Staff
OEIE has a professional staff with expertise in evaluation design, strategic planning, project development, quantitative and qualitative methods, data analysis, survey design, and database development.
Our multidisciplinary team includes professionals from education, curriculum and instruction, psychology, public policy, business and administration, adult education, sociology, mathematics, human development, journalism, and computer science. OEIE staff includes evaluators, project coordinators, development specialists, and technology specialists, along with an accomplished internal business and support staff. All evaluators are members of the American Evaluation Association.
 | Cindy Shuman, Ph.D.Acting Associate Dean for Research and External Funding and Executive Director, Office of Educational Innovation and Evaluation 785-532-3463 | Cindy Shuman joined OEIE in 2000. As Executive Director, she works collaboratively with the leadership team to establish office guidelines, contributes to efforts in proposal development and client outreach, and serves as a resource in evaluation design and methodology for other staff members. Her duties also include assisting in the training and support of project staff to promote our professional standards in conducting and reporting our evaluation activities and representing the evaluation capabilities of the organization at external meetings and conferences. Cindy’s areas of expertise include program evaluation design and implementation and collaborating effectively with clients. Cindy holds an M.S. and Ph.D. in Adult Education, a B.A. in Modern Languages (Spanish), and a B.S. in Bakery Science from Kansas State University. |
 | Tamra Hasenbank, B.S.Executive Assistant | Tamra Hasenbank joined OEIE in 2016. In her role as Executive Assistant, Tamra provides direct support to the Director including calendar management, organizing travel, coordinating office activities and schedules, managing incoming and outgoing office communications and supporting various projects. In addition, she assists with accounting, human resources, and the student research support team. Tamra is a relationship-oriented individual with an exceptional record of client service throughout 15 years in the industry. Her expertise includes event planning, account management, and marketing. Tamra received a B.S. in Apparel and Textiles from Kansas State University. Tamra excels at communication, organization, and customer service. |
 | Cindi Dunn, Ed.D.Acting Director | Cindi Dunn joined OEIE in 2003. In her role as Acting Director, she led the development and supervises the implementation of a fluid system to capture and monitor project management for all OEIE projects. She is responsible for monitoring workflow, aligning resources and personnel to complete evaluation projects, and assimilating new projects. She also collaborates with OEIE staff as they develop project management plans. Cindi also serves as a principal evaluator responsible for developing and implementing program evaluations for multi-state, multi-institutional, and multi-discipline externally funded projects. Cindi received an Ed. D. in Curriculum and Instruction: Technology from Kansas State University, M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction: Educational Computing from Iowa State University, and B.S. in Secondary Mathematics and Business Education from the University of Nebraska. She has teaching and leadership experiences at both the secondary and post-secondary level. Her primary interests are systems evaluation and building evaluation capacity of stakeholders. |
 | Aaron Schroeder, B.S.Associate Director & Technology Officer | Aaron Schroeder joined OEIE in 2004. In his role as Associate Director & Technology Officer, Aaron leads a technology team that works with evaluators and clients to streamline data collection and reporting efforts by developing customized databases, web-based data collection systems, and other solutions tightly integrated within comprehensive evaluation plans. Aaron's expertise includes working with clients to design and build data management systems, building and leading a team of technology professionals, and developing innovative reporting and evaluation tools. He has spearheaded efforts to design and implement comprehensive data management systems for Extension, SNAP-Ed, Oklahoma EPSCoR, Kansas Board of Regents Kan-ed, TQE U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Defense Educational Agency projects, among others. Aaron received a B.S. in Computer Science and B.A. in Mathematics from Kansas State University. |
 | Katie Allen, M.P.A.Senior Project Development Specialist, Team Lead | Katie Allen joined OEIE in 2013. In her role as Senior Project Development Specialist, she collaborates to develop evaluation plans, logic models, budget justifications, letters of commitment, and other grant application materials. She reviews funding agency guidelines, policies, and evaluation expectations. Additionally, she provides support for the development of contracts, statements of work and assists with internal database updates. Katie has expertise in grant writing and project development, project management, non-profit administration, budgeting and finance, personnel management, and building collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders. She holds a certificate in the What Works Clearinghouse Group Design Standards. Katie received an M.P.A. from Kansas State University, a B.A. from the University of Kansas, and is a Doctoral Candidate in Education Leadership. Katie’s prior experience includes 12 years of grant proposal development and seven years of project management experience leading population-based programs in early childhood, substance abuse prevention, and health initiatives. |
 | Derek BeinsTechnical Support Coordinator | Derek Beins joined OEIE in 2019. In his role as Technical Support Coordinator, Derek is responsible for providing technical support for the PEARS web-based application and writing documentation for the system. |
 | LeAnn Brosius, M.A.Evaluator | LeAnn Brosius joined OEIE in 2013 as an Evaluation Projects Coordinator. In 2019, she transitioned to the role of Evaluator. As an Evaluator, she supports evaluation of projects in the areas of workforce development, social and health education, and capacity building. Additionally, LeAnn is involved in various office administrative duties including, purchasing, travel, and other office responsibilities. LeAnn received an M.A. in Communication Studies and a B.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in Leadership Studies from Kansas State University. She has over ten years of experience teaching K-12 students domestically and internationally and holds a TESOL Certificate from LanguageCorps Asia. |
 | Adam Cless, M.S.Evaluation Assistant | Adam Cless joined OEIE in 2017. In his role as Evaluation Assistant, he supports evaluation efforts in the areas of leadership development, school-based education, and capacity building. Adam has expertise in data collection and analysis, project coordination, and reporting and dissemination. He has experience conducting focus groups and interviews, and writing and presenting findings. Adam received a M.S. in Life Span Human Development and a B.S. in Family Studies and Human Services with a certificate in Conflict Resolution from Kansas State University. He has experience working within communities in Kansas to build capacity around health initiatives and poverty-reduction initiatives. He also has experience measuring impacts of the federally-supported 4-H Military Partnerships program. |
 | Holly Connell, M.P.H.Evaluation Assistant | Holly Connell joined OEIE in 2017. In her role as an Evaluation Assistant, she provides support for evaluation efforts in the areas of managing data files, writing data summaries, and editing and compiling reports. Holly has expertise in providing technical assistance to communities receiving grant funding, working with diverse stakeholder groups, facilitating project implementation and evaluation, as well as reporting outcome data and completing summary reports. Holly received an M.P.H. in Community and Behavioral Health with an emphasis in health policy and a B.S. in Health and Human Physiology from The University of Iowa. |
| Belle Federman, Sc.D.Evaluator | Belle Federman joined OEIE in 2019 as an Evaluator, |
| Connor Knightley, B.S.Technical Support Coordinator | Connor Knightley joined OEIE in 2018. In his role as Technical Support Coordinator, Connor is responsible for providing technical support for the PEARS web-based application and writing documentation for the system. |
| Levi Mann, B.S.Applications Developer | Levi Mann joined OEIE in 2014 as a student technical specialist. In 2017, he began his role as a full-time Applications Developer. In this role, Levi primarily creates features for and maintains the PEARS web application. Levi has expertise developing data-driven, responsive web applications using the Django framework. Levi is completing his B.S. in Computer Science at Kansas State University. He has two years of experience providing web application and office technical support and has been doing Django web application development for over a year. |
| Kim Nicholson, Ph.D.Evaluator | Kim Nicholson joined OEIE in 2017. In her role as an Evaluator, she evaluates projects in the areas of technological innovation, global environmental change, STEM workforce development and community outreach. Kim has expertise in evaluation design and management, instrument development and administration, quantitative and qualitative methodology, and data analysis and visualization. Additionally, Kim has expertise in higher education and community-based social programs. Kim received a Ph.D. in Adult Education from Cornell University, an M.S. in Family Studies from Kansas State University, and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Vermont. |
| Brent O'Connor, B.S.Senior Software Engineer, Team Lead | Brent O’Connor joined OEIE in 2014.In his role as Senior Software Engineer, he manages the development of web applications - notably PEARS - and provides general technical assistance for OEIE. Brent’s expertise includes modern web development and developing dynamic and highly functional web applications. Brent received a B.S. in Pastoral Ministries from Manhattan Christian College. Brent has more than ten years of experience in web software development, design and system administration. He has built large websites, including an online newspaper, a video sharing website, a social network and more. |
| Dee Sanfilippo, M.P.A.Grant Specialist | Dee Sanfilippo joined OEIE in 2019 as a Grant Specialist. In her position, Dee collaborates to prepare grant proposals including the development of evaluation plans, logic models, budget justifications, letters of commitment, and other grant application materials. She reviews funding agency guidelines, policies, and evaluation expectations. |
| Jevin Subedi, B.S.Applications Developer | Jevin Subedi joined OEIE in 2018 as a full-time applications developer. He is primarily responsible for creating features and maintaining the PEARS web application. Jevin has expertise in developing modern, data-driven web applications using Django Framework. Jevin received his B.S. in Computer Science from East Central University. His previous experience includes developing, deploying, and maintaining Django web applications. |
 | Allison Teeter, Ph.D.Evaluator | Allison Teeter joined OEIE in 2011 and has eight years of experience in the field of evaluation. As an Evaluator, she evaluates projects in the areas of workforce development, capacity building, and social and health education. Allison designs and implements evaluations, develops data analysis plans and analyzes data, prepares technical evaluation reports and presentations, and manages project teams. Allison has expertise in data collection, analysis, and management, as well as instrument development, project coordination, and reporting and dissemination. She has experience in academic literature searches, conducting interviews, data entry and verification, creating graphs and tables, and performing a variety of statistical analysis including descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, multiple regression, and factor analysis. Allison received a Ph.D., M.A. with an emphasis in Social Research Methods, a B.A. in Spanish, and a B.A. in Sociology from Kansas State University. Allison also holds a Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies from Kansas State University. |
 | Madalyn Talmage, B.S.Technical Support Coordinator | Madalyn Talmage joined OEIE in 2019. In her role as Technical Support Coordinator, Madalyn is responsible for providing technical support for the PEARS web-based application and writing documentation for the system. |
 | Joel Wallace, B.S.Client Support Manager, Team Lead | Joel Wallace joined OEIE in 2013. In his role as Client Support Manager, he leads the PEARS Support Team and manages technical support for the office supporting desktops, laptops, printers, phones, and other technology. Joel has expertise in providing technical support to clients, training users on new technology, managing internal software and hardware needs, as well as maintaining and updating databases. Joel received a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Kansas State University. His previous experience includes ten years in technology and eight years providing customer service, training, and staff supervision. |
| Morgan Wills, M.P.A.Grant Specialist | Morgan Wills joined OEIE in 2017 as a graduate research assistant. In 2018, Morgan began her role as a full-time Grant Specialist. In her position, Morgan collaborates to prepare grant proposals including the development of evaluation plans, logic models, budget justifications, letters of commitment, and other grant application materials. She reviews funding agency guidelines, policies, and evaluation expectations. Additionally, she serves as a liaison to PreAwards services and assists with internal database updates. Morgan’s expertise includes project development and coordination, budgeting and finance, analyzing qualitative data, and composing qualitative technical documents. Morgan received an M.P.A. from Kansas State University and a B.S. in Political Science with a Secondary Major in Natural Resources and Environmental Science. Morgan’s prior experience includes four years' of service at both the local and state levels of government. |
| Valerie York, Ph.D.Senior Evaluator | Valerie York joined OEIE in 2008. In her role as an Evaluator, she leads evaluation of projects in the areas of workforce development, capacity building, and community-based social and health education. Valerie has expertise in evaluation design, instrument development and administration, quantitative and qualitative methodology and data analysis, and the presentation of findings through technical reports and academic publications. Valerie received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology and M.S. in Psychology from Kansas State University and a B.A. in Psychology from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. Additionally, Valerie holds a Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health Psychology from Kansas State University. |
Research Support Staff | ||
Graduate Research Assistants 785-532-5930
| Tiasia Creech Joshua Edgar Aaron Entringer, M.S. Ricardo Gonzalez Lindsay Mason Michael Miller, M.A. | |
Undergraduate Research Assistants 785-532-5858 | Taylor Doner Kylee Knott Kelsey Wheeler | |
Student Developers 785-532-5930
| Weston Chan Danniel Christensen | |
