Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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GOLNAR BIDKHORI

Data Management Specialist / Designated School Official (DSO) & Responsible Officer (RO)
Lexington

Summary

Data Engineering and Data Architecture professional with 9+ years of experience designing, developing, and supporting enterprise data platforms, data warehouses, and reporting systems in complex organizational environments. Proven expertise in SQL, relational database design, ETL processes, data integration, and enterprise analytics solutions. Currently serving in a technical data management role at the University of Kentucky, managing large-scale enterprise systems including Sunapsis, SAP, and SEVIS, supporting data integrity, reporting architecture, and operational analytics. Experienced in building custom reporting solutions, troubleshooting data and system issues, and supporting mission-critical business processes. Strong ability to translate business requirements into scalable data solutions, ensure data quality and compliance, and support enterprise decision-making. Master’s degree in Computer Science with extensive experience working across technical and business teams. Passionate about advancing enterprise data architecture, cloud analytics platforms, and data-driven organizational transformation.

Overview

13
13
years of professional experience

Work History

Sr Data Management Specialist /SEVIS Coordinator

University of Kentucky
Lexington
05.2025 - Current

Serve as a Designated School Official (DSO) and Responsible Officer (RO), authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (SEVP) and the U.S. Department of State to manage and maintain F‑1 and J‑1 visa holder records in SEVIS. Ensure institutional compliance with federal immigration regulations through accurate reporting, batch processing, and real-time updates. Collaborate with campus departments to resolve complex student/scholar data discrepancies. Generate reports, monitor visa status changes, and provide regulatory guidance to international students and exchange visitors. Support policy implementation, data audits, and SEVIS recertification/site visit preparation.

  • Manage and maintain enterprise student and scholar data across multiple systems including Sunapsis, SAP, and SEVIS, ensuring data integrity, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
  • Design, develop, and maintain custom reports and data extracts using SQL and enterprise reporting tools to support operational, compliance, and strategic decision-making.
  • Support enterprise data integration workflows between Sunapsis, SAP, SEVIS, and internal university systems, ensuring accurate and timely data synchronization.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve complex data, application, and integration issues across enterprise systems, improving system reliability and operational efficiency.
  • Support system configuration, updates, and technical maintenance of Sunapsis platform, including data validation, system testing, and issue resolution.
  • Develop and optimize database queries, improve reporting performance, and enhance data accessibility for business users and leadership.
  • Collaborate with IT teams and stakeholders to implement system enhancements, resolve technical issues, and improve enterprise data workflows.
  • Support ColdFusion-based application processes and assist with backend data operations, system monitoring, and troubleshooting.
  • Manage and maintain large-scale relational datasets supporting thousands of student and scholar records, ensuring secure and accurate data management.
  • Provide technical support and guidance to staff on data systems, reporting tools, and enterprise application usage.

Technical Consultant

Mountain Pass Solutions
04.2024 - Current

Data Integration Engineer

Interfolio From Elsevier
06.2018 - 07.2023

ETL Projects

  • Work on ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) projects using Matillion and Snowflake, overseeing the end-to- end data integration process..
  • Monitor and optimize ETL processes for performance, reliability, and data quality, proactively addressing any issues that arise.
  • Conduct thorough testing and validation of ETL workflows, ensuring the integrity and completeness of transferred data.
  • Stay up-to-date with industry best practices and emerging technologies in ETL and data integration to continuously enhance project efficiency and effectiveness.

Data Issue Identification and Resolution

  • Proficiently identify data discrepancies and issues within the organization's databases using SQL queries.
  • Conduct comprehensive data analysis to pinpoint root causes of data inaccuracies and anomalies.
  • Maintain clear and organized documentation of data issues, resolutions, and preventive measures for future reference.

Client Engagement and Data Solutions

  • Collaborate with clients to address data-related concerns and provide effective solutions that align with their goals.
  • Provide expert guidance and consultation to clients on data best practices, ensuring data-driven decision- making.
  • Regularly assess client satisfaction and feedback, proactively identifying opportunities to enhance service and deliver exceptional value.

Onboarding and Training Leadership

  • Take lead in facilitating the onboarding and training process for new team members, ensuring a seamless transition into the organization.
  • Share my expertise in data management tools and best practices, providing comprehensive guidance on data handling, analysis, and reporting.
  • Act as a mentor and resource for new hires, offering ongoing support and guidance to promote skill development and professional growth.

Custom Report Design and Data Visualization

  • Utilize Sisense, a Business Intelligence (BI) tool, to design and develop custom reports tailored to the specific needs of clients.
  • Collaborate with clients to gather report requirements, ensuring alignment with their data-driven objectives.
  • Implement data filters, drill-down functionalities, and dynamic features to enhance the usability of reports.
  • Ensure the accuracy and reliability of data presented in reports, conducting data validation and verification processes.
  • Stay updated with Sisense features and best practices to continuously improve report design and data visualization capabilities.

Documentation Development and Maintenance

  • Take ownership of developing and maintaining comprehensive documentation, including process manuals, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and user guides.
  • Ensure all documentation is clear, accurate, and accessible, adhering to established company standards and best practices.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to gather information and insights necessary for creating effective documentation.
  • Conduct audits of existing documentation to identify gaps, inconsistencies, or areas for improvement.
  • Maintain version control and organized access to documentation, facilitating efficient retrieval and knowledge sharing.

GitHub Codebase Management

  • Regularly push data transformation scripts and code changes to the organization's GitHub repositories.
  • Implement best practices for Git workflows, such as feature branching, pull requests, and code reviews, to streamline collaboration and code quality.
  • Maintain clear and up-to-date documentation within the codebase, including README files and comments, to facilitate understanding and usage by team members.

Software Development & Data Integration

  • Develop and maintain PHP scripts for the ingestion of data from CSV files into the organization's database.
  • Implement error handling and data validation mechanisms to address potential issues during the ingestion process.
  • Regularly update and enhance the scripts to accommodate evolving data sources and business needs.
  • Document the scripts comprehensively, including usage instructions and data mapping, to facilitate seamless operations for other team members.

Quality Assurance Engineer

Interfolio From Elsevier
02.2017 - 05.2018

Automated Test Creation

  • Develop automated test scripts using TestComplete and Cucumber to validate software functionality and performance
  • Collaborate with the development team to ensure automated test cases are aligned with software requirements

Feature Testing

  • Conduct thorough testing of newly released features to verify their functionality and compatibility with existing systems
  • Identify and report any issues or bugs discovered during testing, ensuring timely resolution

Issue Reproduction and Ticket Creation

  • Investigate and reproduce reported issues to verify their validity
  • Document detailed steps to reproduce issues and create Jira tickets for the engineering team, including all relevant information for efficient resolution

API Testing

  • Verify the accuracy of API calls, responses, and data handling

Data Integration Engineer and Quality Assurance Engineer

Data 180
01.2014 - 01.2017
  • Designed and implemented automated test scripts using TestComplete and Cucumber.
  • Conducted comprehensive testing of newly released features.
  • Developed a PHP script to extract data from CSV files, transform it for consistency, and load it into a relational database.
  • Collaborated with the development team to refine workflows and improve system reliability.

Transitioned from intern to full-time engineer, contributing to data integration and quality

assurance projects that supported business-critical applications.

Teaching Assistant

University of Kentucky
09.2012 - 05.2013
  • Guided undergraduate students in mastering essential computer skills, including email communication, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
  • Assisted in grading assignments and projects, ensuring consistency and clarity in evaluations.

Education

Master of Science - Computer Science

University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY

Bachelor - Computer Software

Azad University
Mashad, Iran

Skills

  • SQL
  • PostgreSQL
  • Sisense (BI Tool)
  • API
  • Git
  • GitHub
  • Snowflake
  • Excel
  • PHP (Extract, Transform, Load (ETL))
  • HTML
  • CSS
  • C
  • Python
  • Matillion (ETL)
  • Trifacta
  • Cucumber
  • Test Complete
  • Mondaycom
  • Jira
  • Salesforce
  • Confluence
  • Postman
  • Sunapsis

Timeline

Sr Data Management Specialist /SEVIS Coordinator

University of Kentucky
05.2025 - Current

Technical Consultant

Mountain Pass Solutions
04.2024 - Current

Data Integration Engineer

Interfolio From Elsevier
06.2018 - 07.2023

Quality Assurance Engineer

Interfolio From Elsevier
02.2017 - 05.2018

Data Integration Engineer and Quality Assurance Engineer

Data 180
01.2014 - 01.2017

Teaching Assistant

University of Kentucky
09.2012 - 05.2013

Master of Science - Computer Science

University of Kentucky

Bachelor - Computer Software

Azad University
GOLNAR BIDKHORIData Management Specialist / Designated School Official (DSO) & Responsible Officer (RO)