Eric Heller, Ed.D. is Director of the Research and Evaluation Group. With the Institute since 1984, he was instrumental in developing its approach to client-responsive, applied social science research and program evaluation. He has extensive experience in the design and development of research plans tailored to address clients’ unique program feedback, accountability, and decision-making needs. He is well grounded in the application of a broad array of quantitative and qualitative research tools, and draws on twenty-five years of research experience in his approach to project development, management, and quality control.

Dr. Heller received his Ed.D. and M.Ed. in educational policy, research and administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He earned his B.A. in education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

(413) 587-2402

Steven Ellis, M.P.A. is Senior Manager for Research and Evaluation. He works extensively with education, health care, and economic development initiatives and governmental entities in the areas of customer satisfaction, impact measurement, and organizational and market research. Mr. Ellis has experience with a range of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including survey research, case study, interviewing, focus groups, and literature review. He has practical experience working with non-profit and quasi-public organizations, public agencies, and private businesses.

Mr. Ellis received a master's degree in public administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He received his B.A. from North Adams State College.

(413) 587-2405

Jill Capitani, M.P.P. is a Research Manager specializing in human service and educational programs. Ms. Capitani has experience with a range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including survey research, needs assessment, case study, interviewing, and focus groups. Much of her professional experience has included work with programs addressing youth development, education, welfare reform, and violence prevention.  She has also provided technical assistance to state and local government agencies and to community-based organizations.

Ms. Capitani received her M.P.P. from Georgetown University. She holds a B.A. in political science and Sociology from Colgate University.

Christina Citino, B.A. is a Research Manager with more than ten years of experience working with human service agencies and programs. She has extensive experience providing community-based organizations with program development, needs assessment, and program evaluation services. Her professional experience has included work with programs addressing substance abuse treatment, HIV prevention, violence prevention, youth development, access to health care, and housing. She has provided training and technical assistance to community-based agencies in the development and implementation of outcomes measurement systems. Recently, Ms. Citino completed a report on the future needs of the human services workforce in Massachusetts.

Ms. Citino received her B.A. in sociology from Temple University.

(413) 587-2404

Jennifer Gordon, M.P.P. is a Research Manager specializing in the evaluation of education reform initiatives. Ms. Gordon has extensive experience integrating quantitative and qualitative data including student assessments, activity logs, surveys, and interviews. Prior to joining the Institute, Ms. Gordon worked as a management consultant employing the Balanced Scorecard methodology for strategic planning and performance measurement.

Ms. Gordon completed her graduate studies at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, where she earned a master's degree in public policy with a concentration in quantitative methods and program evaluation. She received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

(508) 856-1349

Lonnie Kaufman, M.S. is a Research Manager specializing in local, state, and federal educational initiatives and programs. Mr. Kaufman has over twenty years of experience working within and on behalf of public schools at the secondary and higher education levels throughout the U.S. His work has focused on conducting research and evaluation, managing projects, and providing professional development. He employs both qualitative and quantitative methodologies and has extensive experience writing reports reflecting key findings of data analysis.

Mr. Kaufman received his M.S. in school counseling from San Diego State University. He earned his B.A. in anthropology and secondary teaching from SUNY at Stony Brook.

(413) 587-2419

Sue Leibowitz, Ph.D. is a Research Manager and Statistician. She has many years of experience as a researcher and evaluator in the areas of education and human services and as a teacher of statistics and evaluation. Dr. Leibowitz has worked with federally funded multi-site national research and evaluation projects and numerous community-based projects. She has extensive experience developing research protocol, creating and administering surveys, and conducting statistical analyses of large, complex data sets.

Dr. Leibowitz received her Ph.D. in educational research, measurement, and evaluation from Boston College, an M.Ed. in special education at the University of Massachusetts, an M.S.I.S. (Master of Science in Information Systems) from Northeastern University, and a B.A. from the University of Vermont.

(413) 587-2403

Minh Ly, B.A. is a Research Manager specializing in the assessment of education policy initiatives. His research interests include race and ethnicity, inequality, and education. Employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, his expertise lies in designing, conducting, and analyzing focus groups, in-depth interviews, and survey research. Prior to joining the Institute, he aided in the reform and evaluation of new admissions criteria and policies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and Mount Holyoke College.

Mr. Ly is currently completing his doctorate in sociology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he also earned his B.A.

(413) 587-2417

Wendy McGannon, Ed.D. is a Research Manager whose interests include educational and human service research and evaluation, survey development, and quantitative data analysis. Prior to joining the Institute she worked as a Research Assistant and Program Coordinator for the Center for School Counseling Outcome Research, where she conducted numerous statewide and district-level evaluations. She also has eleven years of direct service experience with the Department of Social Services.

Dr. McGannon received her Ed.D. in research and evaluation methods and her M.Ed. in school counseling from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She received her B.A. in psychology from Castleton State College, Vermont.

(413) 587-2418

Paula Quinn, M.A. is a Research Manager focusing on assessment and evaluation of pre-K through post-secondary education programs and professional development programs for educators. She has worked on local, state, and federal projects relating primarily to the areas of literacy, science, technology, engineering, and math, and she is experienced in both quantitative and qualitative methods. Prior to joining the Institute, she worked as an independent assessment and evaluation consultant.

Ms. Quinn received an M.A. in developmental psychology from Clark University and a B.A. in psychology from Case Western Reserve University.

(413) 587-2409

Greta Shultz, Ed.D. is a Research Manager conducting applied research and program evaluation in the areas of education and human services. She has worked with community-based organizations, K-12 school districts, public school/higher education partnerships, state and national departments of education, and international development agencies. Strongly grounded in qualitative research design, she employs methods such as case study, focus group, interview, and participant-observation. She has also worked in the domestic violence field for years, providing training and direct service.

Dr. Shultz received her M.Ed. and Ed.D. in educational policy, research and administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her B.A. from Oberlin College.

(413) 587-2406

Jean Supel, M.S. is a Research Manager specializing in education research. She has experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods, performance measurement, program evaluation, and survey development. Her current projects involve evaluation of math and science programs and tracking state education and economic indicators. Ms. Supel’s background includes work as a researcher in the areas of local government, public safety, economics, education, and community involvement; and as director of both education and volunteer programs for non-profit agencies.

Ms. Supel holds an M.S. in education from Indiana University and received a B.A. in comparative social policy from the University of Minnesota.

(508) 856-1210

Joseph Wyman, M.P.P.A. is a Research Analyst who works with a variety of human service, education, and economic development initiatives. His particular areas of interest include school choice programs, affordable housing, and community development. Prior to joining the Donahue Institute, he worked as Project Director for a public health program in western Maine. The goals of this program were to reduce or eliminate tobacco use, protect people from the impact of second hand smoke, improve nutrition choices and increase physical activity levels in the communities served.

Mr. Wyman graduated with a master's degree in public policy and administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he also earned his B.A.

(413) 587-2401