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Moving Forward Together: Utilizing Evaluation Technical Assistance to Promote Equitable Evaluation by Domonique Edwards, Vanessa Gomez, Mili Ferrer, Jared Zachary, and Cristina Magana

Hi fellow evaluators, this is Domonique, Vanessa, Mili, Jared, and Cristina of Harder + Company Community Research who works with public and social-sector organizations to promote lasting change. This blog post focuses on evaluation technical assistance (TA) as a practice for advancing equity through evaluation.

How Did I Adapt to My New Role After Moving from an Academic Program to a Fellowship Placement? by Fardin Rahman

Hello, I’m Fardin (far-deen) Rahman, MPH. I joined the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) fellow in September 2023 after completing my Master’s degree earlier that year. It was quite a rapid transition—one moment I was a student and the next I’m a professional in the public health evaluation field. At the start of my fellowship, I struggled to let go of the familiar deadlines and commitments of graduate school to embrace the fluidity of the workplace. I want to share three lessons that helped me adjust to my new role and responsibilities while maintaining work-life balance.

Caffeinate and Evaluate! One-minute Videos Summarizing Evaluation Research Findings from Around the World from the American Journal of Evaluation by Alysson Akiko Oakley and Caitlin Blaser-Mapitsa

Hello AEA365 subscribers! We are Alysson Akiko Oakley and Caitlin Blaser-Mapitsa, and we are the co-editors of the International Advances in Evaluation section of the American Journal of Evaluation (AJE). We are thrilled to share articles with you that are featured in an upcoming AJE issue. These articles highlight the interplay between geography (global, local), principles, and culture in informing evaluation practice.

How Did I Transition from Academic Competition to Workplace Camaraderie? by Midjina Richard

Hi, I’m Midjina Richard, MPH, CHES. I’m an Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. in Atlanta, Georgia. Before becoming a fellow, I had recently graduated from the University of Georgia and was just starting my public health career. I had some assumptions about my new position, but I wasn’t sure what to expect especially after finding out I had to work with a co-fellow. Collaboration in the workplace amazed me. It was so different from the competition in my graduate program. I want to share some lessons I learned that helped me with this transition from school to work.

What Evaluators Can Learn From Doulas by Amy Washbush

Hi! I’m Amy Washbush, Associate Director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies. Through our Co-Create team we partner with nonprofit organizations and others to answer the evaluation and research questions that can make communities better.

After having babies with the support of a birth doula, I decided to train as one myself. I supported friends as they prepared, gave birth, and adapted to their lives as parents. This transformative experience shifted how I see the world and can contribute to it, including in my work as an evaluator.

Best Practices for Building an Impact Framework for Program Evaluation by Orna Ehrlich and Mary Harkins-Schwarz

Hello, AEA365 community! We are Orna Ehrlich (Vice President, Strategic Impact) and Mary Harkins-Schwarz (Senior Director, Health Services Research). We work for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, a non-profit, volunteer-fueled organization dedicated to finding cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and improving the quality of life of children and adults
affected by these diseases.

Announcing the Winners of the Second Annual Student Evaluation Case Competition by the Student Evaluation Case Competition Working Group

We are AEA’s Student Evaluation Case Competition Working Group: Dana Linnell – Chair, Asma Ali, Brianna Crumly, Carolina De La Rosa Mateo, Rana Gautam, Meg Johnson, Gabriel Keney, Jonny Morell, Steve Mumford, Julian Nyamupachitu, Elena Polush, and Jennifer Yessis. Last year, we held the inaugural US Student Evaluation Case Competition, which we shared in a previous blog post on AEA365. In this year’s update, we announce the winning team and talk about how you can connect and be involved in this work going forward.

Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design TIG Week: Get Free Quantitative and Qualitative Advice at the Quant/Qual Café! by Haiyan Bai, Mende Davis, Vajeera Dorabawila, Karen Larwin, Antonio Olmos and Lana Yampolskaya

Hi! Our names are (in alphabetical order) Haiyan Bai, Mende Davis, Vajeera Dorabawila, Karen Larwin, Antonio Olmos and Lana Yampolskaya, leadership of the Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design Topical Interest Group (Quant TIG). Our goal is to promote the effective use of quantitative methods in evaluation by helping members understand advanced techniques, providing training in …

Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design TIG Week: Get Free Quantitative and Qualitative Advice at the Quant/Qual Café! by Haiyan Bai, Mende Davis, Vajeera Dorabawila, Karen Larwin, Antonio Olmos and Lana Yampolskaya Read More »

Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design TIG Week: Adopting Reproducible Research Practices Can Benefit Evaluators by Steven J. Pierce

I’m Steven J. Pierce, a statistician with a background in community psychology. I’ve been contributing to evaluations for about 20 years, focusing on study design and applying quantitative methods. Over the last few years, I’ve been exploring how evaluators can benefit from adopting some tools and practices for reproducible research. The foundation of reproducible research …

Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design TIG Week: Adopting Reproducible Research Practices Can Benefit Evaluators by Steven J. Pierce Read More »

Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design TIG Week: Statistical Mediation and Moderation in Program Evaluation: Two Key Principles Evaluators Should Use by Antonio Olmos

Hi! My name is Antonio Olmos, Executive Director of the Aurora Research Institute (ARI) in Aurora, Colorado. ARI, a subsidiary of Aurora Mental Health and Recovery, provides evaluation services in Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Law Enforcement (Crisis Response Teams), and Public Health. We have extensive experience with federal and state grants. When we conduct evaluations, …

Quantitative Methods: Theory and Design TIG Week: Statistical Mediation and Moderation in Program Evaluation: Two Key Principles Evaluators Should Use by Antonio Olmos Read More »