College of Education and Human Development

Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement

People

Jaime Ballard Jaime Ballard

Ballard's research focuses on the impact of trauma and poverty on families and the evaluation of programs that support parenting and family wellbeing. Much of Ballard's work has focused on the resilience of immigrant and refugee families.

Jamie Ballard

Michelle Beauvais Michelle Beauvais

Michelle Beauvais is a PreK-12 Literacy Specialist at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota.

Jamie Burse Jamie Burse

Jaime Burse works as a Literacy Specialist, where she is currently providing technical assistance and outreach services on the implementation of high-quality literacy instruction to local and state educational agencies.

Jamie Burse

Marci Exsted Marci Exsted

Marci Exsted is a Research Coordinator at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the U of M.

Kim Gibbons Kim Gibbons

Kim Gibbons, PhD, currently is the Director of the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota. Prior to that, she was the Executive Director of the St.

Kim Gibbons

Annie Goerdt Annie Goerdt

Annie Goerdt, PhD, is a Research Associate at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI). Goerdt received her doctorate in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota.

Annie Goerdt

Kim Gulbrandson Kim Gulbrandson

  • Associate Director of Effective Practices and Evaluation
  • 612-625-1209
  • kgulbra@umn.edu

Kim Gulbrandson, Ph.D., is the Associate Director of Effective Practices and Evaluation at CAREI. Her role spans the Literacy, MTSS and Research Cores, and she supports evaluation endeavors.

Aleda Hinojos Aleda Hinojos

Aleda Hinojos is a Literacy Specialist at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota.

Aleda Hinojos

Lindsey Hoy Lindsey Hoy

Lindsey Hoy is a Literacy Specialist at the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) to support implementation of the Minnesota READ Act legislation.

Nichole Hughes-Bourgoin Nichole Hughes-Bourgoin

Nichole Hughes-Bourgoin is a Literacy Specialist for the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota.

Clarissa R. Jackson Clarissa R. Jackson

Clarissa R. Jackson, PhD, is a PreK-12 Literacy Specialist for the Center of Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI).

Clarissa R Jackson

Sara Kemper Sara Kemper

Sara Kemper, Ph.D., is a former 5th grade teacher who is passionate about reimagining schools to foster high-quality and equitable learning environments.

Sara Kemper

Nicole Kendall Nicole Kendall

I am highly organized, driven and tech-savvy. I am creative as well as a problem solver. One of the greatest assets I offer is my ability to work with many personalities and groups of people on all different levels.

Nicole Kendall

Amy Kettunen Jahnke Amy Kettunen Jahnke

Amy Kettunen Jahnke Ed.S., is a Literacy Implementation Specialist at the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement.

Daniel Knewitz Daniel Knewitz

Dan Knewitz is an experienced educator who specializes in the training and implementation of evidence-based frameworks of support in education.

Daniel Knewitz

Anne Larson Anne Larson

My research is primarily focused on the development and implementation of practitioner-supported and caregiver-implemented language assessments and interventions for young children.

Anne Larson

Michelle Marchant-Wood Michelle Marchant-Wood

Michelle Marchant-Wood is currently a Research Associate at University of Minnesota at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement.

Michelle Merchant-Wood

Nicole McKevett Nicole McKevett

My applied research is focused on the implementation and sustainability of evidence-based instruction and data-based decision making practices in schools, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics.

Nicole McKevett

Christopher Mehus Christopher Mehus

I am a Prevention Scientist with a background in family science, family therapy, parenting interventions, primary care research, and psychological trauma.

Christopher Mehus

Mariah Mercil Mariah Mercil

Mariah Mercil is the Literacy Implementation Lead for the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota.

Mariah Mercil

Meg Olson Meg Olson

Meg Olson is a research associate with the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI).

Alyssa Parr Alyssa Parr

In 2020, Alyssa Parr joined the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) as a Research Associate.

Alyssa Parr

Julia Peyton Julia Peyton

Julia Peyton Ph.D. is the Assistant Director of Literacy at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota.

Holly Pfeiffer Holly Pfeiffer

Holly Pfeiffer is a Literacy Specialist with the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI).

Rachel Roesslein Rachel Roesslein

Rachel Roesslein is a Research Associate at the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement.

Kathy Ryder Kathy Ryder

Kathy Ryder is a Research Associate at the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement, supporting the state of Minnesota and districts in implementing Minnesota's Multi-tiered System of supports framework.

Chad Schmidt Chad Schmidt

I am thrilled to be a part of the CAREI team and look forward to making a positive impact in the areas of partnership, professional learning, research, evaluation, and MTSS implementation.

Chad Schmidt

Wendy Stuttgen Wendy Stuttgen

Wendy Stuttgen, EdS., NCSP is Associate Director of Literacy for CAREI. She is also a certified Minnesota Department of Edcuation sponsored facilitatorr for Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) and serves on the state and…

Wendy Stuttgen

Mengchen Su Mengchen Su

Mengchen Su is an educational researcher with expertise in quantitative research methods and large-scale data analysis. She earned her PhD and MA degree in Educational Psychology and Quantitative Methods from the University at Buffalo.

Mengchen Su

Ellen Swanson Ellen Swanson

Dr Ellen Swanson currently serves as a Research Associate at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis/St.

Ellen Swanson

Alisha Wackerle-Hollman Alisha Wackerle-Hollman

As an educational psychologist, my interests focus on two primary strands of research: a clinical foci on parenting education and engagement and an applied foci centralized around early childhood assessment, intervention and data-based decision…

Alisha Wackerle-Hollman

Courtney Wheeler Courtney Wheeler

Courtney E. Wheeler, PhD, is a Research Associate at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota, where she provides technical assistance, training, and conducts research around the Multi-Tiered…

Courtney Wheeler

Eskender Yousuf Eskender Yousuf

Eskender Yousuf, Ph.D., is a researcher and evaluator who leverages his community-based experiences and racial equity focused scholarship to assist organizational leaders in developing more inclusive practices for all student or program participants,…

Eskender Yousuf