Research and Evaluation Council

REC Goals

• Contribute to continually refining Alverno's educational frameworks, assumptions, principles, and practices.
  

• Initiate and maintain research and evaluation as a concept and function at Alverno.
  

• Review and approve research and evaluation objectives in relation to college goals.
  

• Review, refine, and communicate guidelines for college research and evaluation, including faculty and staff research efforts conducted collaboratively with Educational Research and Evaluation which use its resources.
  

• Ensure the implementation of research findings and elicit feedback from faculty on data interpretation and use.
  

• Establish relationships with other groups and committees to assure the success of its work.
  

• Elicit constructive critique from colleagues and establish Alverno as a contributor to higher education research and evaluation.

• Oversee recommendations for institutional approval for research proposed by investigators external to Alverno when that research involves Alverno facilities, and/or Alverno affiliated participants.
  

Stephen Sharkey chairs the Research and Evaluation Council. He is Professor of Sociology and Senior Scholar for Liberal Learning. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Connecticut.

Jeana Abromeit is Professor of Social Science, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, and Chairs the Council for Student Assessment. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Mary Diez is Professor of Education and Dean of the School of Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Communication from Michigan State University.

Austin Doherty is Professor of Psychology and Special Assistant to Academic Affairs. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Loyola University.

Jodi Eastberg is Associate Professor of History and Chair of the Valuing in Decision-Making Department. She holds a Ph.D. in History from Marquette University.

Kathy Lake is Professor of Education and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Marcia Mentkowski is Professor of Psychology, Senior Scholar for Educational Research, and Director Emerita of Educational Research and Evaluation. She is the previous chair of the Research and Evaluation Council. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Heather Mernitz is an Assistant Professor of Physical Science.  She holds a Ph.D. in Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism from Tufts University.

Kathleen O'Brien is Professor of Business and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. She holds a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Tim Riordan is Professor of Philosophy. He holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Education from Marquette University.

Glen Rogers is Director of Educational Research and Evaluation. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Kentucky.

Paul Smith is Professor of Psychology and Chair of Alverno's Institutional Review Board. He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education/Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

For more information on the Research and Evaluation Council contact: Stephen Sharkey