I serve as a Senior Project Director at Applied Survey Research, where I lead applied research and evaluation projects focused on community well-being, equity, and systems change. My work spans the design and implementation of community needs assessments, program evaluations, and community indicator initiatives, in partnership with public agencies, nonprofits, and cross-sector collaboratives. A central focus of my work is translating data into actionable insights—developing tools, frameworks, and findings that support planning, decision-making, and resource allocation.
ASR’s work is grounded in equity-centered approaches and Results-Based Accountability, and my primary areas of expertise include behavioral health, health equity, systems to support an aging population, and the intersection of behavioral health and the criminal legal system.
2. How has being a part of ISQOLS benefited your work/research?
Being part of ISQOLS has been particularly valuable in elevating the role of local, community-level data in shaping quality of life. For those of us working in applied settings, ISQOLS provides a platform to demonstrate how community indicators and local data systems are not just descriptive, but actively inform decision-making, resource allocation, and systems change.
One of the most meaningful benefits has been the opportunity to contribute to practitioner-focused spaces—particularly through community indicator presentations and webinars, including co-leading a session with Susan Brutschy and Julie Burr. These opportunities help bridge research and practice, and highlight how local data can be used in real-world contexts to drive action.
ISQOLS has also created space to contribute to global conversations. For example, I developed a presentation for the Argentina conference (presented by a colleague in my place) and have submitted abstracts for the upcoming conference in Kentucky. The work I bring into these spaces draws on a range of applied projects, including:
Community indicator and report card initiatives (e.g., regional quality-of-life and equity-focused report cards)
Evaluations of place-based and systems-change efforts, including initiatives focused on behavioral health, diversion, and community-based alternatives within the criminal legal system
Community needs assessments examining service access, gaps, and priorities across diverse populations and geographies
Health equity and access studies, including oral health assessments and community health needs assessments conducted in partnership with healthcare and community-based organizations
Aging and age-friendly community planning efforts that integrate data, stakeholder engagement, and implementation planning
Cross-sector collaborative initiatives that align public agencies, providers, and community members around shared data and strategies
While ISQOLS offers many ways to engage—through conferences, virtual events, publications, and member networks—its value for me has been in strengthening the visibility and use of local data and community indicators within the broader quality-of-life field.
