Featured projects
The projects below reflect the diversity of my work as a researcher and program evaluator. Each represents unique opportunities to collaborate with organizations and communities on topics ranging from library teen services to family engagement with technology. While the roles I play vary, these projects are unified by a common thread: an unwavering focus on learning from diverse participants and centering communities in shaping meaningful outcomes.
01
Building community-based summer services
A multi-year initiative to reshape traditional summer services in public libraries through deeper connections and partnership with local communities, led by the California State Library Agency (CSLA) and the California Library Association with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The project currently involves over 350 library staff from 150+ public libraries across 17 US states.
02
Opportunity landscaping
Partnering with Dr. Nichole Pinkard and the Digital Youth Network team within the Northwestern University Office of Community Education Partnerships to understand, visualize, and transform landscapes of out-of-school learning opportunities across bounded geographies. We have explored this sociotechnical process through collaborations with academic (e.g., Dr. Sheena Erete and team), civic (e.g., Argonne National Laboratories, Chicago Public Schools) and community (e.g., Project Exploration) groups to strengthen science and technology learning pathways aligned with intentions and values of different actors in the learning ecosystem.
03
Foregrounding parent voices to understand how families navigate learning with technology
Working as a research collaborator with youthLAB group at Stanford University led by Brigid Barron, we conducted a remote diary study with 109 diverse families across the US in spring of 2020 as school buildings closed across the country. We followed up with families two and four years later, asking parents to document and reflect on moments of learning at home and to share their perspectives about interest-driven, social, and joyful learning with technology. Findings have implications for advancing research that emphasizes parent perspectives in developing stronger, more connected home-school partnerships.
04
Building a foundation of understanding to strengthen teen services
To support deepening focus and expansion of teen services in New York Public Library branches across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, we engaged in review of existing materials and inquiry sessions with teens, YA staff, and administrators at different levels of the system. Insights and questions raised were used to develop a preliminary theory of action and a pilot study at three branches to lay the groundwork. A landscape scan of teen services in local branches across the system has led to collective action toward a 3-5 year strategic plan and collective knowledge sharing of best practices.
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Role(s): Research and evaluation lead (2022-present)
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Approaches: Surveys with teens and YA staff, Site visits and interviews with teens, staff, and managers; Codesign activities and interpretation sessions with YA staff and system leadership.
05
Facilitating computational tinkering
A multi-year multi-institute NSF-funded collaboration between the Creative Communities Group at CU Boulder, the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT, and the Exploratorium Tinkering Studio, exploring and learning together with coordinators in community-based informal learning settings. This research, design, and practice project documented practices and developed resources to support facilitation of computational tinkering in ways that foreground equity, highlight practitioners as designers, and understand adaptations in unique contexts.
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Role: External evaluator (2020-2024)
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Project resources: Website ; Newsletter ; Paper ; Video
06
Scanning the landscape of teen services across public libraries
To better understand and support teen services in diverse communities across broader geographical areas, system decision-makers are eager to learn from direct service staff and young people. Working with the State New Jersey State Library focus was specifically on teen entrepreneurship in public library maker spaces. In both projects a survey of public libraries was conducted to investigate state-wide patterns and library cases and regional focus groups were used to explore trends and stories to interpret findings within unique environments.
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Role(s): Research director; Interpretation partner
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​Approach: Statewide surveys of library staff; case studies of diverse communities and library systems through site visit observation and artifact-based conversations with staff, managers, and teens.