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Emily F. Gates, Assistant Professor, Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment

Dr. Emily F. Gates is an evaluator, social scientist, and mixed methodologist. Her research focuses on the role of evaluation in addressing complex problems and changing systems. Driven by a democratic vision for evaluation, she advances evaluation theory, methods, and practice that use systems thinking and approaches, make values explicit, and center equity. She recently co-authored a book, Evaluating and Valuing in Social Research (Guilford Press) and guest co-edited a special issue of New Directions for Evaluation exploring systems approaches to evaluation.

Andrés Castro SamayoaAssistant Professor, Educational Leadership & Higher Education

Dr. Andrés Castro Samayoa is assistant professor of higher education at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. Born and raised in Merliot, El Salvador, his research examines equitable policies and institutional practices in postsecondary institutions within the United States, with a particular interest in issues of social inequities in educational settings. He is the editor of multiple volumes, including A Primer on Minority Serving Institutions (Routled, 2018). His research on racial inequality and postsecondary education has been supported by The Spencer Foundation, the Association of Institutional Research, and AccessLex. In 2021, he was named a Mellon Emerging Faculty Leader by the Institute for Citizens & Scholars.

Lisa Goodman, Professor, Counseling, Developmental & Educational Psychology

Dr. Lisa Goodman’s research engages communities to illuminate and transform the lives of intimate partner violence survivors. Her expertise encompasses community-based participatory research, community-based responses to intimate partner violence, domestic violence program evaluation, and social justice teaching.

Patricia 'Trish' Dao-Tran, Founder & Principal, Resonance Data Collective

As a community data convener, Trish coaches social innovators to create equitable change through people-centered, community-led, and participatory approaches to data and storytelling. She has led data strategy and evaluation efforts for cradle-to-career, social emotional learning, school health, food system, and collective impact initiatives in diverse non-profit, government, and cross-sector contexts. Trish is most energized by community-centered collaborations that utilize evidence to shift systems, structures, and mindsets to forge an equitable and just world.

Min Ma, Founder and Principal of MXM Research Group

An independent research and evaluation practitioner, Min draws from a broad toolkit of evaluation, applied social science, and human-centered design methods. Her areas of focus currently include community health, coalition and network development, and data equity. She is experienced in working with programs supporting people on the move in the US and abroad, including migrant workers, refugees, and survivors of human trafficking.

Bianca Montrosse-Moorhead, Associate Professor of Measurement, Evaluation, and Assessment, University of Connecticut Neag School of Education

In addition to her position on the faculty, Dr. Montrosse-Moorhead is the program coordinator for UConn’s Graduate Certificate in Program Evaluation. As an evaluation researcher, educator, and practitioner, Dr. Montrosse-Moorhead specializes in evaluation theory, methodology, practice, and capacity building. Her work investigates the demarcation of evaluation’s knowledge base, gaps between evaluator education and the demands of on-the-ground practice, the validity of evaluative arguments, and the importance of establishing professional standards for public evaluation work. She also has an active evaluation practice and has directed several evaluations at the local, state, and national level.

Jade Caines Lee, Assistant Professor, Clark Atlanta University (formerly at University of New Hampshire)

Dr. Jade Caines Lee is an Affiliate Assistant Professor with the Leitzel Center and an Assistant Professor in the UNH Education Department. Her research areas include assessment development, the application of validity/evaluation frameworks to education assessments, and the evaluation of interventions that improve teaching and learning for underrepresented student groups. Active research projects include a summer reading intervention for struggling adolescent readers, an application of an evaluation framework to examine policies developed to use student achievement test scores to evaluate teachers and teacher preparation programs, and an investigation of factors related to teachers' participation in informal learning opportunities for their students (i.e., museums and science centers).

Cynthia Char, Principal, Char Associates

Dr. Cynthia Char, Principal of Char Associates in Montpelier, Vermont, has over 40 years of experience in educational evaluation and the design of educational programs for children, adults and families. Prior to establishing her educational consulting firm in 1996, Dr. Char had been a senior associate in research and design at Bank Street College’s Center for Children and Technology in New York, and at the Education Development Center (EDC) in Newton, Massachusetts. Particular areas of expertise include formal and informal learning settings (schools, homes, museums, libraries, zoos, parks, and other community-based settings); curriculum development in science, mathematics, and literacy; educational technologies and media; whole-school reform initiatives; professional development; and collaborative partnerships.

Cindy Crusto, Professor, Deputy Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Department of Psychiatry, Director of Program Evaluation and Child Trauma Research, Yale University

Dr. Cindy Crusto has more than 20 years of experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating preventive interventions in schools and community agencies. She also has extensive experience providing training and technical assistance to schools and to community-based organizations on the evaluation of prevention programs. She is interested in culturally relevant interventions for children from racial/ethnic minority and low-income backgrounds and in school-based behavioral health services. Dr. Crusto's research examines the impact of family violence on children and the ecological influences on child and family well-being, and includes rigorous evaluations of community-based initiatives involving substance use and violence prevention, and the promotion of school readiness.

Cynthia Roberts, Evaluator, Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Cynthia Roberts is the Evaluator for all programs across the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV), with a primary focus leading evaluation planning and implementation for the RICADV’s federally- and locally-funded primary prevention strategies, particularly, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded DELTA Impact project. Additionally, Cynthia provides empowerment evaluation support to the Newport Health Equity Zone and technical assistance to local, state, and national partnering organizations. Prior to joining the RICADV in 2014, she was an evaluator for the RI Department of Health’s Statewide Tobacco Control Program.

Andresse St. Rose, Director of Research & Evaluation, Education Development Center

Dr. St. Rose is an experienced non-profit leader and education researcher focused on using research and data to promote organizational success, learning, and equity in education. She produces accessible research with credible and actionable findings that benefit the field, and is particularly proud of her ability to translate and communicate complex and nuanced findings to a range of audiences. Dr. St. Rose is committed to doing work to improve education opportunities and access and to transform systems in service of those who have been historically underserved and discounted in education.

Lisa Watts Natkin, Vermont Evaluation Network

Dr. Lisa Watts Natkin is fascinated by how people’s experiences shape their perspectives and worldviews. She loves listening to people’s stories to understand their viewpoints, experiences, and values. She is committed to using her teaching, evaluation, and research skills to help address issues of social justice and climate change. Lisa enjoys empowering people through education and designing curriculum to align learning outcomes and assessment strategies. Dr. Natkin appreciates the field of evaluation’s ability to contribute to change, increase equity, and address global challenges.

Drew Koleros, Senior Researcher, Mathematica

Drew Koleros is a senior researcher at Mathematica with over 15 years of experience in designing and delivering mixed-methods evaluations and program monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems for social and economic development projects. He brings particular expertise in using theory-based approaches that integrate complex concepts and systems thinking into program and evaluation design processes. Drew’s current work focuses on providing evaluation and learning services to programs aimed at addressing disparities in the social determinants of health and advancing health equity.