Research associate

Lauren E. Feig, M.A., L.S.W.

Personal Statement

A highly motivated and experienced evaluation and research specialist with a background in social work. I have dedicated my career to advancing the science of what works and aligning this knowledge with practice and policy to improve the life outcomes of vulnerable populations. My professional experience and academic credentials demonstrate strong interpersonal and analytical skills and an ability to bring both empathy and rigor to the forefront of the research process.

Education

University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration Chicago, Illinois

Master of Arts June 2014

Concentration: Social Policy with Research Focus

Programs of Study: Violence Prevention, Family Support

Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois

Bachelor of Science, cum laude June 2011

Major: Psychology

Professional Appointments

Advocates for Human Potential Chicago, Illinois

Research Associate October 2020 to March 2024

Co-managed the implementation of evaluation/research plans including participating in project meetings, coordinating stakeholder meetings, assisting with survey/protocol development, managing data collection, submitting IRB applications, resolving problems and tracking project timelines and deliverables.

Enrolled, tracked, and conducted interviews with study participants and maintained tracking databases.

Conducted focus groups and key informant interviews with a wide range of stakeholders (agency administrators, clinicians/treatment providers, community members, people with lived experience of substance use disorders).

Conducted quantitative and qualitative analyses.

Co-facilitated stakeholder meetings and prepared meting minutes and other documents.

Prepared reports, presentations, data dictionaries, literature reviews, and other work products.

Participated in data collection and data quality/integrity tasks.

Acted as a liaison between the evaluation and provider staff regarding client enrollment and data collection.

Innovations for Poverty Action Evanston, Illinois

Temporary Research Coordinator October 2018 to March 2019

Oversaw and executed a planning grant to design a randomized impact evaluation of a pretrial criminal justice intervention.

Served as a liaison between leading academic researchers and staff implementing the program on the ground.

Built and maintained relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Conducted process evaluations of potential study sites (i.e., county courts and jails).

Collected qualitative data through in-depth interviews with key stakeholders (e.g., individuals affected by the justice system, program providers, jail staff, public defenders, prosecutors, judges).

Managed project deadlines and deliverables.

Arnold Ventures (formerly the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy) Washington, D.C. (Remote)

Research Consultant, Evidence-Based Policy Team February 2014 to December 2018

Analyzed rigorous evaluations of social programs and policies to determine whether they produced sizable, sustained, and cost-effective impacts on outcomes of clear policy importance.

Prepared and circulated weekly reports of study quality and its findings.

Delivered trainings on how to assess for study quality and evidence of effectiveness.

Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention (CCYVP) at the University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois

Project Coordinator and Research Specialist August 2014 to February 2017

Coordinated and managed multiple research projects.

Prepared federal grant proposals and ensured compliance with funding source.

Served as liaison between the Center and community partners.

Provided training and technical assistance to community-based organizations (e.g., program development, implementation, measurement, and evaluation).

Prepared presentations and co-authored manuscripts, technical reports, and journal articles.

Recruited and engaged youth and families in high-risk situations in research.

Managed the implementation of an evidence-based public health intervention in Chicago Public Schools.

Designed and programmed surveys via Qualtrics and monitored survey data.

Performed quantitative data analysis of survey and administrative data (using SPSS and Microsoft Excel software).

Trained and oversaw the work of interventionists delivering evidence-based programming.

Identified funding opportunities for the Center and University faculty and provided pre-award assistance (e.g., developing and writing grant proposals, preparing and managing IRB protocols, drafting budgets).

Organized faculty and committee meetings and student seminars.

Conducted critical reviews of empirical literature.

Prepared data for presentations, including crime density maps on Geographic Information Systems (using ArcGIS software).

Additional Experience

University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration Chicago, Illinois

Guest Lecturer 2015 to 2016

“Program Evaluation”

“Prevention Research and Methods”

Life is My Movie Entertainment Los Angeles, California (Remote)

Research and Outreach Associate August 2012 to September 2016

Reviewed and synthesized existing literature on mass incarceration and disseminated findings to film staff.

Conducted interviews with criminal justice experts, prisoners, and individuals affected by the justice system.

http://lifeismymovie.com/limm-movies/incarcerating-us/

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8125653/

Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention (CCYVP) at the University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois

Graduate Social Work Research Intern October 2013 to June 2014

Recruited and engaged hard-to-reach families in a family-focused preventive intervention.

Trained interventionists to promote scientifically sound practice.

Co-facilitated multiple family groups as part of a violence prevention intervention.

Peer Reviewed Manuscripts

Schoeny, M.E., Henry, D.B., Gorman-Smith, D., Gras-Partyka, D., & Feig, L. (under review). The relation between alcohol outlet density and violent crime as a function of neighborhood disadvantage. Paper submitted to American Journal of Public Health.

Feig, L. (2015). Breaking the cycle: A family-focused approach to criminal sentencing. Advocates’ Forum. 13–26.

Gorman-Smith, D., Feig, L., Cosey-Gay, F., & Coeling, M. (2013). Strengthening Families and Communities to Prevent Youth Violence: A Public Health Approach. Children’s Legal Rights Journal, 34, 265–277.

Professional Reports

Gorman-Smith, D., & Feig, L. (October 2016). “Program Evaluation of Urban Warriors Development Activities.” [Interim Report]. Chicago, IL: Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention at the University of Chicago.

Gorman-Smith, D., & Feig, L. (2016). “Bronzeville Dream Center's Communities That Care (CTC) Youth Survey.” [Executive Summary]. Chicago, IL: Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention at the University of Chicago.

Professional Development & Service

Visiting Scholar 2018 to 2019

Northwestern University

Advanced Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Training Program 2016-2017

Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Chicago

Ad hoc reviewer for: American Journal of Public Health, Social Service Review, Prevention Science 2016

Committee on Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity 2016

School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago

Role: Secretary

Violence and Injury Prevention Committee, Healthy Chicago 2.0 2015 to 2016

Chicago Department of Public Health

Role: Secretary

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