About the Evaluator

Sondra Marie LoRe, Ph.D., is Founder and Principal Consultant of STEM Program Evaluation, Assessment, and Research (SPEAR), where she leads evaluation for federally funded initiatives nationwide. With over two decades of experience and more than 60 funded projects, she specializes in mixed-methods evaluation, survey design, and data visualization that make findings actionable. Dr. LoRe has evaluated six NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) projects, including Supporting Students with Autism in STEM Degree Programs (Palm Beach State College), Map Your Success and Expanding Pathways into the Biotechnology Workforce (Harford Community College), and Improving Mechatronics Education (Roane State Community College). Her expertise includes technician education, workforce development, and equity-focused strategies. A frequent presenter, she has shared work at HI-TEC, AEA, and the NSF ATE PI Conference, and published in CBE—Life Sciences Education and PLoS ONE.

Evaluation Background

I specialize in...

  • Qualitative methods
  • Quantitative methods
  • Mixed methods
  • Culturally responsive evaluation
  • Theory-driven evaluation
  • Utilization-focused evaluation

I have worked with projects in the areas of:

  • ATE Centers
  • ATE projects
  • NSF projects other than ATE (e.g., IUSE, S-STEM, AISL, HSI, ADVANCE)
  • Projects at two-year colleges
  • STEM education projects supported by funder other than NSF

Training and Certifications

  • Certificate in evaluation
  • Graduate coursework in evaluation
  • Professional development workshops, webinars, or online courses on evaluation

Outside of Work, I enjoy...

… being in nature, whether hiking in the Smoky Mountains or kayaking near home. I also love to read and crochet, and any beach is my favorite place to relax and recharge.

My Working Style...

… collaborative, supportive, and focused on clear communication. I partner with teams to co-design meaningful evaluation approaches, build capacity, and ensure findings are practical, actionable, and aligned with project goals.

Evaluator Details

Education

Ph.D. Educational Psychology: Evaluation, Statistics, and Measurement Ed.S Educational Leadership, Administration, and Supervision M.S.. Curriculum and Instruction B.A. Economics Additional Certification: Qualitative Research Methods UT Extension Certificate: Social Media & Marketing

Stem Discipline

Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Agricultural and Environmental Technologies Bio and Chemical Technologies Engineering Technologies General or Cross-cutting Advanced Technological Education Information and Securities Technologies Micro and Nanotechnologies

Location

Knoxville, TN

ATE Central Evaluator Profile

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“I help projects tell their story through evaluation that is collaborative, practical, and values-driven. I turn data into insights that strengthen programs, advance equity, and highlight real-world impact.”

Work Samples

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BIOTECH Pathways: Expanding Pathways from High School into the Biotechnology Workforce

Data Summary Report: Primary author of this report, synthesizing mid-year findings to clearly communicate evaluation results to teams and funders

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Sample of integration of Qualitative (Interviews) and Quantitative (Survey)

Visualizations of Quant and Qual Metrics: Created visuals of quantitative and qualitative data to highlight outcomes and inform project decisions.

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Are Surveys Serving Your ATE Project? Find Out!

Conference Presentation: Created slides and delivered this talk, sharing evaluation findings and building capacity with project teams and peers.

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Nation Science Foundation Logo 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.
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