People
Nelson, Catherine
Research Associate, Dr. Bickel
Contact:
801C LRDC
412-624-7697
412-624-9149
catawsumb@pitt.edu
Summary:
Catherine Awsumb Nelson. Ph.D.
Dr. Nelson has been affiliated with the Evaluation for Learning group at LRDC for over ten years, starting as a full-time research associate from 1997-2000. She is currently an independent evaluation consultant who works closely with the EFL on a range of projects.
Dr. Nelson’s work focuses on helping grant-makers and educational institutions incorporate evaluation information into their decision making and organizational routines to foster data-based decisions about programs, resources, and performance. Current and recent clients include the Pittsburgh Public School District, The California Endowment, The Heinz Endowments, the Rochelle Lee Fund (Chicago), the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Michigan League for Human Services, and Carnegie Mellon University’s InfoLink program. . She is currently serving as a consultant to the RAND Corporation and Mathematica Policy Research on issues of evaluation design and qualitative data analysis.
Her approach blends traditional external evaluation with assistance in building internal staff skills and institutional infrastructure that enable organizations to use evaluation data and methods for both internal improvement and external accountability purposes. Methodologically, her work has a strong emphasis on the use of logic modeling to guide both program planning and evaluation design and strategies for integrating qualitative and quantitative data. She has written extensively on organizational learning and developing evaluation capacity, including a series of technical assistance manuals for the Cleveland Foundation’s grantees, Strengthening Your School’s Accountability Plan and Becoming a Learning Organization: Incorporating Evaluation Into Schools.
Dr. Nelson received her B.A. in History from Yale University and her M.A. in Political Science and Ph.D. in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Projects/Labs
Publications
- Bickel, W. E., Iriti, J. E., & Nelson, C. A. (2008). Integrating Evaluative Inquiry into the Work of Private Foundations: A Case Study of a Hybrid “Retainer Model.” Paper to be presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Evaluation Association, Denver, CO.
- Iriti, J., Bickel, W. E., Nelson, C. A. (2008). “Ball Foundation Partnership Evaluation: Understanding the Engagement Phase.” Pittsburgh, PA: EFL, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh. (Abstract-pdf)
- Bickel, W. E., Iriti, J. E., & Nelson, C. A. (2007). Educational Leadership Initiative: Pilot Year Final External Evaluation Report. Pittsburgh, PA: EFL, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh. (Abstract-pdf)
- Bickel, W. E., Hendricks, A., Iriti, J., Nelson, C. A. (November, 2007) Barriers to Organizational Learning in Private Foundations” THINK TANK at the Annual Meeting of the American Evaluation Association, Baltimore, MD.
- Nelson, C. A., Bickel, W. E., Iriti, J., with Murphy, N. (2006). “District-Wide Urban High School Reform: What does it look like? What does it take to do it right? Scan of National Trends, Best Practices, and Empirical Research.” Pittsburgh, PA: EFL, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh. (Abstract-pdf)
- Bickel, W. E., Hendricks, A., Iriti, J., Nelson, C. A. (November, 2006) “Integrating Evaluation Into the Learning Processes of Private Foundations” Paper presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Evaluation Association, Portland, Oregon.
- Iriti, J. E., Bickel, W. E., & Nelson, C. A. (2005). Using recommendations in evaluation: A decision-making framework for evaluators. American Journal of Evaluation, 26 (4), 464-479.
- Bickel, W. E., Iriti, J. E., & Nelson, C. A. (2004). Heinz Endowments Education Program, Strategic Analysis of the Technology For Learning Grant-making Strand (Abstract-pdf)
- Nelson, C. A., Iriti, J. E. (2004). Evaluation as capacity building: Transforming tacit knowledge into decision-making tools. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Evaluation Association in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Bickel, W. E., Iriti, J. E., & Nelson, C. A. (2003). School Performance Network: An Assessment of the Status and Impact of the SPN in the Third Year of Its Development. Pittsburgh, PA: EFL, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh. (Abstract-pdf)
- Bickel, W. E., Iriti, J. E., & Nelson, C. A. (2003). Foundation questions—evaluation responses: A resource for integrating evaluative thinking into the grant making cycle. Paper accepted for presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Evaluation Association in Reno, Nevada.
- Post, J. E., Nelson, C. A., & Bickel, W. E. (2002, April). Barriers and enablers to the effective implementation of the “teachers teaching teachers” staff development model: Lessons learned from a district-wide technology staff development initiative. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA.
- Bickel, W. E., Post, J. E., Millett, R., & Nelson, C. A. (2002). Assessing organizational barriers to using evaluation in support of learning in foundations. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Evaluation Association in Crystal City, Virginia.
- Nelson, C. A., Post, J. E., & Bickel, W. E. (2002). Evaluating educational technology implementation: A two-part framework for assessing the institutionalization of technology in schools and classrooms. In T. Kellaghan, D. Stufflebeam, & L. Wingate (Eds.) (2002). International Handbook of Educational Evaluation. Kluwer Academic Publishers.
- Post, J. E., Nelson, C. A., & Bickel, W. E. (2001, November). Building evaluation capacity in foundations: The development of an on-line grantee reporting process. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Evaluation Association, St. Louis, MO.
- Bickel, W. E., Nelson, C. A., Post, J. (2000). "Briefing report: Heinz Endowments-PPS Technology Professional Development Program ," Pittsburgh, PA: EFL, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh. (Abstract-pdf)
- Nelson, C. A., Post, J. E., & Bickel, W. E. (2000, November). Does training achieve traction? Evaluating mechanisms for sustainability from teacher technology training. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Evaluation Association in Waikiki, Hawaii.
There are 17 publications total. View All
