are intended to recognize classified employees who go “above and beyond” in their work at the UO.
Denise’s nomination emphasized her leadership role in supporting a positive work environment in BRT as well as her long-standing contributions to the wider UO community through her service to the women’s basketball team and the care with which she helps ensure the BRT offices and the campus as a whole reflect positively on the University. “Denise is focused on doing her job really well and is always willing to step in to help on projects. She is my go-to person when it comes to getting detailed projects that require a lot of coordination done,” explained BRT Co-Director Julie Alonzo. “But what makes Denise really stand out is that she is also deeply concerned with making sure the work environment is supportive and positive. Whether it’s organizing a birthday celebration, hosting a baby shower, helping someone move, or rallying the troops to support other members of the BRT team when they are in need, Denise is always front and center, going above and beyond to help make BRT a really special place to work.”
In the decades in which she has worked for BRT, Denise has worn many hats, all of them well. Before online assessment became the norm, she was responsible for creating scan sheets to support three local school districts in their three-times-a-year assessment of all K-8 students in reading and mathematics and processing the students’ answer sheets quickly and accurately each fall, winter, and spring. When the easyCBM assessment system began to be offered to districts outside the local area, she headed up customer support for years, and she is still an integral part of the customer support team. Most recently, she has accepted the challenge of developing and maintaining websites for her research unit, including the main BRTProjects.org website, which provides an important introduction to the work being conducted.
“Denise is the GOAT [‘greatest of all time’],” enthused Research Assistant Professor Joseph Nese. “She always goes the extra mile to support everyone, both inside and outside the office.”
Research Associate Shawn Irvin added, “She’s simply an amazing colleague and friend—one of the best people at UO or anywhere else.”