Molly O'Connor, 2023 President

Molly O’Connor (she/her) is a creative evaluation consultant for her firm Coco Canary Consulting, LLC. She finds that her passion weaves between art-based methods, community-centered approaches, and equity work. She has an M.S. in Natural Resources Science & Management with a minor in Evaluation Studies and a professional background in ecology, youth programs, human services, and museum education. Her specialties are Creative Evaluation & Engagement, principles-based approaches, and radical facilitation (self and organizational equity work). Molly loves that evaluation offers opportunities for reflection, learning, healing, and transformational change. Fun Facts About Molly, she: (1) Is the lead singer in a band, (2) Has an identical twin sister based in Washington, D.C., (3) Lives in an intentional community with her partner, two friends, and a dog, (4) Loves to cook delicious food (mostly vegetarian), host gatherings, and spend time outdoors birding, hiking, skiing, foraging, and more!

Alissa Jones, 2024 President-Elect

Alissa Jones (she/her) is the Associate Director of Operations at Wilder Research. In her role, she develops long-term and short-term strategies with a focus on organizational effectiveness, advancing tactical initiatives, and assessing results to support organizational vitality, culture, and the achievement of mission-oriented goals. She is passionate about cultural competency, culturally responsive evaluation, and reflexivity in evaluation practice. She is the Outgoing-Chair of the American Evaluation Association’s Leadership and Organizational Performance workgroup. Alissa is a doctoral candidate in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She holds a Master’s degree in Anthropological Studies of Mexico from the Universidad de las Américas- Puebla, in Cholula, Mexico, and received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities with a double major in Spanish/Portuguese and Chicano Studies. In her free time, she snuggles with her dog (Moxie), sings with the Prairie Fire Lady Choir, and consumes non-fiction books as much as possible.

Elizabeth Taylor-Schiro, 2022 Past President

Elizabeth Taylor-Schiro - Biidabinikwe (St. Croix Chippewa/Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe) is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development department at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, focusing on the intersections of evaluation, public health, and policy. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in Educational Policy and Leadership, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in Human Development and Family Studies. She is passionate about maternal and child health equity, social justice advocacy, and education development, particularly within Indigenous contexts using decolonized and anti-racist approaches. She practices as a Research Assistant at the University of Minnesota, Perinatal Educator with the Ninde Doula program, and an Evaluation and Research Consultant assisting organizations with culturally reflexive, equity-focused, and community-driven research and evaluation strategies. Elizabeth serves on the Minnesota Department of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Advisory Task Force and the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Cultural and Ethnic Community Leadership Council. She is also the Co-Director of the Twin Cities chapter of the New Leaders Council, Chair of the American Evaluation Association’s Indigenous Peoples in Evaluation Topical Interest Group, and Co-Chair of the American Evaluation Association’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group.

Sam Stork-Post, Treasurer

Samuel Storck-Post is an Evaluation Officer at The Constellation Fund, a foundation mixing philanthropy with cost-benefit analysis. He earned a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and has a background in education and college access. Sam was driven to pursue evaluation out of an interest in understanding how to apply evidence-based practices. In his free time he enjoys hiking, sewing and various other crafts, and sword fighting.

Robin Phinney, Secretary

Robin Phinney is the Founder and President of Rise Research, a Twin Cities-based research and evaluation firm. She holds a PhD in Public Policy and Political Science from the University of Michigan and most recently was a Research Director at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Robin has expertise in systems change, cash assistance and housing programs, juvenile justice, and strategies to create livable communities. She has written extensively for both academic, policy, and community audiences and her book, Strange Bedfellows (Cambridge University Press) examines how advocates collaborate to influence policy choices. When not working on Rise projects, Robin supervises Capstone projects at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and works as an Affiliated Researcher at the Future Services Institute and a Master Contractor for the State of Minnesota. In her off time, she enjoys cooking, camping, and traveling with her husband and two young sons.

Veronica Seifert, Membership Chair

Veronica A. Seifert is Anishinaabe, affiliated with the Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe. She is currently a Grant Manager for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education in Minnesota, working for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She most recently served the American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) as their Evaluation Specialist providing technical support and evaluation services for Tribal and urban Indigenous communities reporting to state and federal programs and grants. With these and other funded projects through AICAF, she provided evaluation training, planning, guidance, and incorporated the Indigenous Evaluation Framework as much as possible. She has a Master’s degree in Science (Cell Biology & Ecology) from the University of Minnesota. Additionally, she worked as an educator throughout her graduate and undergraduate degrees, through outreach, graduate teaching opportunities, and as employed by the Center for American Indian and Minority Health. She enjoys all aspects of exploration, discovery, planning, research, and collaboration with people on sharing knowledge and solutions.   She was raised with values tied to the land and being of service.

Ava Yang-Lewis, Program Co-Chair

Ava Yang-Lewis is the Founder and Principal Consultant at ACT Research, a research and evaluation consultancy. Her consultancy works with foundations, intermediaries, non-profits, and educational institutions at the intersection of research and evaluation, learning, planning, design, and development. Ava’s education and training as a counseling psychologist and social science researcher and her lived experience as a refugee Hmong American woman have helped shape her approach to evaluation. In her work with clients, she draws upon evaluation theories and approaches that lift up voices and perspectives that are often marginalized in the evaluation and research processes, promote shared ownership and use of the evaluation results, and promote a culture of learning and improvement. Ava holds a PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Spectra Myers, Communications Co-Chair

Spectra Myers is an applied researcher and human-centered designer who has worked in financial inclusion, social entrepreneurship, and youth development fields. She currently supports small business banking as a Senior User Experience Design Researcher, Assistant Vice President, at U.S. Bank while continuing to consult and volunteer with local nonprofit organizations. She holds a Master of Arts in Evaluation Studies from the University of Minnesota and Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from Macalester College. Spectra enjoys making focaccia, canoeing in the Boundary Waters, and beating others ruthlessly at board games.

Carolina De La Rosa Mateo, Communications Co-Chair

Carolina (she/her) is the Director of Operations at Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment through Research (HACER), a nonprofit based in the Twin Cities whose mission is to collect, generate, and disseminate culturally responsive and credible research to and with the Latine population to inform institutional and public policy. As the Director of Operations, Carolina oversees and supports 20+ research and evaluation projects across the organization. Carolina earned a master’s in public health with a focus on community health promotion from the University of Minnesota. She completed the Graduate Education Diversity Internship (GEDI) program through the American Evaluation Association and is a co-founder of the MN IBPOC in Evaluation Community of Praxis, which aims to build a network for BIPOC evaluators in Minnesota. She has a passion for antiracism work and disability advocacy. During her personal time, Carolina helps direct one of the local bachata dance team in the Twin Cities and spends time with her life partner Ed and the bestest boy, their dog Paco.

We are a volunteer board of directors who are committed to our local community of evaluators. Feel free to email us at info@mneval.org. We will return your email as soon as we can!

Thank you to our past presidents for their service!

2022 Elizabeth Taylor-Shiro

2021 Claire Dunlap

2020 Maira Rosas-Lee

2019 Nicole MartinRogers

2018 Melissa Chapman Haynes

2017 Sarah Cohn

2016 Randi Nelson

2015 Ann Zukoski

2014 Rosemary White Shield

2013 Gail Mason-Chagil

2012 Leah Goldstein Moses

2011 Frank Schweigert

2010 Kathy Gilmore