Rod Reza Sardari

Workforce Intelligence Coordinator

Rod Reza Sardari serves as a Workforce Intelligence Coordinator at the Texas Talent Accelerator. His data analytics career began as a GIS analyst, where he mapped demographic patterns and travel demand models for projects across the United States, Mexico, and the Middle East. He later served as a GIS and BI Analyst and Tableau Server Administrator for local government in Texas, while also teaching Tableau and spatial data science.

In recognition of his contributions to the data and education communities, Rod was selected as a 2026 Tableau Ambassador, reflecting his commitment to teaching and knowledge sharing. As part of his teaching journey, he earned the ACUE Certification in Effective Teaching Practices, a nationally recognized professional credential for higher education faculty endorsed by the American Council on Education (ACE). Rod is also a GIS Professional (GISP) certified by the GIS Certification Institute (GISCI), combining data analytics, business intelligence, and geospatial analysis to support data-driven decision-making.

Rod earned his Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies in 2005 and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning in 2007. In 2018, he earned his PhD from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), where his research focused on urban and regional planning, data analysis, and geospatial applications. His research has been published in journals and professional publications including MDPI, SAGE, the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER).