Center team members have diverse backgrounds, professional experiences, knowledge, and skills. Brief biographies and photographs are included, in alphabetical order, below.
Bernadette Chi, Ph.D., serves as the Evaluation Director for the Center for Research, Evaluation and Assessment at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Bernadette has extensive experience in research and evaluation of K-12 educational and community-based programs over the last 10 years. She is currently leading a multi-year evaluation of a National Science Foundation-funded initiative, Youth and Oceans, as well as other LHS projects related to professional development and science curriculum development for afterschool settings. She is particularly interested in exploring how science education can be made more relevant to students, especially as a means of fostering scientific competence and commitment to environmental and social issues. Prior to joining REA, she worked in youth and education program administration, grants development and program evaluation at the local, state and local levels. Bernadette received her Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy from Stanford University and her Masters Degree and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley's Graduate School of Education in Policy, Organizations, Measurement and Evaluation (POME).
Michael Davis, Ph.D. is a Lead Research Specialist for the Center for Research, Evaluation and Assessment at the Lawrence Hall of Science. In this role, he leads research and evaluation efforts related to K-12 mathematics education. Throughout his career, Michael has taught students of all age groups and from a wide array of racial/ethnic, linguistic, and social backgrounds. He is devoted to helping schools more successfully serve all of their students. Because of the role mathematics and science education plays in future education and career opportunities he has focused his work on these subjects. His research interests include identity, social/emotional functioning, perceptions of learning, and how these areas relate to each other and achievement. Michael earned a Ph.D. from Stanford University in educational psychology.
Rebecca Deutscher, Ph.D. is a Research and Evaluation Specialist at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley. Her specialization is in educational technology. She was the principal investigator on a project evaluating the multimedia component of the FOSS middle school curriculum. She formerly worked at a charter school researching and evaluating programs on parent involvement, motivation, achievement, hands-on learning, and teachers’ perspectives on the Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope program (a hands-on astronomy program for kids). She also worked for a company where she was responsible for making learning more individualized for people by incorporating learning styles and personality factors into a computer system. Rebecca received her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Arizona State University, her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from San Diego State University, and her bachelor’s degree from University of California at Davis. Her doctoral dissertation involved observing and interviewing children at several elementary schools to assess what kinds of computer environments children prefer and when they have the best performance.
Rena Dorph, Ph.D. is the Director for the Center for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment (REA) at the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley. In this role, Rena provides leadership and support for the LHS community as well as for organizations who contract with the REA Center. Rena has worked in the field of educational research and evaluation for 15 years. Prior to working at Lawrence Hall of Science, Rena worked as Director for Research, Policy, and Technology in the Teacher Education and Professional Development unit of the University of California Office of the President; as an educational consultant for California schools, districts, and county offices of education; as the Lead Researcher and Coordinator for the SB1274 School Restructuring Study based at the University of California, Berkeley; and for the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools, and Teaching at Columbia University/Teachers College in New York City. Rena’s research interests focus on the relationship between teacher professional development, teacher learning, student learning and student achievement and grapple with issues of equity and access to education in several interrelated ways. Rena received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in Educational Policy, Organization, Measurement, and Evaluation and her M.A. in the Sociology of Education from Columbia University/Teachers College.
David Goldstein, MPP serves as the Associate Director of the Center for Research, Evaluation and Assessment at the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining REA David worked at national, state and local levels in educational research and evaluation. He spent several years in Washington DC at research and evaluation shop that served the US Department of Education, the NSF, national foundations, states and local governments focusing on school reform and improvement initiatives, such as the NSF Statewide Systemic Initiative and Goals 2000. At the UC Office of the President he helped conduct evaluations for the California Professional Development Institutes (CPDI) and the California Subject Matter Projects (CSMP) and at the San Francisco Unified School District he supported the implementation of state mandated school improvement efforts and assisted teachers and principals in their efforts to use data for school improvement and planning. David is credentialed bilingual elementary school teacher whose research interests include English learners (EL), hands-on inquiry-based math and science instruction, after school learning and teacher induction and professional development. Currently he has been working on efforts to promote and learn about the synergy between afterschool programs and science. In addition to working on an NSF-sponsored research effort, he has developed the Consumers Guide to Afterschool Science Resources, an online tool that helps after school programs locate high quality, hands-on science materials designed to meet the needs of the after school environment. At Lawrence Hall of Science he is part of the team that mobilizes LHS resources to support the growing after school science community. His undergraduate degree is from UCLA and he has a Masters degree from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.
Patty A. Kreikemeier, M.S. is an Assessment Specialist in the Center for Research, Evaluation and Assessment at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Her background is varied: she has taught high school science; served as a school administrator; completed research, evaluation and assessment work in the research and development arena; worked with teachers, schools, districts, state departments of education and commercial assessment firms on authentic and transformation science assessments. She has an M.S. degree from the University of Cincinnati, a teaching credential from San Diego State University and an administrative credential from National University.
Shirley Lee, M.A. is a Research and Evaluation Specialist at REA. She began her career in the classroom, teaching pre-algebra and algebra to middle-school students in New York City and Cambridge, MA. While teaching, Shirley became interested in how children understand the number system and connect their knowledge to new mathematical ideas. Currently, she is also interested in understanding how the teacher, curriculum, and classroom culture influence student learning. Prior to working at LHS, she worked at the Education Development Center (EDC) in Newton, MA. Since beginning at LHS, Shirley has been involved in research examining teaching practices and curricula used in mathematics classrooms. Shirley received her B.A. in psychology from Cornell University and an M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Erik Meenderink, serves as the Data Entry Coordinator for REA. In this role he coordinates and provides quality control support for all data entry activities. In addition Erik manages large sets of data and works closely with REA staff and other LHS centers to provide his recommendations for developing the technical aspects of scan ready templates and formatting scan ready templates for clients.
Kristin Nagy Catz, Ph.D. is an Assessment Specialist with the Center for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment at the Lawrence Hall of Science, at the University of California, Berkeley. Kristin specializes in the development, scoring, analysis, and refinement of science student learning assessments for all ages. She has taught high school and college age students as well as graduate courses in education. Kristin is devoted to helping teachers, curriculum developers, and administrators more successfully measure the depth and extent of the students’ understanding. Her research interests focus on how best to accurately measure and demonstrate increases in achievement for all students. Kristin received her Ph.D. in science education from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s degree in biology from The University of Cincinnati, and a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology from Vanderbilt University.
Scott Randol, Ph.D. serves as a Lead Research Specialist with the Center for Research, Evaluation and Assessment at the University of California, Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science. Scott has been involved in the study, evaluation and practice of education in informal environments for over ten years. Scott conducts various educational and visitor research studies, and serves as lead evaluator on several nationally funded projects. His research interests include: development of early scientific processes, inquiry in informal settings, the impacts of mediated experiences on visitors, and innovative methods for assessing the visitor experience. Scott earned a Ph.D. in Science Education from the University of California, Berkeley with dissertation research focused on characterizing and assessing inquiry in science centers. Scott also has a MS in Physics from University of Washington in Seattle.
Dawn Robles(formerly Huntwork) serves as an REA Research Assistant. She concurrently works with Inverness Research in a position she has held since 1994. She specializes in data collection in informal science education programs. She has collaborated on and designed projects ranging from formative and summative evaluations of science museum exhibits, to studies of community-based-organization science programs, and studies of the use of video and on-line courses in teacher development. She has worked as a writer and copy editor, and on general publication management. Ms. Robles also has experience as a science educator, with an emphasis on natural history and nature appreciation. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Environmental Studies.
Jami Rousseaux-Savon, serves as the Center Administrator for the Center for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment (REA) at the Lawrence Hall of Science. Jami has extensive experience supporting research, evaluation, and assessment functions, such as gathering, analyzing, preparing and summarizing recommendations for data collection plans including annual resource allocation approaches, trended future requirements, operating forecasts, sources and uses for the Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) Center for Leadership in Science Teaching (LST), Center for Mathematics Excellence and Equity (CeMEE), Center for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment (REA), and the Center for Technology. Jami provides support for the preparation and submission of multi-million-dollar proposals as well as supporting LHS Center in the areas of academic personnel recruiting and hiring. Prior to working at LHS, Jami had worked for the Research, Policy, and Technology Unit and the New Standards Project at the University of California Office of the President.
Heidi Skolnik, Ph.D. is a Research Specialist at the Lawrence Hall of Science. In her capacity as a research methodologist and quantitative analyst within the Research, Evaluation, and Assessment branch, her work focuses on the design, implementation, and data analysis of program evaluations and student assessments. Her approach is motivated by an interest in applying the best possible social science in school and community settings. She brings over 10 years of experience in all aspects of quantitative and qualitative research. Dr. Skolnik also teaches courses in quantitative methods at both the undergraduate and graduate level. She holds a Masters in Social Ecology and a Ph.D. in Health Psychology from the University of California, Irvine.
Lynn Tran, Ph.D. is a Research Specialist with the Center for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment, and Center Manager for Center for Ocean Science Education Excellence, California. Her research and teaching interests in science education are various. Dr. Tran has taught science in natural history museums and science centers. She explores the pedagogical practices and professional knowledge of educators who teach science in informal learning environments such as museums, nature centers, and aquariums. She also investigates children's understanding of the ocean and currents through their conceptions of the water cycle and density. Dr. Tran has a B.S. degree in biology from UCLA and a M.S. and PhD in science education from North Carolina State University, holds a teaching license in middle grades from North Carolina, and completed a post-doctoral research fellowship with the Center for Informal Learning and Schools at King's College London.
Tammie Visintainer is a Graduate Student Researcher at the Lawrence Hall of Science. She is currently obtaining her doctorate in Science Education in the Education in Science, Math, and Technology program at the University of California at Berkeley. She returned to school to combine her interests in science and education. She has a Master’s in Marine Science from San Francisco State University and worked as a science researcher at the Bodega Marine Lab (University of California-Davis). Education has also always been a priority. She has taught students in numerous environmental education settings, designed and taught field-based marine science programs for high school students, and most recently taught science at a charter high school in Maui. She is hoping to combine her interests in education and science to further our understanding of how students learn through inquiry and field-based experiences, and to work towards development and reform for both public school science and teacher training programs. Tammie has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Maia Werner-Avidon, M.A. is an Associate Research Specialist and Project Manager for the Center for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment. She has extensive experience in museum research, exhibit development, and project management and has worked in the science museum field for over eight years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Macalester College and Master’s degree in museum studies from John F. Kennedy University. She has worked on staff at Chabot Space & Science Center and Gyroscope, Inc. (an exhibit design and museum planning firm), and previously served as the Deborah A. Carey Research and Evaluation Intern at the Institute for Learning Innovation. Within REA, she has served as an evaluator or researcher on a range of informal science education projects, including the Nanozone and Everyday Explorations websites, the ViewScience exhibit developed by Space Sciences Lab, and the Bay Area Environmental Education Resource Fair. She also managed a nationwide curriculum development field trial and efficacy study involving over 300 teachers.
REA Affiliated Staff from other LHS Centers
Mia Feldbaum, M.S. is an Associate Specialist with GEMS at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California at Berkeley. She also works as a Research Associate for REA supporting data collection in afterschool settings. She has worked with youth and leaders in out of school time programming for many years, both in urban after school programs and in backcountry wilderness trips. Mia believes in the value of out of school time and recognizes the opportunities it presents for youth to learn and grow. She has a Masters of Science degree in the Cultural Foundations of Education from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from Rice University.
Amber Soeters, M.S. is a field trial coordinator for Great Explorations in Math and Science. Currently, she works closely with the REA team as she manages nationwide field studies for the Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading curricular materials development project. At Purdue University, she worked for an Institute of Educational Sciences-funded, public school science intervention for young children (Scientific Literacy Project). Within science education research, she has depth of experience interacting with teachers, parents, and students to conduct quantitative and qualitative research. She strives to bridge the connections between researchers and practitioners in order to enhance the quality of learning materials and teacher support. Amber earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Barry University and a M.S. from Purdue University in educational psychology.
