Current Evaluation Ph.D. Students

	Silvana Bialosiewicz Silvana is a doctoral student in Psychology with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods. Before beginning her graduate studies, she received her B.A. in Psychology and Applied Statistics from Sonoma State University. Her current research focuses on developmental sensitivity in youth program evaluation. Her interests also include evaluation capacity building, early childhood intervention, mixed methods research design, and teaching. Silvana was the recipient of the 2011 Oskamp Fellowship. She works as a research assistant in CGU’s Institute of Organizational and Program Evaluation Research and is currently part of a team evaluating an afterschool enrichment program in LA County.

	Susana Bonis Susana Bonis holds a M.A. in Education from American University and is a doctoral student in psychology, and is seeking a Ph.D. with a co-concentration in evaluation and applied research along with organizational behavior. Her research interests include evaluation capacity building and evaluation practice and use in nonprofit organizations and philanthropic foundations. She is particularly interested in how evaluation can be used to strengthen grassroots organizations serving low-income people and communities of color. She is English/Spanish bilingual and biculturate and much of her work centers on Spanish-speaking communities in Los Angeles, the Central Valley of California, the Yakima Valley of Central Washington State, and Mexico. She has worked with nonprofit organizations for over 10 years, and for the U.S. Department of Education for 5 years, and often serves as a consultant in the areas of grant writing, strategic planning, and program evaluation.

	Leslie Fierro Leslie holds a B.A. in Biology from Pitzer College, a M.P.H. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Loma Linda University, and is working towards a Ph.D. with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research methods. She worked as an epidemiologist or evaluator in a variety of capacities with or for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 13 years. Her current research focuses on developing and refining methods for measuring evaluation capacity and evaluation practice within public sector organizations. Through this research, she intends to develop a practical method for assessing current evaluation-related capacities and practices within public sector organizations so that individuals can design evaluation capacity building activities that have a greater likelihood of producing long-lasting and healthy evaluation practice. She recently joined Deloitte Consulting LLP, where she is using her knowledge from CGU and her prior work history to conduct evaluations for federal agencies that focus on health issues.

	Dreolin Fleischer Dreolin received a B.A. in English Literature from Mount Holyoke College, a M.A. in Psychology from CGU, and is currently an advanced doctoral student in psychology with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods at CGU. Her research centers on evaluation use and influence. For her master's thesis, she conducted a survey of U.S. American Evaluation Association (AEA) members on the topic of evaluation use, resulting in a 2009 article entitled, “Evaluation Use: Results from a Survey of U.S. American Evaluation Association Members” in the American Journal of Evaluation. Her dissertation study will focus on the relationship between stakeholder involvement and evaluation influence. Her work experience is varied with involvement in projects that range from an evaluation of a child abuse and neglect prevention project, a large-scale literature curriculum efficacy study, to a strictly qualitative evaluation of an art museum’s program meant to guide families with children through the museum. Most recently, she has worked at two evaluation firms where she assisted with proposal writing.

	Matt Galen Matt received his B.A. in Psychology from Drew University and his M.A. in Positive Organizational Psychology and Evaluation from CGU. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods at CGU. He is primarily interested in assisting public and private Health, Education, and Social Justice foundations to develop their internal evaluation infrastructure and to help build the evaluation capacity of their staff and grantees. Recently, he has helped to coordinate international webinars on various evaluation topics for the Rockefeller Foundation, conducted analyses of relevant grantee indicators and outcomes for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and served as a project manager for the FIPSE-funded evaluation of a UC, Riverside program designed to improve educational outcomes for traditionally underserved students. He is currently the student manager of the Claremont Evaluation Center.

	Charles Gasper Charles Gasper comes to CGU with a M.S. in psychology and in addition to being a doctoral student with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods, he also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Evaluation from CGU. Charles has previously worked in the area of health care delivery quality management as well as conducted evaluations in the educational and health care arenas. He currently serves as the Director of Evaluation for the Missouri Foundation for Health where he is responsible for oversight of the evaluation efforts for all of the Foundation's funding programs. Nationally, he serves as Co-Chair of the Nonprofits and Foundations TIG of the American Evaluation Association and is often invited by other foundations and professional groups to speak on topics related to evaluation. His research interests focus on improving engagement in evaluation by organizations, its linkage to organizational learning, and how this affects organizational sustainability.

	Jeanette Gurrola Jeanette Gurrola is currently working towards a doctorate in psychology with a concentration in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods. Her research focuses on evaluator competencies and bridging the gap between evaluation theory and practice. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Economics and an M.A. in Demography and Social Analysis, both received from the University of California, Irvine. In addition, she is in the process of completing a certificate program in higher education assessment through the Assessment Leadership Academy, sponsored by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. She joined Claremont Graduate University in 2006 as the Institutional Research Officer.

	Michael Harnar Michael has a Master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Program Evaluation and is completing his Doctorate in the same, both from CGU. His research interests include educational programs for underserved minorities, community college faculty development, media effects, and youth participatory evaluation. He is currently an external evaluator for Pasadena City College’s Department of Education Title V grant. The grant funds a First Year Pathway designed to help underprepared minorities navigate the community college process using community building, linked basic skills courses, and supplemental student services. Included in this grant is a web portal that provides easy access to college information students need. His work for this client informs program development and summative reporting to external funding sources. He practices a stakeholder-engaged, participatory evaluation model employing both quantitative and qualitative methods serving program design, program development and end-of-cycle summative reporting.

	Lara Hilton Lara Hilton earned a B.A. from UC Berkeley in Sociology (Phi Beta Kappa), a M.P.H. from UCLA School of Public Health in Community Health Sciences, and she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods at CGU. Her academic research pursuits are in the areas of evaluation capacity building and application of evaluation theory to program evaluation. Since 2000, she has been at RAND Corporation as a research methodologist specializing in health policy, evidence-based practice medicine, complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine, military health and program evaluation. She also holds a co-appointment at Samueli Institute. She is currently coordinating a large scale, multi-site RCT on effectiveness of chiropractic care for non-surgical low back pain, conducting program evaluations of integrative medicine clinics that treat chronic pain and PTSD, and soon will begin a project exploring the context of the alternative medicine health care encounter with an aim to develop context measures.

	Miriam Jacobson Miriam has a B.A. in Neuroscience and Psychology from Brandeis University and is in the doctoral program in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods at CGU. She is currently evaluating a wellness program for adults with disabilities at Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation, managing a multi-site evaluation of two language arts curriculums, and is involved in research on public perceptions of evaluation findings. Her research interests include programs for children with special needs, credibility of evidence, and the use of mixed methods.

	Samantha Langan Samantha holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a M.A. in Health Behavior Research and Evaluation from CGU. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods at CGU. Samantha’s research and evaluation interests include studying the effects of participatory approaches, evaluation capacity building, evaluating gender-specific programs, and evaluating health promotion initiatives. Samantha is currently working with Volunteers of America to evaluate a multi-site pregnancy prevention program that is targeted towards adolescent females. Recently, she helped assess institutional effectiveness at Pasadena City College, collected data and conducted analyses for an arts-based math curriculum implemented in several LAUSD elementary schools, and received funding to research why women may delay seeking medical help for heart-related issues.

	John LaVelle John LaVelle holds a B.S. in Psychology and Spanish from University of Wisconsin-River Falls and a M.S. in Applied Health Psychology from University of Wisconsin-Stout. He is currently working on his Ph.D. with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods at CGU. His research focus is on professional issues within the evaluation community, with an emphasis on evaluation training and development. Topics that he is interested in within this realm include educational opportunities available to evaluators, the recruitment and selection of evaluators, and professional regulation/certification. His dissertation will take an in-depth view of evaluation education programs worldwide through qualitative methods (e.g., interviews, curriculum analysis, document analysis). He is the Director of External Affairs for the School of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences at CGU, and past manager of the AEA365 tip-a-day project.

	Nicole Porter Nicole holds a B.A. degree in Psychology, and Leadership and Organizational Studies from Chapman University, and a M.A. degree in Psychology with a co-concentration in Positive Organizational Psychology and Evaluation from CGU. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods at CGU. Her evaluation and research interests include student support programs and leadership development in higher education, evaluator competencies, and research methodology. She is currently working on the evaluation of a program aimed towards increasing recruitment and retention of women and minority students in doctoral programs at UC, Irvine. Recently, she worked on the evaluation of a student-mentoring program at UC, Riverside, a community needs assessment for a local rehabilitation hospital, and a statewide needs assessment of workforce education and training programs of occupations relating to energy efficiency for the California Public Utilities Commission.

	Jeff Sheldon Jeff Sheldon holds M.A. degrees from both Harvard and CGU, and is an Advanced Doctoral Student in psychology with a concentration in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods at CGU. His research interests include organizational learning, evaluation capacity building, and the application of empowerment and self –determination theories to inclusive evaluation practice. Jeff currently serves on the AEA’s Organizational Learning – Evaluation Capacity Building TIG and is Co-Chair of the AEA’s new Community Psychology TIG. He has recently worked on evaluations for the Pew Charitable Trusts (Health group and Education group), Methodist Hospital of Southern California, Riverside County Department of Mental Health, Harvard University, and University of Texas’ College of Education. He also completed an evaluation internship at McCord Hospital’s Sinik ‘I Themba HIV/AIDS Care Centre in Durban, South Africa.

	Michael Szanyi Michael Szanyi holds a B.A. in Psychology and Dance from Pitzer College and a M.A in Applied Social Psychology and Evaluation from CGU. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods at CGU. Michael’s work has focused on the evaluation of social services and educational programs for First 5 Los Angeles, Riverside Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles Unified School District, and University of Riverside. He is currently teaching high school psychology at The Webb Schools, California. Michael’s research and evaluation interests include design preferences and validity, advocacy in evaluation, art-based evaluation, and evaluation ethics.

	Cristina Tangonan Cristina Tangonan has a B.A. degree in Psychology and Social Behavior from University of California, Irvine and a M.A. degree in Positive Organizational Psychology and Evaluation from CGU. Currently, she is pursuing a doctoral degree with a specialization in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods at CGU. Her evaluation and research interests include the use of technology in evaluation, cross-cultural issues, development evaluation in Southeast Asia, and mixed methods research. Presently, Cristina is working on an evaluation of a teenage pregnancy prevention program implemented by Girls Inc. of Los Angeles. In the future, Cristina would like to conduct international development evaluations and work as a consultant for programs in developing countries.

	Yumi Terahata Yumi holds a B.A. in Policy Management from Keio University, a M.A. in Community Mental Health and a Postgraduate Certificate in Global Mental Health. She is also a doctoral student in psychology with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods at CGU. Her research interests include organizational capacity-building, culturally-responsive evaluation, and evaluation within humanitarian aid/disaster response. She spent 7 years in Gaza as a humanitarian aid worker, working to empower young men and women through psychosocial programing, bridging local NGO partnerships, and conducting program evaluations for the UN and other NGOs. She is also currently Country Representative for International Medical Corps, leading the organization's strategic planning, design, and implementation of programs to support Japan's immediate and long-term recovery after the Great East Earthquake/Tsunami of March 2011.

	Karen Widmer Karen Widmer is an alumna of CGU’s Certificate of Advanced Study in Evaluation program and is a doctoral student with an emphasis in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods. She is interested in a mixed methods approach to Evaluation. She is currently studying how organizations build their capacity to formatively evaluate their work in situ by attending to the cultural dynamics surrounding and intellectual assets possessed by front-line members. Recent projects include an evaluation of a well-aging intervention for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in group homes and the design of a longitudinal cohort study of the effects of rehabilitation options on outcomes for persons with total brain injury.