WestEd research and evaluation experts will present at Evaluation 2025, the American Evaluation Association’s Annual Conference, this November 10–14, in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Evaluation 2025 conference brings together evaluation professionals to network, collaborate, and present recent findings and innovative evaluation practices. This year’s theme is Engaging Community, Sharing Leadership.
View a comprehensive list of WestEd’s presentations below and add WestEd sessions to your calendar. Evaluators, researchers, instructors, and students of evaluation are invited to participate.
Follow WestEd on LinkedIn and Bluesky to share your insights from the conference!
WestEd Presentations
Wednesday, November 12
Measuring STEM Interest, Identity, and Student Learning Outcomes
Time: 5:30–7 p.m. CST
Session Description: This session presents methods for assessing student STEM interest, identity, and learning outcomes from a curriculum module taught by teachers in the NASA Astronomy Activation Ambassadors (AAA) program. We describe the development of outcome measures aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and STEM identity, using both in-house and external instruments, including the Professional Identity Overlap Single Item Measure (PIO-1). The session details a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a delayed-treatment group to examine student learning and STEM identity, addressing the challenges of conducting an RCT while ensuring methodological rigor and equitable access. We also discuss follow-up studies that partially replicated the RCT and adapted measures over time to maintain continuity amid evolving program goals.
Presenters: Dianna Cazarez (WestEd), Andrew Grillo-Hill (WestEd), and Kimberly Nguyen (WestEd)
Friday, November 14
Leveraging Program Evaluation for Cross-Organizational Collaboration and Decision-Making
Time: 11 a.m.–12 p.m. CST
Session Description: In this session, we share how our team partnered with collaborators to distribute leadership and decision-making in a NASA-funded project serving neurodivergent students. By fostering collaboration, we created a more efficient, equitable, and transparent process, resulting in shared project leadership and community-centered outcomes. We also developed a debrief form and process to use evaluation findings for effective program changes. This session will interest evaluators working on projects with shared leadership and cross-organizational partners.
Presenters: Rasha Elsayed (WestEd), Karen Melchior (WestEd), Kimberly Nguyen (WestEd), and Joshua Valcarcel (WestEd)
Sharing Leadership to Build Capacity and Community: Learning From a Peer Advisor Model
Time: 12:30– 1:30 p.m. CST
Session Description: Using findings from an evaluation of university programs that support student success and degree completion in STEM, this session highlights the Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Achievement (MESA) program as a model for more immediate evaluation and participant engagement. MESA fosters belonging and confidence through networking, career development, and social activities. Its peer advisor program allows upper-division students to build leadership skills while guiding new students and providing real-time feedback to program leaders, enriching program development through shared leadership. Participants will discuss how to apply lessons from this model to strengthen evaluators’ effectiveness and impact.
Presenters: Marisa Castellano (WestEd), Andrew Grillo-Hill (WestEd), and Pai-rou Chen (WestEd)