About Us

People

Leadership

  • James Bell, M.A. Founder and President

    James Bell has more than 40 years of experience designing and directing national program evaluations. He started JBA in 1979 to help programs better serve...

  • Jill Filene Jill Filene, M.P.H. Executive Vice President

    Jill Filene has more than 25 years of experience in applied research, program evaluation, and technical assistance. Her areas of expertise include home...

  • James DeSantis James P. DeSantis, Ph.D. Vice President

    James P. DeSantis is a developmental psychologist with more than 30 years of experience in research, program design, evaluation, technical assistance, and project...

  • Kate Lyon, M.A. Vice President

    Kate Lyon has 20 years of experience in program evaluation, applied social science research, and evaluation technical assistance. Her areas of expertise...

  • Lina Gong, M.B.A. Vice President of Finance and Administration

    Lina Gong has more than 20 years of experience in corporate finance, operations management, and federal contracting. She oversees a range of functions...

  • Elyse Kaye In Memoriam

    As one of JBA’s first employees, Elyse Kaye spearheaded JBA’s foray into the child and family services arena. She has more than 30 years of...

Staff

  • Tess Abrahamson-Richards, M.P.H. Senior Research Associate

    Tess Abrahamson-Richards has more than 10 years of experience in early childhood education and public health. A member of the Spokane Tribe in...

  • Pirkko Ahonen, Ph.D., M.S. Senior Research Associate

    Pirkko Ahonen has more than 20 years of experience in evaluation studies, technical assistance, and applied research. She currently serves as the project director...

  • Grace Atukpawu-Tipton Grace Atukpawu-Tipton, Ph.D., M.S.W. Senior Research Associate, Equity Director

    Grace Atukpawu-​Tipton has more than 20 years of experience in program evaluation, evaluation technical assistance, and applied social science research in the...

  • Amanda Barczyk Amanda N. Barczyk, Ph.D., M.S.W. Senior Research Associate

    Amanda Barczyk has 20 years of experience leading small- and large-scale quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research and evaluation projects....

  • Todd Bartko, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate

    Todd Bartko has more than 30 years of experience in social science research and program administration. He brings to JBA his expertise in applied social science...

  • Tonya Bibbs Tonya Bibbs, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate

    Tonya Bibbs has more than 20 years of experience in applied social science research, program evaluation, and research design. She brings to JBA skills in ...

  • Leah Bouchard Leah Bouchard, Ph.D. Research Associate

    Leah Bouchard has nearly 10 years of experience as a social worker and researcher. Her work has focused on substance use in marginalized communities, rural...

  • Dakota Bragato Dakota Bragato Research Assistant

    Dakota Bragato has a background in social science research and policy analysis, as well as experience in childcare, education, and community...

  • Katie Brennan Katie Sacca Brennan, M.P.H. Research Associate

    Katie Sacca Brennan has nearly 10 years of experience monitoring and evaluating maternal and family health and development programs. Her evaluation...

  • Jessica Bruning Jessica Bruning, M.S. Research Associate

    Jessica Bruning has more than 5 years of experience in public policy, program evaluation, and research related to children and families. Her skills include mixed-...

  • Ashley Bucher, M.P.H. Research Associate

    Ashley Bucher has nearly 10 years of experience in child maltreatment research, program development, data collection and analysis, data reporting, data...

  • Brandie Buckless Brandie Buckless, M.P.H. Senior Research Associate

    Brandie Buckless has more than 10 years of experience in public health, community-based participatory research, evaluation, and technical assistance in...

  • Patrice Cachat, M.S.W. Research Associate

    Patrice Cachat has nearly 20 years of experience in child and family services with extensive knowledge in child welfare and protection and child and adolescent...

  • Leah Childress Leah Childress, Ph.D. Research Associate

    Leah Childress has more than 15 years of experience in program evaluation, applied social science research, and evaluation technical assistance in diverse content...

  • Crystal Coles Crystal Coles, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate

    Crystal Coles has nearly 15 years of experience in applied social science research and evaluation in child welfare and maternal child health, including more...

  • Terrica Dang-Mertz Terrica Dang-Mertz Research Assistant

    Terrica Dang-Mertz has a background in social science research and policy analysis, as well as experience in legal studies, education, and community organizing....

  • Amanda Eastern Amanda Eastern, Ph.D., M.S. Research Associate

    Amanda Eastern has a background in applied social science research and early childhood policy analysis. Her areas of expertise include qualitative research...

  • Eleanor Fisk Eleanor Fisk, Ph.D. Research Associate

    Eleanor Fisk has more than 5 years of experience in early childhood research, policy, and practice. Areas of expertise include community-engaged evaluations...

  • Anne Fromknecht, M.P.H. Senior Research Associate

    Anne Fromknecht has more than 12 years of experience in applied social science, evaluation, and technical assistance. Her technical skills include project...

  • Erly Garba Erly Garba, M.B.A. Finance Manager

    Erly Garba has more than 5 years of experience in corporate accounting. At JBA, he supports the finance and administration team on accounts receivables...

  • Rowena Gear Business Manager

    Rowena Gear has more than 30 years of experience in business management and accounting. In her part-time role at JBA, she is responsible for managing payroll...

  • Erin Geary, Ph.D., M.S.W. Senior Research Associate

    Erin Geary has 15 years of experience in program evaluation, project management, and technical assistance. His skills include designing and...

  • Elliott Graham Elliott Graham, Ph.D. Director

    ​Elliott Graham has nearly 30 years of experience in program evaluation, applied social science research, and evaluation technical assistance. He currently...

  • Grace Kwanchanok Griffith Grace Kwanchanok Griffith, M.B.A. Accounting Associate

    Grace Kwanchanok Griffith has more than 10 years of experience in finance and accounting. She has extensive work experience in financial accounting...

  • Emily Heberlein Emily Heberlein, Ph.D., M.S. Senior Research Associate

    Emily Heberlein has more than 18 years of experience in mixed-methods research, evaluation, and quality improvement. Her work spans initiatives including...

  • Susan Higman, Ph.D., M.A. Senior Research Associate

    Susan Higman has nearly 25 years of experience in applied research and evaluation on maternal and child health and child development, including nearly 15...

  • Martin Honesty Finance and Administration Associate

    Martin Honesty has more than 30 years of experience in the administrative field. His responsibilities include managing employee laptops and monitors, the...

  • Erin Ingoldsby, Ph.D. Director

    Erin Ingoldsby has nearly 30 years of experience in applied social science research, program evaluation, and evaluation technical assistance in diverse content...

  • April Inniss April Khadijah Inniss, M.D., M.Sc. Senior Research Associate

    April Khadijah Inniss is a pediatrician with more than 10 years of experience as a mixed-methods researcher in racial equity and child and family health and...

  • Heather Johnson Heather Johnson, M.P.H. Research Associate

    Heather Hudspeth Johnson has more than 10 years of experience planning, implementing, and evaluating maternal and child health programs. She has worked...

  • Alexandra Joraanstad, M.S. Research Associate

    Alexandra Joraanstad has more than 10 years of experience conducting social services evaluation research, with a focus on programs serving parents...

  • Kirsten Keene, M.A. Research Associate

    Kirsten Keene has more than 10 years of experience in applied social science research and program evaluation. Her research skills include qualitative...

  • Kathy Kopiec Kathy Kopiec, M.S.W., M.A. Research Associate

    Kathy Kopiec has 20 years of experience in program evaluation and applied social science research with substantive knowledge in mental health services and...

  • Julie Leis Julie Leis, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate

    ​Julie Leis has nearly 20 years of experience in applied research and program evaluation in the areas of home visiting, mental health, and child development...

  • Haiying Li Haiying Li Staff Accountant

    Haiying Li has more than 10 years of experience in accounting and finance. She has extensive work experience in fiscal operation and management of...

  • Maggie Liddell, M.B.A., M.A. Operations Associate

    Maggie Liddell has nearly 20 years of experience spanning financial analysis and reporting, business process development, market and business analytics...

  • Doreen Major Ryan Doreen Major Ryan, M.A. Communications Director

    Doreen Major Ryan has more than 30 years of communications and marketing experience with expertise in research translation and dissemination,...

  • Loren Masters, M.P.H. Research Analyst

    Loren Masters has 10 years of experience conducting public health social science research. Her areas of content expertise include health disparities...

  • Kim McCombs-Thornton, Ph.D., M.P.P. Senior Research Associate

    Kim McCombs-Thornton has more than 25 years of experience leading, designing, and implementing evaluation research projects for early childhood and...

  • Allison Meisch, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate

    Allison Meisch is a developmental psychologist with 20 years of experience in quantitative and qualitative methods, program evaluation, applied research...

  • Nicole M. Miller, M.S.W. Senior Research Associate

    Nicole Miller has more than 20 years of experience in child and family services, focused primarily on child welfare and protection and child and adolescent...

  • Erin Morehouse Erin Morehouse, M.P.H. Research Associate

    ​Erin Morehouse has nearly 15 years of experience in program evaluation, data reporting and dashboard development, technical assistance and training, data...

  • Colleen Morrison, Ph.D. Senior Research Associate

    Colleen Morrison has more than 10 years of experience in program evaluation and applied developmental research. Her areas of expertise include early...

  • Natalie Moyer Natalie Moyer, M.S.W. Research Assistant

    Natalie Moyer spent 4 years working in early childhood education before transitioning to a career in macro-level social work. She currently works as a research...

  • Julie Murphy, M.S.W. Senior Research Associate

    Julie Murphy has more than 20 years of program evaluation experience in the human services field. She has led numerous federal, state, and local evaluations...

  • Kris Neurauter Kris Neurauter Production and Design Specialist

    Kris Neurauter has more than 25 years of experience in project coordination and document production. Her role at JBA includes formatting and compiling...

  • Chi Connie Park, Ph.D., M.A. Senior Research Associate

    Chi Connie Park has more than 15 years of experience in applied social science research design, program evaluation, and capacity building in the areas of child...

  • Timothy Pitsch IT Coordinator

    Timothy Pitsch has nearly 15 years of experience in information systems, IT coordination, network operations, and support desks. As JBA’s IT...

  • Matthew Poes, M.S. Senior Research Associate

    Matthew Poes has more than 15 years of experience in research, evaluation, and technical assistance related to home visiting. His areas of expertise include ...

  • Mallory Quigley Clark, M.P.H. Senior Research Associate

    Mallory Quigley Clark has more than 10 years of experience planning, implementing, and evaluating maternal and child health programs. She has worked...

  • Tammy Richards, M.Ed. Senior Research Associate

    Tammy Richards has more than 20 years of experience in program evaluation, applied social science research, evaluation training, and technical assistance. Her...

  • Erica Blue Roberts, Ph.D., M.H.S. Senior Research Associate

    Erica Blue Roberts has more than 10 years of experience in program evaluation and analysis, applied social science research, and technical assistance. She...

  • Joelle Ruben, M.S.W. Senior Communications Associate

    Joelle Ruben has more than 15 years of experience working on child and family issues in a variety of communications, policy, advocacy, and direct service...

  • Kerry Ryan Kerry Ryan, M.A. Senior Research Associate

    Kerry Ryan has nearly 15 years of experience conducting social services evaluation research, with a focus on the implementation, dissemination, and...

  • Melina Salvador Melina Salvador, Ph.D., M.A. Senior Research Associate

    Melina Salvador has more than 20 years of experience in critically applied public anthropology, health and mental health services research, and program...

  • Hannah Simmons Hannah Simmons Continuous Quality Improvement Associate

    Hannah Simmons has 13 years of experience in continuous quality improvement (CQI), strategic planning, and program management in public health...

  • Mikaila Singleton Mikaila Singleton, M.P.H. Research Assistant

    Mikaila Singleton has a background in social science research and experience working on topics related to mental health, maternal and child health, and early...

  • Mariel Sparr, Ph.D., M.A. Senior Research Associate

    Mariel Sparr has nearly 15 years of experience in program evaluation, applied research, and research methodology. Her technical skills include quantitative...

  • Margaret Southern Office Manager

    Margaret Southern has more than 40 years of experience in the administrative field. As JBA’s office manager, she ensures things are running smoothly...

  • Nichole Sturmfels, M.P.H. Senior Data Manager

    Nichole Sturmfels has 15 years of experience in applied public health research, specializing in data system selection, implementation, operations, and reporting...

  • Amanda Thomson, M.P.P. Research Associate

    Amanda Thomson has nearly 10 years of experience in social science research, program evaluation, and technical assistance. She is trained in public policy...

  • Lance Till, M.S. Associate Director

    Lance Till has more than 15 years of experience working in evaluation, program planning, and early childhood systems of care. He brings to JBA expertise...

  • William Voinot-Baron, Ph.D. Research Associate

    William Voinot-Baron is a writer and anthropologist with more than 10 years of qualitative research experience. His research spans mental health...

  • ​Yuan Wang, M.S. Senior Research Analyst

    Yuan Wang has more than 15 years of experience in applied statistical research, capacity building technical assistance, qualitative research, complex survey...

  • Kristyn Yepa Kristyn Yepa, D.N.P. Senior Research Associate

    Kristyn Yepa has more than 15 years of experience in tribal healthcare systems. She is an expert in public health administration with strengths in tribal...

  • Susan Zaid, M.A. Director

    Susan Zaid brings more than 20 years of experience in program evaluation, applied social science research, and evaluation technical assistance in the areas of...