How did you find your way to where you are today? Share a little about your professional journey.

I attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice and earned a master’s degreein forensic mental health counseling. I was drawn to the counseling field because I wanted to help people in the real world in a direct way. As a master’s student, I began working in the Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College to broaden my experiences with the practical application of research.

I enjoyed the work and when I graduated, took a full-time position. I initially intended this to be a short-term job while I looked for a counseling opportunity. However, I enjoyed evaluation work morethan I imagined. It is interesting, challenging, and has provided me with opportunities to have an impact on people’s lives in the real world, though in a different way than I originally intended. It is fulfilling to evaluate a program or initiative that seeks to help people, stem violence, or provide opportunities for youth.

I have been doing this work for nine years now and have had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects. It never gets boring and I continue to have opportunities to learnand grow professionally.

What motivations fueled your career path?

I have always been motivated by a desire to help people and improve the circumstances of others. I initially set out to do this via individual counseling. However, upon graduation with a counseling license-eligible degree, I found myself in a position doing research and evaluation work.

Through the projects and grants our center has obtained, I have had multiple opportunities to dig into programs and initiatives that make a difference in the lives of people all around the country. For example, I helped evaluate a program inside the adolescent ward of a major prison that attempted to make the incarceration experience bearable for young men awaiting trial. I have also worked on evaluations of community-based violence prevention initiatives that work to lower violence and improve community relations in US cities with gun violence problems.

By helping these programs and initiatives demonstrate their positive effects, I am able to help these efforts continue and expand.

When providing advice for professional development, what are some tools or resources one should consider?

Experienced individuals working in my field have been the most helpful resources for professional development. I am privileged to work with a director who has 30 years of experience in this field. This individual guides my work and encourages me to take on new challenges and embrace new responsibilities all the time. By working closely with someone who has been doing this work for so long, I have access to a wealth of experience that cannot be found in a book.

I have also had the opportunity to work closely with other professionals at other schools and organizations over the course of several of our projects. I learn so much by working closely with people who expose me to new ways of approaching problems and perspectives on the challenges we face in our work. I would advise anyone to develop these sorts of relationships as there are always people with more experience than you who can share what they have learned.

How would you recommend someone interested in the same career/vocation pursue a similar path?

Anyone interested in research and evaluation work should jump right in. There are tasks of many different skill levels and someone who is motivated, interested, and intelligent should have no trouble fitting in. If someone has no experience, I suggest finding a research center at their school and volunteering. This will provide exposure to the type of work that is done and an opportunity to begin building basic skills.

I found myself where I am today because I was a work study student who wanted to do more with my time than administrative tasks. I had no research experience when I began and was able to build up my skills to the point that I now run evaluation projects. A motivated and enthusiastic person can use those qualities to make their own opportunities, especially if they are comfortable starting at the bottom and working their way up.

What are some challenges you face in your industry?

A challenge I sometimes face in my industry is not having a Ph.D like many people who work in research. I have been fortunate in that I have always worked directly with people who care more about my experience and abilities than the letters that follow my name. However, that attitude is not pervasive throughout the field of research and evaluation work. In instances where people have questions about my capabilities, I have to rely on my own experience to alleviate concerns or questions they may have.

What do you wish you would have known getting started in your field?

There is not much I wish I had known before getting started in research and evaluation work. I had sufficient exposure to the field before settling in as a full-time member. However, there are some skills I wish I had acquired while still a student. Primarily, I wish I had invested more effort to advance my statistical abilities. A large part of any of the evaluation projects we do involves analyzing large data sets. Instead, I have had to learn as I go. Additionally, I wish I had taken a course on data mapping as I must rely on colleagues whenever it is required.

What additional education or certification is required/recommended?

If someone wants to develop into a highly desired candidate for an evaluation position, advanced statistical and/or mapping skills are highly valued. There tend to be more people qualified to do qualitative research work than the quantitative. A person who excels in both can be valuable to a research center or organization. Additionally, a master’s degree is generally required to do anything beyond entry level work and many people choose to go on to complete a Ph.D. While a Ph.D is not required, it does open many doors.

How has your liberal arts background shaped your career path or supported your success?

My liberal arts background has helped me be a well-rounded person open to learning new things and having a wide variety of experiences. Furman’s curriculum, encompassing a wide spectrum of fields and courses, helped me learn to consider a variety of perspectives and better understand how the world all fits together. This multi-faceted background was excellent preparation for the type of work I do now.

A program evaluation or research project on a new initiative demands that those involved learn all they can about what is happening and what pieces work together to cause the desired program effects or outcomes. These programs and initiatives operate in the real world and are often complicated by outside influences. A liberal arts background prepared me to tackle this head on and helps me better understand the perspectives of everyone involved on both the evaluation and implementation sides of a project.

Any final advice for students or recent grads?

Students and recent grads should be open to new experiences and opportunities outside the plans they have made for themselves. My plan changed completely between starting graduate school and graduating, all because I allowed myself to consider things outside my plan. I would also encourage students to take advantage of courses beyond their career focus while they are still in school. You may find yourself learning something that will be useful down the road or lead to new opportunities. Becoming a well-rounded person with a variety of experiences and skills is a positive thing that will serve you well in whatever career you pursue.

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