This happened just this past week. Client: Well, thanks for the evaluation report. You put a lot of work into it. However, we already knew the results before reading the report. So, we didn't learn anything new from the data findings. Me: Thank you for reading the report. Did you get a chance to go over the lessons learned/gaps and recommendations we provided at the end of the report? Client: Yes, we did. And it was the best part of the report. The recommendations were actionable, …
Giving Thanks
This Thanksgiving and all year round, we continue to be very grateful for the opportunity to do good work, collaborate with well-meaning people, staying safe and healthy. We are especially Thankful for: 1. Having clients who have paid us on time and on one occasion, one of them asked why our invoice was late? (I kid you not!) 2. Clients who have supported small and/or minority-owned businesses like MNA 3. Client(s) who "get(s) us!" 4. Clients who have sent us data in a very timely …
AAAS Partners With AIR, QEM, UW, and MNA To Launch The NSF S-STEM Resource and Evaluation Center
The vision of NSF’s Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) program is that all Americans, regardless of economic status, may pursue a STEM degree and contribute to the innovation economy. To that end, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and its partners: the American Institute for Research (AIR), Quality Education for Minorities (QEM), and MN Associates, Inc. (MNA) are launching the AAAS-NSF S-STEM Resource and Evaluation Center (REC), which will foster a network of S-STEM …
MNA To Work With Clemson On Two USDE NPD Grants
It pays to listen to your evaluator. No, really, it literally paid Clemson University $2.3M when the extremely talented PI, Co-PI, Drs. Emily Howell and Rebecca Kaminski keenly listened when I slightly nudged them to consider applying for another National Professional Development (NPD) grant during our luncheon session at the April 2022 OELA grantee-conference held in Arlington, Virginia. "Isn't it a bit soon? We were awarded our first NPD grant in October 2021," they remarked with a hint …
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Starting out as a small, 100% woman-and-minority-owned business in 2004-05 in the US was scary, uncertain, and full of "what ifs." One of the best pieces of advice that I received from another small-business owner in a similar line of work that I still hold true in my heart was: In our line of work, it is a marathon and not a sprint. Stay the course. You may not see a massive growth in revenue overnight or even exponentially across the years. But you will love what you do - because you are a …
Broward College Taps MNA To Evaluate Their Promise Neighborhoods Grant
A bit of news on this crisp fall Friday morning in October. After a long(-ish) wait of ~6 months (of a rigorous procurement process), MNA was competitively selected to conduct the external evaluation of the famed Promise Neighborhoods ("Cradle to Career") grant from the U.S. Department of Education to Broward College, FL. Authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Promise Neighborhoods program strives to improve the academic and developmental outcomes of …
We Have A New Mixed Methods Analyst
Remember, I had a job posting for a p/t mixed methods evaluator (Associate) position at MNA back in August? Well, we have found our new Associate! Got to be honest, it was not an easy find. As most of you will agree, mixed methodologists in Science and Social Science are quite unique. And those who can do Social Networking Analysis (SNA) are even rare! Extending a very warm welcome to Shelli Golson-Mickens! Shelli holds a B.S. in Biology from Spelman College and an MPH from University …
‘Tis The Season Of Pumpkins, Ghouls, and Goblins
Since 'tis officially the season, I am back with my top instances and situations that tend to spook us evaluators. I was thinking about them while on the metro from the AAAS-organized #SSTEM symposium that concluded today, which by the way was very well attended (~750 folks) and the panel on evaluation on Friday AM was attended by 126 people (per the Whova app). The room's capacity was ~100 so you can image how crowded the session turned out to be. It was really fun....not spooky at …
MNA At the NSF S-STEM Symposium This Week
Over 650 PIs, Co-PIs, staff, and project evaluators are expected to convene in DC from all over the country for the annual National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in STEM (#SSTEM) symposium (in person and some sessions will be live streamed) beginning Thursday afternoon. Team MNA will not only represent our current S-STEM awarded clients from across the country (currently in AZ* (award to be made), CA, CT, FL, KY, MT, NJ, and PA) but also be on an NSF-led panel on Friday AM with two …
MNA Goes To Montana!
Well, looks like the Big Sky Country and the Land of Shining Mountains is calling us. We've got some news: the Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) in Kalipspell, MT was just awarded the famed Track 1, NSF funded- S-STEM grant. This 6-year NSF scholarship project will utilize an integrated approach to support 30 S-STEM scholars with three primary components: Scholarships, STEM identity and community building, and Mental health and wellness counseling. Scholarships will increase student …