College of Education and Human Development

Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement

CAREI Leadership

Kim Gibbons Kim Gibbons

Kim Gibbons, Ph.D., is the Director of the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota.

CEHD Staff and Faculty Photographs, 2023

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.

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.

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.

Ben Silberglitt Ben Silberglitt

  • Product and Business Development Architect
  • he/him/his
  • (612) 626-3351
  • bsilby@umn.edu

Silberglitt has 30+ years of experience in education, ranging from: teaching preschool and higher education; to leading school districts in their use of data and technology; to working in the public and private sector in product management,…

Ben Silberglitt headshot

Wendy Stuttgen Wendy Stuttgen

Wendy Stuttgen, Ed.S, NCSP is the Associate Director of Literacy at CAREI. She leads statewide systems-level initiatives focused on structured literacy, implementation science, and the alignment of evidence-based instructional practices.

Wendy Stuttgen

Ellen Swanson Ellen Swanson

Ellen Swanson, Ph.D., Ed.S., currently serves as the associate director of strategic initiatives for CAREI. In this role, she leads efforts related to ensuring that internal and external stakeholders are engaging in equitable practices.

Ellen Swanson
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CAREI Operations

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.

Ben Silberglitt Ben Silberglitt

  • Product and Business Development Architect
  • he/him/his
  • (612) 626-3351
  • bsilby@umn.edu

Silberglitt has 30+ years of experience in education, ranging from: teaching preschool and higher education; to leading school districts in their use of data and technology; to working in the public and private sector in product management,…

Ben Silberglitt headshot

Ellen Swanson Ellen Swanson

Ellen Swanson, Ph.D., Ed.S., currently serves as the associate director of strategic initiatives for CAREI. In this role, she leads efforts related to ensuring that internal and external stakeholders are engaging in equitable practices.

Ellen Swanson
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Literacy

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.

Nichole Hughes-Bourgoin

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.

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, Ph.D., is an MTSS Support Specialist at CAREI, where she provides technical assistance, training and research related to Multi-Tiered System of Support implementation and coaching practices for literacy and MTSS.

Nicole McKevett Headshot

Mariah Mercil Mariah Mercil

Mariah Mercil, M.A., is the Assistant Director of Literacy with CAREI, where she has led large-scale literacy initiatives focused on evidence-based instruction, coaching systems, and professional learning.

Mariah Mercil headshot

Erin Nemetz Erin Nemetz

Erin Nemetz is the Assistant Director of Literacy Operations for the Center of Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota.

Erin Nemetz

Holly Pfeiffer Holly Pfeiffer

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

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.

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

Wendy Stuttgen Wendy Stuttgen

Wendy Stuttgen, Ed.S, NCSP is the Associate Director of Literacy at CAREI. She leads statewide systems-level initiatives focused on structured literacy, implementation science, and the alignment of evidence-based instructional practices.

Wendy Stuttgen

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
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Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

Kim Gibbons Kim Gibbons

Kim Gibbons, Ph.D., is the Director of the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota.

CEHD Staff and Faculty Photographs, 2023

Daniel Knewitz Daniel Knewitz

Dan Knewitz, M.A., is an MTSS Specialist with CAREI. An experienced educator with more than 11 years of experience working as a school psychologist. he specializes in the training and implementation of evidence-based frameworks of support.

Daniel Knewitz

Michelle Marchant-Wood Michelle Marchant-Wood

Michelle Marchant-Wood is currently an MTSS specialist at University of Minnesota at the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement.

Michelle Merchant-Wood

Rachel Roesslein Rachel Roesslein

Rachel Roesslein is an MTSS specialist 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

Chad Smith, Ph.D., M.Ed., is an MTSS Specialist with CAREI, a proud College of Education and Human Development alumnus, and a current adjunct professor in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development.

Chad Schmidt

Ellen Swanson Ellen Swanson

Ellen Swanson, Ph.D., Ed.S., currently serves as the associate director of strategic initiatives for CAREI. In this role, she leads efforts related to ensuring that internal and external stakeholders are engaging in equitable practices.

Ellen Swanson

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, M.A., SPHR, is an MTSS Specialist with CAREI. Williamson has extensive experience in state and federal education policy, large-scale implementation, and strategic planning.

Headshot of Amy Williamson
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Program Evaluation

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.

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
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Translational Research

Marci Exsted Marci Exsted

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

Headshot for Marci Exsted

Meg Olson Meg Olson

Meg Olson, M.A., Ed.S., is a research associate at CAREI. She is passionate about systems change and advancing social justice in education. In her role, Meg supports the provision of MTSS technical assistance as well as other applied research.

David Quinn David Quinn

  • Rodney S. Wallace Associate Professor for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning
  • dquinn@umn.edu

David M. Quinn is Rodney S. Wallace Associate Professor for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota.

Daniel Quinn headshot
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