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Session Description

Free ticketed event
Design a robust and comprehensive project evaluation by engaging the five anchoring questions: What, Why, Who, How, and What again?

With more than 150 ways to approach an evaluation, the task can be extremely daunting and leave you wondering if you are collecting the best data in the most impactful way. This workshop cuts through the "evaluation noise" to help you design a robust evaluation that includes timely, purposeful, and relevant information and help to make informed decisions that support continuous improvement and inform impact. At the end of this workshop, participants will (a) understand the difference and relationship between evaluation and research, (b) understand how to respond to the 5 anchoring questions that support the design of a robust evaluation plan; (c) understand how evaluation has roots in multiple disciplines that inform data collection strategies and processes; and (d) understand how to realize data results that inform both the implementation of the project being evaluated and provide evidence that informs the extent to which the project's goals and objectives were met. Finally, participants will walk away with a draft evaluation plan that can be implemented in their next project.

3 hours

Evaluation Design: From planning to reporting evidence that informs the project's effectiveness

Speakers

1. Dr. Gwen Lee-Thomas

   Quality Measures

   Dr. Gwen Lee-Thomas has conducted more than 120 evaluations for more than $125 million in funding for over 25 years. She has led community-based grassroots health-advocacy organizations, 2- and 4-year colleges and universities, and government organizations. Her evaluation work has been published multiple times in various publications by her clients and has even won an NPR award for minority women in STEM. Gwen has worked directly with college and university presidents, served as a reviewer for accreditation, and has evaluated projects for DOJ, DOD, NSF, DOE, and Dept. of Education. Gwen has a PhD in Education Administration and a Master's degree in curriculum and instruction.

2. Mary J Combs

   Mary Combs earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in occupational and technical studies, and has worked with engineering faculty for more than 10 years. After joining Quality Measures, LLC in June 2022, she has led several evaluation projects from start to finish (plan to report) and engages extensively with QM clients for projects she has been assigned.

3. Ms. Charmagne Paat

   Charmagne Paat earned her dual Bachelor degrees in Mathematical Sciences: Operations Research as well as Psychology, minor in Statistics from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012. Since joining Quality Measures LLC in 2019, she has led evaluation projects with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) across the country. She is the Metrics Lead on a multiyear project funded by the Department of Energy and incorporating more than 70 metrics across 33 consortia representing 56 colleges and universities and 14 national laboratories.