As our society becomes increasingly diverse racially, ethnically, and linguistically, it is pivotal that program planners, designers, implementers, researchers, and evaluators understand, appreciate, and employ cultural contexts in which these programs exist and operate to their work on a daily basis. To even ignore or nullify the reality of the existence of culture and to be agnostic or unresponsive to the needs of the population within their ecosystems is to do the people a disservice, put …
News and Updates
A Conversation With Ann-Murray Brown On Evaluation As a Career and Business
1. (But) how do I find my first evaluation job? 2. Who will hire and then train an absolute novice? 3. Will anyone want to hire a career switcher? So many questions, so little time. Super stoked to be in a conversation with Ann-Murray Brown to talk about evaluation--the career, business, journey, learning, and so much more. Do plan to attend if you have an hour on January 13, 1PM EST. Registration link -https://my.demio.com/ref/5i3N9i6Ew7eb6Omz …
A Piece On Writing Research and Evaluation Plans for NSF Grants
They say a nice graphic can make a big difference to the content (provided that's decent too). Nevertheless, please check out the article I wrote for the AAAS-IUSE Initiative just before the holidays. This may be useful for those who are currently working on their NSF IUSE program proposal that's due February 4, 2021. Direct link to the piece-https://lnkd.in/dEevjbi …
Here’s Wishing Everyone Safe and Healthy Holidays
2020 has not been an easy year for anyone. Despite the ongoing challenges, we managed to chug along and completed evaluation projects for several returning clients, forged new collaborative partnerships with not-for-profit organizations and institutions of higher learning, wrote evaluation plans, full grants, and reviewed several of them. A few of the grants were awarded while we await news on others. Thank you to our very talented and dedicated team members and clients across the country who …
Visiting Maine During the Blueberry Season May be a Good Idea!
The national decline in the study of foreign languages is a cause for concern with implications for US National Security that depends on the preparation and training of the next generation of regional studies experts with proficiency in foreign languages. There are a growing number of universities across the country that are responding to this trend through the offering of Global Semesters to their first-year students. The U.S. Department of Education's Title VI Undergraduate International …
Welcoming Megan Hill Sundy As Our Winter Intern!
We are very pleased to welcome Megan J. Hill Sundy as our winter intern! Megan is a recent graduate with a Master's Degree in Measurement & Evaluation from American University, DC. She is dedicated to obtaining M&E skills and practical knowledge to better support the development and implementation of social and STEM education programs. Megan has over a decade of experience working with a diverse group of stakeholders to advance social justice and education training programs in Montana …
A White Paper on Strategies to Train and Engage Students in Artificial Intelligence
We are very excited to share a white paper on Strategies to Train and Engage Students in Artificial Intelligence completed in collaboration with Sambit Bhattacharya and his team members in the Computer Science department at the Fayetteville State University (NC). The white paper was completed as part of an NSF-funded HBCU-TIP grant that led to a week-long hands-on intensive workshop in July on the same topic provided to over 40 faculty members from various NC-based community colleges and …
Giving Thanks
This Thanksgiving and all year round, I am grateful for having work, being safe, healthy, and being alive. Made over 30 "gratitude" shawls in the past 9 months to give thanks to friends, colleagues, and clients. Some of you may know that I self taught crochet in March when the pandemic struck and this is the progress I have made. More to come. …
Come To Check Out Our Covid Hair! Stay for the Evaluation Tips!
What: Webinar Organized By the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Title: Reimagining S-STEM Project Assessment & Knowledge Generation: 2020 Lessons Learned & Future Implications When: November 17, 3.30-5PM EST How: Register here- https://tinyurl.com/y3wgbqxx …
A Little Press is Totally OK. Right?
In case anyone needs a bit of a distraction from the elections, here's a little something: Rec Centers in the cities of Baltimore and Pittsburgh have joined forces to address digital divide through an innovative program funded by the National Science Foundation through the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program. This investment from the NSF will further the understanding of how to bridge the digital divide by researching the processes and challenges involved in establishing four …