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Dr. Lauver has over 25 years of experience as a researcher, evaluator, project director, and technical assistance (TA) provider at the local, state, and federal levels. Her work spans leading initiatives for the U.S. Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CLCC) Program; youth development and out-of-school-time learning programs, including serving families and students with disabilities; and teacher professional development in literacy, mathematics, and science. Additional areas of specialization include culturally responsive research and evaluation studies involving quantitative and qualitative methods. A subject matter expert in P-12 education policy, she has produced extensive bodies of knowledge used by thousands of educators at state education agencies, local education agencies, and charter schools.

Raquel González, Ph.D., has over 20 years of experience conducting research and evaluations focused on early childhood development, K-12 school systems, and institutes of higher education. Her work includes developing and conducting culturally responsive and equitable evaluations aimed at supporting the whole child, with a focus on children from birth to five and their families. She also has led large-scale impact evaluations to assess the efficacy of programs. She brings expertise working with a variety of local and state agencies in California, as well as with foundations and non-profits.

Barbara Goodson is a nationally recognized expert in research and policy on families and young children. She has more than 40 years of experience designing and conducting large, multi-site implementation and impact studies examining interventions for low-income and language minority children and families. Goodson is an expert on research methodology and measuring ECE environmental quality and fidelity of implementation of educational interventions. She specializes in the evaluation of pre-grade 12 interventions and early learning programs, designing logic models and conducting program improvement research to ensure successful implementations.

Dr. Karen Gray-Adams is an educational psychologist with nearly 25 years of experience in research and technical assistance with an emphasis on educational equity. She provides capacity building and technical assistance on K-16 education and other policy issues, strategic planning, and mixed-methods research. Dr. Gray-Adams has expertise in culturally responsive pedagogy, equity, and educator workforce. She is a team leader and researcher who engages partners and helps build capacity to create solutions at the local, regional, state, and national level. She further supports equity in educational environments by providing one-on-one coaching in culturally responsive and equitable evaluation methods for community-based organizations.

Dr. Matthew Finster is a principal researcher with 15 years of experience working in education and educational policy research. His expertise lies in providing technical assistance on educational research and program implementation, which often focuses on improving educator effectiveness and student outcomes. He has significant experience working with federal education grantees, state education agencies, local education agencies, and schools on building their capacity to implement their Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plans. He is also the author of numerous articles and technical reports centered around education and human capital management that have appeared in the Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, Journal of Education Human Resources, and other notable publications.

Adele Robinson brings to Abt more than 30 years of experience in policy development and advocating for children and education, with a focus on early childhood and the early elementary years. From Capitol Hill, national education associations, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to state and local agencies, she has supported the implementation of equitable and effective education as a means of providing success for all of our nation’s families. As a principal associate at Abt, she’ll continue to pursue these goals with our federal clients, as well as at the state and local level, using her expertise in complex policy analysis and strategic technical assistance.

Diane Paulsell is an applied social scientist with more than 20 years of experience designing, conducting, and overseeing mixed-methods policy-focused research, including national multi-site studies. She has also led rapid cycle learning and program improvement efforts with a variety of human services programs and a foundation-funded research program to advance equitable access to family supportive services. Her areas of expertise range from early care and education to parenting, family engagement, youth development and family supportive policies and programs, including nutrition.

Dr. Caroline Logan is a senior associate and health services researcher with over 15 years of experience in policy-focused mixed methods evaluation design, rigorous data collection and analysis, and development of integrated mixed methods reports and deliverables. Her expertise in federal and state health policy includes Medicare and Medicaid financing and delivery systems, care transformation and system integration, social determinants of health, maternal health, the health and well-being of children, and the intersection of health and housing.

Shelley Martin is a gender and sustainable development advisor with a background in women and youth empowerment, inclusive business and innovation, and human rights in supply chains and communities. Her work has engaged local and global organizations in numerous sectors across 15+ countries, spanning climate-smart agriculture, land rights, finance, entrepreneurship, clean energy, STEM, infrastructure, manufacturing and consumer goods.

Arun Asok is a seasoned impact investor with 15 years of experience investing in and managing a portfolio of impact enterprises across Asia and Africa, particularly those focused on healthcare, financial services, and energy access.  As a senior advisor in Abt’s International Development Division, Arun leads mobilizing private capital and structuring impact investments for various client projects. More broadly, he leads Abt’s private capital and impact investment strategy and execution, and convenes thought leadership activities to champion private capital as a tool for inclusive growth and social and economic wellbeing. Arun’s expertise spans fund structuring, investment management, portfolio management, and business operations while forging public-private partnerships between UN organizations, ministries, developmental institutions, and commercial investors.