Amal is an international student from Gaza, Palestine. She is a current doctoral student in the Educational Psychology program at UNM. Amal has a bachelor's degree in English language and a master’s in educational psychology from UNM. She is interested in evaluation as it helps measure the effectiveness of interventions/programs.   Her research interests are motivation, situational interest, and academic choice. Amal is the assistant coordinator for the learning strategies team at the Center for Teaching and Learning at UNM. 

Fairooz Binte Hafiz is an international student from Bangladesh, currently pursuing her PhD in Political Science at the University of New Mexico. She holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Fairooz’s research experiences and interests include public policy, multi-level governance, gender inequality, and race and ethnicity. 

Fairooz has prior research experience in project evaluation with non-profits in her home country. Her work involved both quantitative and qualitative approaches to assess the effectiveness and impact of various NGO projects. She also participated in designing program evaluations using a range of analytical and evaluative social assessment methodologies, employing both fixed and flexible design approaches, particularly in the areas of social protection and governance in Bangladesh. 

As an international student, Fairooz believes that the Evaluation Fellowship will help her involve in diverse cultures and new environments, which will boost her personal growth, adaptability, and empathy. She anticipates that these experiences will be valuable not only during her time in New Mexico but will also have a lasting impact when she returns to her home country. Fairooz is eager to apply the insights and skills gained from this fellowship to address challenges and opportunities in vulnerable and disadvantaged communities at both local and global levels. 

Jordan was born and raised in Albuquerque New Mexico. In 2021, Jordan graduated with honors, earning dual bachelor's degrees in Sociology with a concentration in Human Services and Women Studies. She also holds an interdisciplinary undergraduate certificate in Race and Social Justice. Currently pursuing a Master's in Public Policy at the University of New Mexico, Jordan's academic focus centers on social justice, with particular attention to the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality within social and policy frameworks. She is committed to improving existing systems to better serve marginalized communities. In her free time, Jordan enjoys reading, gardening, and spending quality time with her family, friends, and pets. 

Chase grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia with a degree in Political Science.  In August of 2022, he moved to Santa Fe to work on State Land Commissioner Garcia Richard's re-election campaign as her Deputy Finance Director. Chase has worked in various roles in both Virginia's House of Delegates and New Mexico's House of Representatives. Currently he works at the New Mexico State Land Office as a research and policy analyst. Outside of work his policy interests revolve around reforms to elections, campaigns and legislative processes. Chase has two cats and likes to go see live music. 

Sruthi was born and raised in India, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical and Electronics Engineering in 2021. Over the past two years, Sruthi has gained valuable industry experience—one year in the electrical field and another in software development—which has helped her develop a well-rounded skill set that spans both engineering and software domains. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Engineering at the University of New Mexico, with a focus on integrating my expertise in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with advanced computer science knowledge. Sruthi is particularly interested in the UNM Evaluation Lab because it offers the perfect opportunity to gain practical experience in applied research while engaging with the community. What excites her about the Evaluation Lab is its emphasis on collaborative and culturally competent problem-solving, along with its commitment to serving the public good. Sruthi is eager to apply her analytical and technical skills to help develop evaluation plans and data analysis tools that can build capacity in community organizations. The chance to work directly with non-profits in New Mexico and learn from experts across various fields is something she deeply values. Sruthi is enthusiastic about the possibility of contributing to impactful projects that address the needs of vulnerable communities, and she is committed to using her education to make a positive difference in the region. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Sruthi loves making pencil art in her leisure time. Cooking and studying also help her relieve stress and maintain a balanced life. She is passionate about continuous learning and professional growth and looks forward to collaborating with peers and mentors at UNM to contribute to projects that have a meaningful impact both within and beyond the university. 

Emily was raised in Ohio and Albuquerque, New Mexico. She graduated from UNM in 2023 with a Bachelor's in Sociology, a minor in Political Science, and an interdisciplinary certificate in Race and Social Justice. Her policy interests include climate/environmental justice, economic justice, and immigration policy. Her firsthand experiences with economic struggles and witnessing the impact of climate change on her community ignited a deep passion for justice and an avid interest in policy-guided and community-driven solutions. Her goal is to leverage her skills in evaluation and policy assessment to deliver the most actionable information in support of community development and informed decision-making. Outside of work and school, she enjoys hiking, trying new food, and spending time with friends. 

Celeste is a citizen of the Pueblo of Isleta and is also Turtle Mountain Chippewa. In May 2024, Celeste graduated magna cum laude with B.A. in Economics and B.S. in Environmental Science. She is currently pursuing a Master of Economics degree. She is committed to building a more equitable and just world through Tribal and environmental policy. During her undergraduate career at UNM, Celeste served as the Kiva Club's Co-President and Communications Chair. She also worked as a research assistant on projects related to urban water demand and traditional ecological knowledge. Celeste has experience as an intern with the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, and the Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Courts. As she begins her work as an evaluation lab fellow, she looks forward to collaborating with community organizations and applying her economic, policy, and research skills. 

Ayoni was born in Ibadan, Nigeria. Before moving to Albuquerque to attend UNM, she lived in several cities in Nigeria, which helped broaden her understanding of place, culture, and community. In 2023, she graduated from the Masters of Community and Regional Planning program. She is currently working at Consensus Planning where she contributes to land use entitlement processes and long-range planning for communities in New Mexico. She excels at research and analysis, technical writing, and oral presentations. Outside of work and school, Ayoni enjoys dancing, spending time with friends and family, feeding people, and learning new things. 

Eric Smith is pursuing a Master’s in Political Science at the University of New Mexico with a concentration in Public Policy. His priorities are Rawlsian; proposed policies should be written in that these policies "...are to be to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged members of society." Eric’s research interests are not just theoretical but also have practical implications. An interest in policy at the intersection of mental health care access, poverty, homelessness, and affordable housing within New Mexico and the Cities of Santa Fe and Albuquerque and how policy inputs relate to outcomes. Eric’s career has uniquely blended academia, the arts, and technology. He co-own a metal arts and jewelry design studio in Santa Fe, leading marketing and sales efforts, focusing strongly on online channels. In addition, Eric brings over two decades of experience as a commercial photographer, specializing in product and editorial photography. His technical expertise includes building and managing complex IT infrastructures. This diverse background informs his academic pursuits and research interests. 

Ben was born and raised in upstate New York. They earned a B.S in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Rochester. From there they moved to Albuquerque for a PhD program in plant biology and began working with a local non-profit, Common Bond New Mexico Foundation. Their work with CBNMF and interests in how the world works brought him to the UNM Evaluation Lab. Their goal is to work in STEM education policy reform, with an emphasis on engaging research as a teaching tool throughout a student’s educational journey.

Brisa was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 2020, Brisa graduated from the University of New Mexico with degrees in Political Science, Spanish, and a minor in Women’s Studies. During the last year of undergraduate school, she joined a local political spiritual group Yoga for People of Color Sangha where her advocacy roots began.  In the future, Brisa hopes to work with the state of New Mexico to advocate for legislation to provide opportunities of self-improvement for minorities and people living in poverty. Outside of school, she enjoys the outdoors such as camping, fishing, and going on hikes with her two dogs Echo and Trixie.

Florent Nkouaga is a third year PhD Student studying public policies and American Politics in the Department of Political Science UNM. He is also a graduate student in the Public Health minor program with the College of Population Health of the University of New Mexico. Florent works as a TA in various undergraduate Political Science courses including populations policies, statistics, health politics and policies in the US, international conflict and cooperation. Florent also served as TA for a graduate level course in Advanced Statistics for Social Research with the department of Political Science of the University of New Mexico.

Florent received both his BA and MA in Applied Economics from the University of Yaounde II (Cameroon), an MA in International Affairs from the University of Jean Moulin Lyon III (France), and an MA in Public Policies and Methods from the University of New Mexico. Currently Florent is interested in questions related to health policies and politics within the US congress. In his work with the Evaluation lab, Florent is partnered with All faiths Children’s Advocacy Center.

Emily Guerra is a longtime resident of the Southwest having grown up in the border city of El Paso, Texas. She received her Bachelors in Anthropology with minors in Women’s Studies & Liberal Arts Honors from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in 2016 and in May 2019 completed a Master of Arts in Anthropology from UNM. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health with a scheduled graduation of May 2021.

In addition to school and research, Emily has worked as a Graduate Teaching assistant for a number of courses across disciplines. Her current position is as a Graduate Research assistant with the Community Engagement & Dissemination Core (CEDC) of the Transdisciplinary Research, Equity, and Engagement (TREE) Center for Advancing Behavioral Health.

Upon completion of her second Masters, Emily plans to stay in New Mexico and hopefully work with a local nonprofit or similar organization that is dedicated to addressing and alleviating behavioral health issues for marginalized populations.

Camille Velarde raised in rural northern New Mexico, is a third year PhD Student studying health communication in Department of Communication & Journalism. She works as a TA teaching various undergraduate communication courses including public speaking, organizational communication and health communication. Currently, Camille serves as the graduate student board member for the IRB on UNM’s Main campus office and works as a graduate assistant at OMBUDS for faculty.

She proudly received both her BA and MA from the University of New Mexico, where her undergraduate work focused on organizational communication which Camille applied in the field as a legal secretary for several years and minored in psychology which she applied in her master’s work which was centered around mental health communication.

As a PhD student, Camille has won two top paper awards for her work titled “Critical Socioecological Model: A Critical Perspective to Historicize Health Inequities” at both the The International Association of Applied Demography Conference and at Western States Communication Conference both in 2019  and has presented her work at various popular culture, health, and communication conferences. Her current research interests tend to intersect digital media and mental health.

As native New Mexican, Camille feels a connection and responsibility to the students and community she serves at the University of New Mexico which is evident in her teaching and research practices.

Felicity Fonseca is the Director of Embudo Valley Library and a Masters of Public Administration Candidate in the School of Public administration at UNM.  Felicity holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College in Ohio.  Under her leadership, the library has implemented new programs, expanded partnerships, and made over $900,000 worth of capital improvements to the property, including building a new 3,000 square foot library and making major improvements and investments in the Dixon Cooperative Market building and business.  In 2015, Embudo Valley Library was awarded the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, an honor bestowed by the Institute of Museum and Library Services on institutions who provide outstanding service to their communities.  Felicity is committed to creating a vibrant library that contributes to the well being of area residents. 

Charla (Henley) Orozco is currently employed as an Institutional Researcher in the Office of Assessment & Academic Program Review at the University of New Mexico. She is also the Program Coordinator for the Monthly Evaluation Lab ECHO Learning Community and the upcoming 2020 Evaluation Lab Summer Institute. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Literature and Business Administration, earned through Roanoke College in May 2014. She is also a graduate of UNM with a Master’s in Latin American Studies (class of 2016). Charla began working with the Evaluation Lab as a graduate student and fellow. During her first year with the Evaluation Lab, she worked with Enlace Comunitario to evaluate their Youth Leader program through a fun and interactive focus group, paired with other supplemental evaluation activities. The second year, she served as a Senior Fellow, continuing to work with Enlace Comunitario, but evaluating a different preventative program. In the third year, Charla continued with Enlace Comunitario as a Senior Fellow, evaluating an intervention program. Last year, she served as the Team Lead for the developmental evaluation of a new program at Enlace Comunitario. This year, she continues as a Team Lead with the Enlace Comunitario group, evaluating the LIDER program. 

Onesimus Al-Amin is currently a PhD student in the Human Development and Family Studies Department of the University of Delaware. Originally from Clearwater, Florida, Onesimus graduated cum laude with his BA in Family Studies and Sociology from UNM. Onesimus is a McNair Scholar with an interest in the impact of fatherhood involvement on interrupting the pre-school-to-prison pipeline. During his Evaluation Lab Fellowship he worked with La Red del Rio Abajo.

Derek Kuit is in the process of earning his MA in Educational Psychology at UNM and hopes to pursue a doctorate in the same field. Derek's research interests center on promoting prosocial behaviors in students through education and currriculum. Derek currently works as a Research Assistant for Mission: Graduate and the Center for Education Policy Research at UNM. As a Fellow of the Evaluation Lab Derek worked with PB&J Family Services.