Experienced Mixed-Methods Research Leader

REBECCA W. ELLISON

Silver Spring, MD 301-***-**** **********@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Mixed-methods researcher and analyst with over two decades of experience designing and executing qualitative and quantitative research across international development, public health, and education sectors. Proven record in research design and protocol development, key informant interviews, data collection and analysis, and translating complex findings into actionable insights for diverse stakeholders. Adept at cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder communication, and project management from inception through synthesis. Brings rigorous attention to detail, strong analytical thinking, and a commitment to data integrity across every stage of the research process.

CORE COMPETENCIES

•Mixed-Methods Research Design

•Qualitative Data Collection & Analysis

•Survey Instrument & Protocol Development

•Quantitative Cross-Tabulation Analysis

•Key Informant Interviews & Focus Groups

•Stakeholder & Partner Engagement

•Data Integrity & Thematic Coding Frameworks

•Research Synthesis & Report Writing

•Literature Review & Evidence Evaluation

•Program Monitoring & KPI Tracking

•Cross-Functional Collaboration

•Project Management (End-to-End)

RESEARCH & ANALYTICAL EXPERTISE

Research Design & Mixed-Methods Inquiry

•Led mixed-methods research design for three Learning Agenda Studies (EDC/LEGO Play 2.0), prioritizing inquiry questions with an international Community of Learning spanning six implementing partner organizations.

•Co-designed research protocols and sampling strategies, iterating on scope and methodology through structured feedback loops to ensure rigor and relevance across multi-site implementation contexts.

•Executed end-to-end mixed-methods data processes — designing collection instruments, managing transcription, applying validated thematic coding frameworks, and synthesizing findings into written reports; ensured data integrity at every stage.

•Conducted an extensive literature review on faith and development in Tanzania; applied anthropological and sociological analytical frameworks, cross-checking findings across multiple data streams to ensure accuracy and rigor (Berkley Center).

•Developed surveys and interview guides, analyzed quantitative and qualitative data, and reported research findings for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States across growth, retention, and consolidation efforts.

Qualitative Data Collection & Fieldwork

•Conducted key informant interviews with implementing partners across virtual and in-person formats, surfacing insights on toolkit adaptation, instrument usability, and scaling pathways (EDC).

•Conducted in-depth interviews with 97 indigenous American members of the Bahá’í Faith; analyzed findings and produced a research report on lived faith experiences (Bahá’í National Center).

•Conducted message test interviews and assessed public response to communications materials produced by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Office for the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) (Porter Novelli International / NIH).

•Assessed social and emotional learning for 40 children ages 3–6 using Every Child Ready developmental assessment tool across Washington, DC preschools (AppleTree Institute).

•Identified participants and designed a day-long consultation to surface research gaps on faith and development in Tanzania (Berkley Center).

Quantitative Analysis & Data Management

•Led mixed-methods research for NIH — designed survey instruments and focus group guides, managed participant recruitment across multiple cohorts, and analyzed quantitative cross-tabulations and qualitative data to surface actionable insights for federal health communications programs (Porter Novelli International).

•Analyzed written submissions for data accuracy, evidence quality, and analytical sophistication; produced policy briefs and blogs on youth, gender, and vulnerability issues (Africa Center for Strategic Progress).

•Drove a 12% year-over-year increase in online sales revenue, contributing $216 million to USPS FY2010 totals — achieved through data-driven analysis of site and sales metrics using WebTrends and ComScore that informed strategic decisions on layout and product mix.

•Prepared estimates and managed a $4.2 million program budget; tracked KPIs and maintained performance dashboards to inform program decisions (USPS).

•Harmonized procedures and synthesized findings from 7 World Bank departments on strategic alignment of learning priorities and Knowledge Management programs (World Bank).

Research Communication & Knowledge Translation

•Produced a 95-page country report — Faith and Development in Focus: Tanzania — published in 2019, synthesizing literature review findings across anthropological and sociological domains (Berkley Center).

•Translated analyst insights from Gartner, Forrester, IDC, and GigaOm into actionable intelligence for internal business stakeholders; collaborated with Product Management and IDC on a joint survey resulting in a published Analyst Connection Report (SolarWinds).

•Synthesized findings from 7 departments at the World Bank Institute on learning and knowledge management priorities, informing program guidelines across over 100 Knowledge Sharing teams.

•Wrote policy briefs, blogs, and research-based communications for the Africa Center for Strategic Progress on youth, gender, and vulnerability policy.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT & PROJECT MANAGEMENT

•Served as primary point of contact for all advisory service partners — Gartner, Forrester, IDC, and GigaOm — managing relationships, communications, and accountability across accounts (SolarWinds).

•Managed monthly Policy Lab meetings, guiding fellows, researchers, and associates on deliverables, brainstorming, and evidence standards (Africa Center for Strategic Progress).

•Built and maintained collaborative relationships with village-level leadership, government education agencies, and local NGOs across five communities in Tanzaniaʿs Arusha Region to ensure community school sustainability (TACHIP).

•Coordinated with program staff to accurately represent field activities and ensure culturally appropriate communications for both local Tanzanian and international audiences (TACHIP).

•Provided guidance to leadership on hiring of Policy Lab fellows, researchers, and associates; assessed writing submissions for quality and rigor (Africa Center for Strategic Progress).

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Education Development Center (EDC) 2023–2026

Consultant, Learning Agenda Studies – LEGO Play 2.0

SolarWinds 2022

Analyst Relations Specialist

Africa Center for Strategic Progress 2020–2023

Director, Youth, Gender & Vulnerability Policy Lab

A.K. Rice Institute (AKRI) Ongoing

Internal Board of Directors

Taretok Child Prosperity (TACHIP) 2017–Present

Co-Founder & Communications Manager

Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs 2018

Technical Researcher

AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation 2018

Independent Contractor

Research Analyst

EDUCATION

M.A., International Education and Policy — University of Maryland, College Park (GPA: 3.89/4.00)

M.A., Mass Communications — Howard University

B.A., International Relations — University of Mary Washington

SKILLS & LANGUAGES

Technology: Dedoose, SPSS, Excel, Tableau, Google Data Studio, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, SharePoint, WebTrends, ComScore, Websphere, Trello, Whova, ATG Content Management, HTML

Languages: French (Advanced) Kiswahili (Basic) Russian (Basic)

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