Women and Children first.

Research, writing, learning, and evaluation for child-centered program and policy.

I am an Educator, Researcher, and Evaluator who assists US and global organizations to improve programs and policy for children, youth, families, and communities. I write proposals, design research, support improvement, and communicate impact. My practice areas include education, gender, child protection, and adolescent development.

Program Design & Proposal Writing

I support clients to scope, design, and write proposals for public and private donors. I scan donor trends to design competitive proposals. Clients include Plan, Save the Children, and FHI 360.

Research, Evaluation, & Learning

I lead innovative and participatory research and children, parents, and teachers. I analyze data and design learning agendas. Clients include UNICEF, UNRWA, and Seedling Consulting Group.

Curriculum & Knowledge Products

I collaborate with teams to map and write Life Skills, SEL, and MHPSS curricula and other reports and program tools. Clients include the World Bank, Education Can’t Wait, & Making Cents.

Services

  • Early grades reading, Social and Emotional Learning, Teacher Training, Inclusive Education, Civil Society Strengthening, Non-formal and after school learning

  • Parenting, MHPSS, School Counseling, Gender-Based Violence, Children, adolescents & youth in alternative care

  • Life Skills, Lower Secondary Education, Civic Participation, Leadership, Integrated Girl & Adolescent Programming

  • Girl Programming, Gender Based-Violence, Parenting, Ethnic, Religious & Linguistic Minorities, Youth and Young Women’s Leadership, Civil Society Strengthening

Practice Areas

I have worked on projects in 29 countries, 13 US states, and with several tribal governments. I held leadership positions in Nicaragua, Bolivia, Venezuela, Rwanda, Laos, and within rural US and the US-Mexico border region.

Improving and expanding learning in early childhood and primary school

I collaborated with Education Teams in two countries to scale ECD from pre-school into national approaches to first grade and summer transition programs. In Nicaragua, we developed a business case for first grade investment, compiled years of teacher training into easy-to-use Modules, and  promoted national investment in early grade access and quality. In Laos, I led start-up of a multi-million dollar portfolio of literacy programming including provincial literacy assessments, teacher training, and children’s books publisher partnerships.

Identifying effective approaches to mental health and wellbeing

I mapped education and protection programming in over 41 countries to identify supports and barriers for mental health and social and emotional learning for children, youth, and caregivers. I researched best practices, consulted stakeholders, analyzed data, documented practices, and made recommendations. I developed and tested Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Life Skills Curricula and tools currently used in humanitarian, development, and conflict contexts. I partnered with Clinical Professionals to adapt approaches to family, community, and school settings.

Promoting adolescent, girl, and young women’s safety, participation, and learning

I led, evaluated, and advised on integrated adolescent, girl, and youth programming in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, substantially growing adolescent-centered program portfolios in 5+ countries. I conducted participatory qualitative research with young people in Venezuela, California, Laos, and Central America. I’ve helped teams think differently about gender, age, ethnicity, language, ability and capability for adolescents and youth.

Select Accomplishments