What type of work do you typically do for CRS?
I lead staff in innovative program evaluations, survey design, data acquisition, inter-agency and inter-community liaison and program development. I've worked on "seamless" integration of the university community with the larger Vermont community through the inclusion of undergraduate, graduate, staff, and faculty in the community led research process.
What are some of your favorite past projects that you’ve worked on? Why?
I've enjoyed creating the State Data Center in the early 1980s – giving Vermonters access to all census materials, working through agency agreements to bring data from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency. Working with the Secretary of State, Secretary of Agriculture, Extension, and other CRS staff over the years to create a teaching and outreach program oriented to community leaders – easing their access, facilitating their analysis and enriching their understanding of how to use and apply basic demographic, economic and social policy information in a local context.
I am happy to have helped design and enhance UVM’s survey research capacity, including student involvement, agency personnel, and community leaders in the construct and conduct of numerous surveys, culminating in annual effort known now as the Vermonter Poll.
Who benefits from the work that you do?
Students, community, regional and state organizations, including both the public sector and the non-profits benefit from my work with CRS.
What else would you like people to know about you professionally?
I have done work to evaluate the participatory evaluation of a five-year community led program oriented to curtail teen substance abuse in the North East Kingdom of Vermont from 1994-99. For this, my input was recognized and awarded the coveted, Northeast Kingdom Community Action Program’s “Come Down Off the Mountain Service Award.”
What is your favorite thing about Vermont?
Vermont’s social values: local people struggling (200 year community legacy) to solve their individual, family, and especially neighborhood and community problems.
