DATA STORYTELLER · EDUCATOR · WRITER
Every data point has a story. Together, they have impact.
I'm Bailey Benson — a Medill-trained journalist turned data storyteller. I build data systems, visualizations, and AI-supported tools that help students, educators, and communities see themselves in the numbers.
About
I work at the intersection of data analysis, education, and narrative — translating complex information into stories people can act on.
As Post-Secondary Specialist for Rich Township School District 227, I lead data visualization and reporting strategy for district-wide college readiness — building integrated systems that track applications, GPA, and ACT performance in real time, and guiding 900+ students a year through college applications and financial aid. I also developed the district's first centralized scholarship database.
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Through my studio, BB Data Storytelling, I build data-driven storytelling tools and AI-supported content for education and media. At Mercor, I apply journalistic frameworks to AI evaluation — assessing model outputs for reasoning, accuracy, and clarity.
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My foundation is in journalism and culture: a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern's Medill School, ethnographic writing on Southern foodways, and a forthcoming cookbook reimagining Black culinary history through an Afrofuturist lens.
Experience
OCT 2025 — PRESENT
Post-Secondary Specialist
Rich Township School District 227 · Olympia Fields, IL
Lead district-wide data visualization and reporting for college application trends. Built integrated data systems combining Naviance and SchooLinks; designed automated, personalized communication systems; created the district's first centralized scholarship database. Guide 900+ students annually through postsecondary planning.
FEB 2026 - PRESENT
Generalist Writer & Evaluator / Journalist Prompt Expert
Mercor · Remote
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Evaluate AI-generated and human-written content for quality, reasoning, and factual accuracy, contributing to model training. Apply journalistic frameworks to improve output clarity, structure, and alignment with user intent.
OCT 2024 — PRESENT
Founder & Creative Director
BB Data Storytelling · Remote
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Build data-driven storytelling tools and AI-supported content for education and media applications.
OCT 2024 — OCT 2025
TRIO Talent Search Coordinator & Outreach Analyst
​Arizona State University · Phoenix, AZ
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Managed a caseload of 500+ students with data-supported college and career advising. Designed CRM-based engagement systems with Airtable and AI-supported insights, increasing program participation by 40%.
2021 -2023
Earlier: Food Systems & Journalism​
Southern Foodways Alliance · Impossible Foods · The Farmlink Project
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Oral history and freelance writing on Southern foodways; retail analytics and grocery outreach at Impossible Foods; produce distribution for small-scale farmers across the Southeast with The Farmlink Project.
Projects & Publications
Publication · LSU Press
"The Chicken Hut" — Get It While It's Hot
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Contributing author of an ethnographic essay combining archival research, interviews, and cultural analysis to examine community-centered food systems and Southern hospitality.
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Data Systems · 2025–26
District 227 College & Career Data Platform
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Integrated Naviance and SchooLinks data into real-time tracking of applications, GPA, and ACT performance — plus the district's first public, contributor-supported scholarship database.​
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![National TRIO Day [edited]-19.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/43297a_b90541db82ce439b9cfc20556e39ab1d~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_66,w_6000,h_3868/fill/w_380,h_245,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/National%20TRIO%20Day%20%5Bedited%5D-19.jpg)
Program Design · ASU TRIO
TRIO Clubs: Bringing Opportunity to Campus
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When fewer than 5% of 900+ first-generation students could reach weekend enrichment events, I launched student-driven after-school TRIO Clubs at partner high schools — now active at five schools, recognized by Access ASU, with a peer ambassador initiative driving over 30% of annual recruitment.​
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Book · In Progress
An Afrofuturist's Guide to Cooking​
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A 150-page research-driven publication combining Black-American culinary history, recipes, ethnographic research, and time theory to reimagine a more accessible past and equitable future.​
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Documentary · Buenos Aires
From Earth to the Table
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Produced, directed, and edited a documentary in Buenos Aires depicting the flux of food prices under inflation, featuring residents, experts, and activists.​
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AI Tool · Upcoming
FAFSA & Financial Aid Chatbot​
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An AI chatbot grounded in a curated district knowledge base — FAFSA guidance, graduation requirements, deadlines, and scholarships — giving students and families 24/7 answers with built-in guardrails and counselor escalation. Launching for senior families.​
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Coming soon -->
Skills
Data & Systems
Python · SQL · HTML/CSS
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Power BI · Tableau · Looker Studio
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Airtable · Google Suite · Salesforce
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Adobe Creative Suite
AI & Analysis
AI evaluation & model output assessment
Prompt analysis & design
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AI-supported tooling for education
Communication
Data storytelling & visualization
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Strategic messaging & UX writing
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Ethnographic & narrative journalism​​
Education
Northwestern University​
M.S. Journalism — Data & Magazine Journalism
The Medill School of Journalism · Chicago, IL
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies — Anthropology & Economics, Minor in Business
Morehead-Cain Scholar — full merit scholarship with funded research in Barbados, leadership training, and startup experience in New York.