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Staff Directory

Emilda B. Rivers

Email:
erivers@nsf.gov
Phone:
(703) 292-7773
Fax:
(703) 292-9092
Room:
W 14231
Organization:
NCSES
Title:
Division Director

Biography:

Emilda B. Rivers is the Director of the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NSCES) located within the National Science Foundation (NSF).  As the agency head of one of the 13 principal federal statistical agencies, she is in a unique position to drive implementation of various aspects of the Evidence Act and serve as a leader across the Federal data ecosystem. 

Ms. Rivers recently served as Chair over the two-year White House appointment, on the Federal Government’s Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building (ACDEB) pursuant to Section 315 of the Evidence Act.  With Chair oversight, she spearheaded committee meetings, site visits and subgroup meetings, to the successful rollout of the ACDEB year-one and year-two reports which provide a framework and recommendations for implementing aspects of the Evidence Act, including a future National Secure Data Service (NSDS).  

See Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building: Year 1 Report (bea.gov) 

See Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building: Year 2 Report (bea.gov) 

In support of the requirements under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and the vision outlined in the ACDEB reports, Ms. Rivers currently oversees the establishment of the National Secure Data Service (NSDS) demonstration project. The five-year NSDS demonstration is led by NCSES, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget and the National A.I. Interagency Committee, and is required to develop, refine, and test models to inform the full implementation for a government-wide data linkage and data access infrastructure for statistical activities conducted for statistical purposes, as defined in chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code. Continued progress under the NSDS demonstration underscores the potential for shared services within the Federal data ecosystem.

Ms. Rivers oversees the continued development and implementation of the standard application process (SAP) also known as ResearchDataGov. SAP is the nation’s one-stop, online portal that provides access to restricted government data through a standardized application process with agency-specific security requirements and upgraded data infrastructure. The SAP also creates a culture that emphasizes partnerships and collaborations. In her leadership role, Ms. Rivers serves on the executive-led working groups to develop a vision and framework for policy governance, technical requirements, and stakeholder engagement in support of SAP’s overall goals.  Complementing this work, Ms. Rivers also participates as a member of the Executive Committee for the Federal Statistical Research Centers (FSRDC) to provide strategic vision and guidance for streamlined data access procedures in support of research and coordination across the federal statistical system. 

To support the needs of the data user communities, she established, with exceptional leadership, a collaborative effort in support of the Coleridge Initiative Applied Data Analytics training series. This developmental application, co-chaired by the University of Chicago, New York University’s Center for Urban Science and Progress, and the University of Maryland, was developed to support innovative uses of administrative and survey data for policy analysis, and instruction on how to manage and analyze micro data according to best practices.