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.

Marci Exsted Marci Exsted

Community Participatory Research Criminal Legal System Issues Access and Equity Qualitative Methods

Kim Gibbons Kim Gibbons

Kim Gibbons, Ph.D., 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

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.

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

Kelli Johnson Kelli Johnson

Kelli Johnson has been an education professional for over three decades. She began her career as an elementary teacher thinking all children would learn to read as easily as she had. How naïve! Thankfully, the opportunity to study under Dr.

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

Nicole is the Operations Admin for the Center of Applied Research and Educational Improvement(CAREI) at the University of Minnesota. Nicole has worked as an insurance specialist, recruiter, technology support, administrative assistant.

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

Kate Mayer Kate Mayer

Kate Mayer is a literacy specialist with over twenty years of experience as an educator, devoted to advancing evidence-based literacy practices.

Nicole McKevett Nicole McKevett

Nicole M. McKevett, PhD, is the Assistant Director of Implementation at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota, where she provides technical assistance, training and research related to…

Nicole McKevett

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

Alisia Moutry Alisia Moutry

Alisia Moutry, Ph.D., is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She received her Bachelor of Science in Special Education with an emphasis on Learning Disabilities (K-9) from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1990.

Erin Nemetz Erin Nemetz

Erin Nemetz is a Literacy Specialist for the Center of Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota. She has worked as an elementary education teacher, school administrator, and adjunct professor.

Erin Nemetz

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

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.

Maggie Rowan Maggie Rowan

Maggie Rowan is a PreK-12 Literacy Specialist at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) at the University of Minnesota. Maggie also supports implementation of the recently passed READ Act legislation.

Josh Royes Josh Royes

Josh Royes’ background includes more than 8 years of professional experience working as a statistician, data scientist, and organizational consultant.

Suzanne Russell Suzanne Russell

With a doctorate in curriculum and instruction and over 18 years of experience in different facets of the educational industry, Suzanne Russell specializes in data-based decision-making with the goal of maximizing student growth as the driving…

Headshot of Suzanne Russell

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, Ed.S., NCSP is Associate Director of Literacy for CAREI. She is also a certified Minnesota Department of Education sponsored facilitator 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

Ellen Swanson currently serves as the associate director of strategic initiatives for CAREI at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Ellen Swanson

Julia Thomalla Julia Thomalla

Julia Thomalla is a literacy project coordinator for CAREI's literacy core team, with her work primarily focusing on Functional Phonics+Morphology operations.

Headshot of Julia Thomalla

Kate Tindall Kate Tindall

Award-winning marketer and communicator with a decade of experience in higher education, non-profit, and private sectors. Master’s degree in business administration.

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

Missy Weldy Missy Weldy

Missy Weldy brings a diverse professional background to her role as literacy project coordinator for CAREIALL. She has a master of education from the University of Minnesota along with 15 years of experience in Bloomington Public Schools.

Headshot of Missy Weldy

Courtney Wheeler Courtney Wheeler

Courtney E. Wheeler, Ph.D., is the Assistant Director of MTSS at CAREI at the University of Minnesota, where she provides technical assistance, training, and conducts research around the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework.

Courtney Wheeler

Amy Williamson Amy Williamson

Amy Williamson is the former deputy director of the Iowa Department of Education, where she had the opportunity to lead Iowa’s education community during the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Headshot of Amy Williamson