NORA MURPHY, Principal Evaluator
EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 612.208.6672
NORA'S RESUME
Nora Murphy has a broad set of experiences as an evaluator and researcher. She earned a PhD in Evaluation Studies from the University of Minnesota, a MA in Research Methodology from the University of Pittsburgh and has her BA in Education from Earlham College. With strong quantitative and qualitative skills she has conducted evaluation and research in schools, school districts, local community organizations, national non-profits and government entities. Murphy also has previous experience as an educator, both as a high school math and science teacher in Washington DC and as the Director of Assessment and Evaluation for the Perspectives Charter Schools in Chicago, IL.
Murphy’s primary approach to evaluation is to view programs and people as fundamentally interrelated, applying systems theory as a framework for evaluation planning, design, implementation, analysis, and reporting. Her evaluations are also utilization focused and she facilitates the evaluation process and design with careful consideration of how everything that is done will affect use. She feels incredibly lucky to have found her way to this amazing career.
EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 612.208.6672
NORA'S RESUME
Nora Murphy has a broad set of experiences as an evaluator and researcher. She earned a PhD in Evaluation Studies from the University of Minnesota, a MA in Research Methodology from the University of Pittsburgh and has her BA in Education from Earlham College. With strong quantitative and qualitative skills she has conducted evaluation and research in schools, school districts, local community organizations, national non-profits and government entities. Murphy also has previous experience as an educator, both as a high school math and science teacher in Washington DC and as the Director of Assessment and Evaluation for the Perspectives Charter Schools in Chicago, IL.
Murphy’s primary approach to evaluation is to view programs and people as fundamentally interrelated, applying systems theory as a framework for evaluation planning, design, implementation, analysis, and reporting. Her evaluations are also utilization focused and she facilitates the evaluation process and design with careful consideration of how everything that is done will affect use. She feels incredibly lucky to have found her way to this amazing career.
NADIA AKHTAR
EMAIL: [email protected]
Nadia Akhtar holds a Masters of Biostatistics from the University of Michigan and a B.S. from Creighton University. Most recently, she has developed and guided analytics focusing on data-driven decision making geared towards clinical outcomes. Passionate about statistics and education, she has focused on communicating meaningful and actionable results to stakeholders and decision makers in an effort to improve a variety of public health outcomes, ranging from cancer incidence to participant engagement. She has collaborated with non-profits, for example, the Harriet Tubman Center in Minneapolis, to improve educational outcomes in areas of math and science. As a statistical research associate at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA, Nadia worked on a variety of study designs and methodologies. As a member of SCHARP (Statistical Center for HIV and AIDS Research Prevention), she engaged with study teams to create participant questionnaires while utilizing quantitative biological serum data to measure antibody efficacy. This mixed methods approach was used to determine intervention efficacy as well as guide future study designs and analyses. Throughout her career, Nadia has acquired skills in areas of study design, data collection and analysis, while collaborating with experts in various fields. She enjoys asking challenging, meaningful questions that will ultimately serve to improve the lives of others.
Nadia is the lead for quantitative data management for the Omaha evaluation
EMAIL: [email protected]
Nadia Akhtar holds a Masters of Biostatistics from the University of Michigan and a B.S. from Creighton University. Most recently, she has developed and guided analytics focusing on data-driven decision making geared towards clinical outcomes. Passionate about statistics and education, she has focused on communicating meaningful and actionable results to stakeholders and decision makers in an effort to improve a variety of public health outcomes, ranging from cancer incidence to participant engagement. She has collaborated with non-profits, for example, the Harriet Tubman Center in Minneapolis, to improve educational outcomes in areas of math and science. As a statistical research associate at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA, Nadia worked on a variety of study designs and methodologies. As a member of SCHARP (Statistical Center for HIV and AIDS Research Prevention), she engaged with study teams to create participant questionnaires while utilizing quantitative biological serum data to measure antibody efficacy. This mixed methods approach was used to determine intervention efficacy as well as guide future study designs and analyses. Throughout her career, Nadia has acquired skills in areas of study design, data collection and analysis, while collaborating with experts in various fields. She enjoys asking challenging, meaningful questions that will ultimately serve to improve the lives of others.
Nadia is the lead for quantitative data management for the Omaha evaluation
KIRSTEN ANDERSON
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: kirstenlanderson.com
Kirsten Anderson completed her M.A. in Evaluation Studies at the University of Minnesota in 2013 and has experience working as an evaluator and researcher within the non-profit, health care, and educational sectors. Her specialties and interests include survey design and administration, innovative data visualization, and Evaluation Capacity Building.
Kirsten has experience with evaluation projects involving social network analysis, statistical analysis, focus groups, interviewing, survey design and analysis, as well as more innovative data collection and reporting. Major clients she has worked for include Milwaukee Public Schools, The Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, Project for Pride in Living, and University of Minnesota’s CFANS department.
Kirsten will be taking the lead on surveys for the Omaha evaluation.
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: kirstenlanderson.com
Kirsten Anderson completed her M.A. in Evaluation Studies at the University of Minnesota in 2013 and has experience working as an evaluator and researcher within the non-profit, health care, and educational sectors. Her specialties and interests include survey design and administration, innovative data visualization, and Evaluation Capacity Building.
Kirsten has experience with evaluation projects involving social network analysis, statistical analysis, focus groups, interviewing, survey design and analysis, as well as more innovative data collection and reporting. Major clients she has worked for include Milwaukee Public Schools, The Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, Project for Pride in Living, and University of Minnesota’s CFANS department.
Kirsten will be taking the lead on surveys for the Omaha evaluation.
ANDY JOHNSON
EMAIL: [email protected]
Andy Johnson brings 30+ years of experience in creative work, administration, and activism to TerraLuna. Andy began his career as a musician, then as stage manager and director. He advised graduate students and faculty in the Department of Sociology for seven years. Later, Andy became an aid worker in postwar Liberia under a USAID contract. In Liberia, Andy served as the nationwide coordinator of a Books for Africa initiative that reduced the national student:textbook ratio from an average of 26:1 to 4:1, connected former child soldiers with literacy and job training programs, and created the first-year writing program at Cuttington University. After completing a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction, Mr. Johnson taught the first known #blacklivesmatter course in America, as well as spoken word, fiction writing, African American comedy, literature, and composition courses. Andy lends his skills to local creative and literacy-based projects, including Poetry Out Loud and Writers in the Schools.
Andy Johnson is an accomplished writer whose work has been seen in Callaloo, African American Review, and other publications. Over the course of his career, he has developed skills in observation, textual analysis, interviewing, recruiting, positive behavior supports, and arts-based interventions, as well as writing and editing. He holds a BA in Drama from The University of Texas, and an MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) from The University of Alabama.
Andy's role primarily includes writing and interviewing as part of the evaluation team.
EMAIL: [email protected]
Andy Johnson brings 30+ years of experience in creative work, administration, and activism to TerraLuna. Andy began his career as a musician, then as stage manager and director. He advised graduate students and faculty in the Department of Sociology for seven years. Later, Andy became an aid worker in postwar Liberia under a USAID contract. In Liberia, Andy served as the nationwide coordinator of a Books for Africa initiative that reduced the national student:textbook ratio from an average of 26:1 to 4:1, connected former child soldiers with literacy and job training programs, and created the first-year writing program at Cuttington University. After completing a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction, Mr. Johnson taught the first known #blacklivesmatter course in America, as well as spoken word, fiction writing, African American comedy, literature, and composition courses. Andy lends his skills to local creative and literacy-based projects, including Poetry Out Loud and Writers in the Schools.
Andy Johnson is an accomplished writer whose work has been seen in Callaloo, African American Review, and other publications. Over the course of his career, he has developed skills in observation, textual analysis, interviewing, recruiting, positive behavior supports, and arts-based interventions, as well as writing and editing. He holds a BA in Drama from The University of Texas, and an MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) from The University of Alabama.
Andy's role primarily includes writing and interviewing as part of the evaluation team.
KEITH MILLER
EMAIL: [email protected]
Keith attended Bethel University and graduated with a BA in History in 2005. He spent the next five years working for a variety of non-profits including three years with an international NGO in Uganda and Thailand. During his period overseas he helped design and evaluate community based food security and community development projects. Keith completed a Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey School in 2012 with a concentration in Non-profit Management and Leadership and graduate minors in Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Program Evaluation.
Keith is currently a PhD student in Evaluation Studies at the University of Minnesota. He holds a Graduate Assistantship working with the McKnight Foundation’s Collaborative Crop Research Program and their innovative Integrated Monitoring, Evaluation, and Planning team. His evaluation interests and focus are are always evolving. However he has a particular interest in utilization, complex systems, and community based evaluation.
EMAIL: [email protected]
Keith attended Bethel University and graduated with a BA in History in 2005. He spent the next five years working for a variety of non-profits including three years with an international NGO in Uganda and Thailand. During his period overseas he helped design and evaluate community based food security and community development projects. Keith completed a Master of Public Policy from the Humphrey School in 2012 with a concentration in Non-profit Management and Leadership and graduate minors in Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Program Evaluation.
Keith is currently a PhD student in Evaluation Studies at the University of Minnesota. He holds a Graduate Assistantship working with the McKnight Foundation’s Collaborative Crop Research Program and their innovative Integrated Monitoring, Evaluation, and Planning team. His evaluation interests and focus are are always evolving. However he has a particular interest in utilization, complex systems, and community based evaluation.
SHEILA NEZHAD
EMAIL: [email protected]
Sheila Nezhad believes that social change work must be rooted in a dynamic understanding of our communities. Sheila works with organizations to build part of this understanding through data-driven research, evaluation, and strategic planning activities. Sheila has worked as a researcher and evaluator across academic and community settings for more than seven years, including conducting research at the top LGBTQ public policy think tank, The Williams Institute at UCLA. Sheila holds a Masters Degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. She received her bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from the University of Minnesota, Morris.
Sheila is the lead for qualitative data management for the Omaha evaluation
EMAIL: [email protected]
Sheila Nezhad believes that social change work must be rooted in a dynamic understanding of our communities. Sheila works with organizations to build part of this understanding through data-driven research, evaluation, and strategic planning activities. Sheila has worked as a researcher and evaluator across academic and community settings for more than seven years, including conducting research at the top LGBTQ public policy think tank, The Williams Institute at UCLA. Sheila holds a Masters Degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. She received her bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from the University of Minnesota, Morris.
Sheila is the lead for qualitative data management for the Omaha evaluation
JEFF SEVERNS-GUNTZEL
EMAIL: [email protected]
For the past decade, Jeff Severns Guntzel has worked as a journalist. He's reported from the Middle East (Iraq, Jordan, Palestine) and from points all over the United States. Since 2012, his reporting has focused on the modern veteran experience. He's reported for the New York Times, Marketplace, GOOD Magazine, Utne Reader and others. Before turning to journalism, he did humanitarian work in pre-invasion Iraq. In 2003, he co-founded Electronic Iraq, a website focused on the Iraqi experience of war. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two sons.
A skilled interviewer and storyteller, Jeff will be taking the lead on case studies and interviews for the Omaha evaluation.
EMAIL: [email protected]
For the past decade, Jeff Severns Guntzel has worked as a journalist. He's reported from the Middle East (Iraq, Jordan, Palestine) and from points all over the United States. Since 2012, his reporting has focused on the modern veteran experience. He's reported for the New York Times, Marketplace, GOOD Magazine, Utne Reader and others. Before turning to journalism, he did humanitarian work in pre-invasion Iraq. In 2003, he co-founded Electronic Iraq, a website focused on the Iraqi experience of war. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two sons.
A skilled interviewer and storyteller, Jeff will be taking the lead on case studies and interviews for the Omaha evaluation.