Data literacy isn’t just a skill—it’s a culture, and it’s the foundation of becoming truly AI-ready. This case study takes attendees behind the scenes of Vanderbilt University’s journey to build a data- and AI-literate environment. Rather than sending everyone to a formal class, Vanderbilt focuses on building shared understanding: where data comes from, what it means, how it should be used, and how to question both data and AI outputs thoughtfully. The university’s approach blends business literacy, strong governance, analytical skills, technical know-how, and clear communication into a unified readiness framework. Attendees will see how governance builds trust, business expertise shapes context, and analytical insights translate into compelling stories and responsible AI use. Practical examples highlight initiatives like data domains, stewardship communities, collaborative learning, and informal knowledge-sharing networks. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to cultivate a culture where people confidently explore, interpret, apply, and communicate data—turning insights into impact and ensuring their organizations are genuinely AI-ready.

• Data literacy at Vanderbilt combines business literacy, governance, analytical skills, technical skills, and communication into one integrated framework.
• Creating a data-literate environment does not mean sending everyone to a formal training class; it requires embedding learning, resources, and collaboration into daily work.
• Trustworthy data—and trustworthy AI—start with strong governance: accuracy, lineage, context, quality, and responsible use.
• Business expertise remains essential for interpreting data, validating AI-generated outputs, and avoiding flawed or incomplete conclusions.
• A sustainable data- and AI-literate culture requires supportive communities, accessible resources, continuous learning, and shared exploration.

Speaker: Jeannette Wolff, Data Governance Program Director, Vanderbilt University

Jeannette Wolff is the Program Director for Data Governance at Vanderbilt University, where she leads the institution’s strategic approach to governance, data quality, stewardship, and responsible AI. She works closely with academic, administrative, and technical leaders to strengthen Vanderbilt’s enterprise data ecosystem and ensure that data is accurate, accessible, and used responsibly. Jeannette is a champion of practical data governance and data literacy, emphasizing that a data-literate organization is built not through mandatory training, but through strong governance, collaborative communities, and shared learning environments.

Her portfolio includes policy development, data governance framework development, and facilitation of cross-campus partnerships that balance innovation with risk mitigation. Through her focus on clarity, collaboration, and thoughtful adoption of emerging technologies, Jeannette helps the university navigate complex data and AI considerations while enabling teams to make informed, consistent, and value-aligned decisions across a rapidly evolving digital landscape.