Expertise

Expertise

-Data Analysis and Visualization
-Research and Policy Analysis
-Leadership and Coordination

BIOGRAPHY

Noah Bateman is a data-driven professional with a distinguished academic record, receiving dual degrees of Public Policy & Leadership and Applied Mathematical Statistics from the University of Virginia. They received the UVA Department of Psychology Research Excellence Award for their contributions to The Connection Project. Proficient in a wide array of data analysis tools and programming languages, Noah excels in interdisciplinary contexts, seamlessly integrating psychology, social innovation, health and public policy. Previously holding impactful roles at the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency, U.S. Department of Energy, and Maverick Health Policy, they showcase a tangible impact on real-world decision-making. Noah enjoys spending time in nature and anticipates a sociological and behavioral science-oriented academic career focusing on Queer liberation through policy. 

Expertise

• Human resources
• Payroll
• Facilities management

Expertise

-Government Consulting
-Research Design
-Economic Impact Analysis

EDUCATION

M.P.P., Public Policy; Loyola University Chicago

B.A., Theatre Arts, Catawba College

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Expertise

Expertise

- Strategic Communications
- Media Relations
- Brand Marketing

EDUCATION

BIOGRAPHY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Expertise

Expertise

Expertise

-Survey Design
-Applied Research Methods

BIOGRAPHY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

EDUCATION

Expertise

• Facilitation
• Organizational Development
• Training

Expertise

-Intersectionality
-Health and Race Equity
-Research Methods and Analysis
-Program and Evaluation and Facilitation

BIOGRAPHY

Chelsie Dunn serves as a senior research associate at the Research Institute for Social Equity in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. Identifying as both a basic and applied researcher, Dunn has more than nine years of experience in urban public health, health psychology, program facilitation and evaluation, and health equity. Her areas of expertise include: HIV prevention, positive body image, health and race equity, program facilitation and evaluation, and urban public health. Broadly, her research focuses on reducing health and racial disparities among historically marginalized populations through social equity initiatives and the development of intersectional measurements and culturally responsive interventions. Using an intersectional lens, Dunn continues to amplify the voices and needs of the community through translational research.

EDUCATION

B.A., Psychology; Wesleyan College
M.P.H., Urban Public Health; Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
M.A., Clinical Psychology; Alliant International University
Ph.D., Health Psychology; Virginia Commonwealth University

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Dunn, C.E., Hood, K.B., & Hall, C. (2022). Do gendered racial microaggressions influence the relationship between body appreciation and Black emerging adult women’s condom use behaviors? Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2155055

Dunn, C.E., Williams, C. Derlan, Hood, K.B. & Walker, C.J. (2021). Sex differences in how ethnic-racial identity informs first coital affect and virginity beliefs among Black college students. Journal of American College Health, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1888737

Hood, K.B., Shook, N., Dunn, C.E., & Belgrave, F. (2021). The effect of affective versus cognitive persuasive messages on African American women’s attitudes toward condom use. Psychology & Health, 36(6), 739-759. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2020.1776284

Moore, M., Javier, S., Maxwell, M., Dunn, C.E., & Belgrave, F. (2020). “You put yourself at risk to keep the relationship:” African American women’s perspectives on womanhood, relationships, sex and HIV. Culture, Health, and Sexuality. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2020.1815240

Dunn, C.E., Hood, K.B., & Owens, B.D. (2019). Loving myself through thick and thin: Appearance contingent self-worth, gendered racial microaggressions and African American women’s body appreciation. Body Image, 30, 121-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.06.003 

Expertise

• Creative and marketing communications
• Project management
• Event planning

Expertise

BIOGRAPHY

Vickisha D. Harris, Assistant Director at the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute has worked in higher education for over 15 years. She is an alumnus of Virginia Commonwealth University, graduating as an undergraduate in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs in Criminal Justice. She earned her Master’s degree in Administrative Leadership at Central Michigan University.

Prior to joining the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, she worked as a financial aid officer for several institutions, holding several positions. Formerly the Assistant Director of Operations in the Financial Aid & Scholarship department at Virginia Commonwealth University within the
Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in leadership at the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Vickisha enjoys mentoring women and students and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership. She believes it is crucial to impart the leadership development skills she has acquired. Vickisha hopes to one day establish a mentoring program for all underrepresented students in which they are free to be themselves as leaders.

Expertise

• Data management and technical assistance 
• Quality assurance
• Database design and testing 

EDUCATION

B.S.W., Virginia Commonealth University 

M.S.W., Virginia Commonwealth University 

Expertise

• Events management & communication
• Vendor negotiations & promotional items 
• Event marketing & sponsorship 

Expertise

-Organizational Assessment
-Policy Analysis and Evaluation
-Leadership Development

BIOGRAPHY

Sarah Jackson is a Consultant and Facilitator with the Performance Management Group. Prior to joining the Wilder School, Sarah led multi-agency networks in responding to community needs in the areas of youth and adult education, workforce development, and refugee resettlement. In her current role, she provides a variety of consulting services to organizations including policy analysis, organizational assessment, survey design and evaluation, and professional development training. An experienced public speaker, Sarah enjoys facilitating interactive workshops on leadership topics including stakeholder engagement, conflict resolution, and human-centered service delivery.  She is passionate about helping organizations develop the collaborative and strategic processes needed to do their best work. 

EDUCATION

M.P.A., Public Administration; Virginia Commonwealth University
B.A., English Literature & Creative Writing; Colorado College

Expertise

• Travel coordination
• Purchasing
• Accounting

Expertise

BIOGRAPHY

Ron Jones Jr. formerly served as the Program's Assistant for the Office of the Provost, Faculty Affairs at VCU. Following the completion of his bachelor's degree in Political Science, he began working in the Office of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness, and Success whose programs centered on fostering DEI throughout the VCU community. The Queer Research and Advocacy Center and IExcel Education were two of his core responsibilities as a Programs Assistant. He is an Equality VCU and Community Engagement Student Initiative team member. He served in the Army National Guard, is a native Virginian, and has a passion for providing opportunities to underrepresented communities.

Expertise

BIOGRAPHY

Angela McGrath brings over 15 years of financial and business management experience to the institute. Her duties include managing key business functions of the institute such as monitoring revenue streams, managing contracts, procuring of goods and services, generating purchase orders through eVA system, preparing transactions through accounts payable, planning travel and reimbursements for staff, and managing credit card reconciliations. She also conducts market research to work with procurement to negotiate contracts for events, provides support for human resources, and assists with institute meetings and events. Prior to joining the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, she served in the VCU School of Education. 

Expertise

• Holistic student-focused advising
• University policies and procedures
• Course planning

Expertise

• Content creation
• Strategic communications
• Project management

Expertise

Expertise

Expertise

Expertise

• Purchasing for services, equipment, stationery and other goods

Expertise

• Technology support services
• Customer service
• Technology deployment

While assuming a new position at SERL this month, Catherine is not new to SERL or the Wilder School family.  She has served as a part-time production supervisor since June 2019.  Her new position as a full-time Production Supervisor comes with additional responsibilities as well as more hours.

Catherine earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography and Mixed Media from Manhattanville College in May 2015.  She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching/Art Education at the same institution. 

Before joining SERL, Catherine worked as a teacher with the Joshua Berg Nursery School at Temple Beth Torah in Melville, New Jersey, as an Assistant Director of Summer Programs at the Knox School in St. James, New York, and as a Graduate Assistant supporting student field placement and certification at Manhattanville College in Purchase New York.

Expertise

EDUCATION

B.S., Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Price-Stafford has worked at the Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory since 2000. Currently, she provides assistance to study directors and clients with the coordination and day-to-day management of both program evaluation and survey research projects. She has extensive experience with mail and web survey questionnaire design and construction, as wells as survey methodology, research subjects protection, data collection, data management, analysis and reporting.

Expertise

Expertise

BIOGRAPHY

Sah Ara has worked for over a decade as an executive assistant in higher education as well other state and federal agencies. He has provided administrative support to previous congressmen of Maryland and the First Lady of the United States. Sah Ara efficiently supported high-level executives at Northern Virginia Community College as an Executive Assistant to the Dean and Office Manager. In 2015, he was awarded the Netherton Award of Excellence for Outstanding Service. He enjoys Abnormal and Biological psychology; and the incorporation of a multiculturally competent approach to clinical diagnosis and assessment for social equity in involuntary psychiatric hospitalization.  

EDUCATION

CERTIFICATION
Qualified Mental Health Professional Trainee 

Expertise

• Financial management & accounting
• Grant finance management
• Fiscal policy

Expertise

- Mixed Methods Research
- School Safety
- K-12 Threat Assessment
- Violent Crime

EDUCATION

- B.A., Political Science, North Carolina State University

- M.S., Criminal Justice, Virginia Commonwealth University

- Ph.D., Public Policy, Criminal Justice Concentration, Virginia Commonwealth University. Dissertation: Threat Assessment Team Activity and Outcomes in K-12 Public Schools: Integrating Methods to Better Understand School Safety

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Jess C. Smith currently serves as Project Director for the Evaluation of the Virginia Violent Crime Initiative, also known as Ceasefire Virginia, at the Wilder School's Center for Public Policy. Jess is no stranger to VCU, as she taught as an adjunct professor in the Social Work and Criminal Justice programs for several years and completed her PhD and Master's degrees here at the Wilder school. Prior to joining VCU, Dr. Smith served the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, first as the Public Safety Initiatives Coordinator at the Attorney General’s Office until 2012, and most recently as the School, Campus, and Public Safety Resource Specialist at the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety within the Department of Criminal Justice Services until 2017.

Expertise

Expertise

Expertise

-Event Planning and Program Management
-Office Management
-Organization and Communication

BIOGRAPHY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Debbie Taminger joined VCU’s Performance Management Group in May 2017. Her primary
responsibilities are providing administrative support for the Fundamentals for Supervisors,
Experienced Supervisor’s Institute, and the Supervisors and Managers Bootcamp programs, as
well as assisting with various consulting projects.

Debbie has extensive experience serving on non-profit boards and enjoys giving back to her
community. Debbie served as the Secretary for the United States Coast Guard Academy Parents
Association from 2017 – 2019, and received the Dedicated Service Award in 2019. She also
served on the Maggie Walker Governor’s School Policy Review Committee from 2016 – 2018,
where she worked with the Regional School Board and school administration to establish school
policy.

When Debbie is not working, she enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors with her husband
and miniature Australian Shepherd. She especially enjoys traveling to visit their two adult sons.

EDUCATION

B.S., Marketing and Management, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia PA.

Expertise

Expertise