About the Evaluator
Dr. Diana Pollard McCauley Williams, a Philadelphia native, holds degrees from Cheyney, Temple, and Villanova universities. Her career spans teaching, administration, educational sales, and consulting. She has held leadership roles at Villanova, Illinois Wesleyan, Illinois State, Bennett College, and Benedict College. Diana has provided professional development for educators, evaluated grants, led strategic planning, and worked in educational sales, generating over $2 million. In Illinois, she served on numerous local boards and commissions and was a longtime school board member. Her honors include awards from the Illinois Women Administrators, Illinois State Board of Education, and YWCA. In Columbia, SC, she developed youth and community programs through Second Calvary Church and Thankful Baptist Church, where she also led Bible Study enhancements and secured grant funding for initiatives. She enjoys traveling, sports, puzzles, and music, and has two sons, an anesthesiologist and a business CEO.
Evaluation Background
I specialize in...
- Qualitative methods
- Quantitative methods
- Mixed methods
- Culturally responsive evaluation
I have worked with projects in the areas of:
- ATE projects
- Projects at two-year colleges
- STEM education projects supported by funder other than NSF
Training and Certifications
- Professional development workshops, webinars, or online courses on evaluation
Outside of Work, I enjoy...
… I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, watching sports, playing games/solving puzzles, and listening to music.
A Successful Evaluation...
… considers the intent of the funded project; employs various strategies (quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods) to analyze the extent to which progresses toward and reaches attainment; identifies and recommends additional approaches toward attainment and sustainability; and seeks to determine the project’s broader impact. Furthermore, a successful evaluation is attained through a team-like partnership between project leadership personnel and evaluation team members. To the extent that either entity is successful, both entities are successful.
My Working Style...
… embraces a team culture which I believe increases productivity and the likelihood of success. Trust is embedded within the team culture and must be built through honest and open communication.
EvaluATE is supported by the National Science Foundation under grant number 2332143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this site are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.