It’s a Meet the Team blog post kind of day, and today, we’re highlighting Maggie, Impact Consultant here at ResultsLab. 

 

Maggie brings over 7 years of experience in mixed-method research and program evaluation within public health, social services, and the criminal justice system. Prior to her role at ResultsLab, she held multiple research and evaluation roles at Unite Us, a software developed to improve social care coordination and advance health equity. In her previous work with the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education at Case Western Reserve University, her research focused on addressing the sexual assault kit backlog, improving survivor advocacy and human trafficking services, and increasing healthcare access for gender diverse individuals. She holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Cleveland State University and is actively Certified in Public Health (CPH) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.   

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in evaluation and data use?

I started my career in the nonprofit sector, advocating for better treatment of survivors of sexual violence, and I was constantly in search of better ways to use data to prove our impact. This led me to pursue a career in applied social science and public health research, but the work I was most drawn to was evaluation projects with community organizations. I know what its like to not have the systems, strategies, and time in the day to collect the data needed to tell an organization’s impact story, and I love sharing my knowledge and skills with others committed to addressing important issues in their communities.  

Q: How have the roles you’ve held in the past contributed to how you work now?

My prior roles in academic research taught me best practices for research or evaluation project design, methods, and analysis. My previous evaluation experiences have been across numerous settings, including community-led health and human services, care coordination technology, criminal justice system, and healthcare. 

These experiences contribute to my perspective that no two organizations (or their data) are the same, and taking time to listen and understand your partner’s priorities is deeply important to ensuring your co-created recommendations are truly going to make a difference.  

Q: What are your top 3 favorite podcasts/books/blogs to follow?
  • Women at Work by HBR Presents: Educational conversations about women’s experiences at work and how to improve.
  • Maintenance Phase by Michael Hobbes and Aubrey Gordon: Debunks the inaccurate use of data and science behind health and wellness fads and nutrition advice. 
  • The Retrievals by New York Times and Serial Podcasts: A five-part miniseries about systemic missteps at a fertility clinic, and what we can learn from the tragedy that results.
Recent Book I’d Recommend: 
Q: What is something people in your industry/niche have to deal with that you want to fix?

The false assumption that more data collection equals more work, or less time helping the people you serve. Any strategy to increase or improve data collection must be built with the insight of front-line staff or community members to make sure your new data strategy enhances your ability to deliver quality services and the time to foster genuine connections.  

Q: What are your hobbies?

I love to be outside, so I do a lot of walking, running, biking, and hiking when I get a chance.  

 

 

Thank you, Maggie, for letting us pick your brain and get to know you better. Be on the lookout for our other ResultsLab teammate features in the upcoming months, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.