Ren Hale is a software engineer whose work focuses on building reliable technology for the public good. At Oklahoma Data Exchange, they help develop and maintain the infrastructure behind data systems that enable nonprofits, government agencies, and community partners to share information more effectively. 

Ren began their career in the United States Air Force, where they served for five years as a Farsi linguist. They later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Columbia University, where they studied how public decisions get made and who they affect. 

Before joining ODX, Ren worked at Twitch, building the backend systems and data pipelines for trust and safety products ranging from large-scale reporting to content moderation. After Twitch, they designed a secure platform from the ground up that made sensitive legal and insurance records easier to review, track, and act on. 

Across these roles, Ren has been drawn to work that gives people and organizations more capacity to act. They are passionate about treating public-serving data systems as infrastructure, worthy of the same long-term care and thoughtful design as the civic systems they support. 

Outside of work, Ren enjoys reading classic novels, playing in social sports leagues, and belting their heart out at karaoke.