About the Evaluator
Lara Smith is a nationally respected evaluation expert who brings nearly 20 years of experience in the design, implementation, oversight, and evaluation of higher education grants. She specializes in helping colleges translate complex evaluation requirements into practical, actionable insights that improve student outcomes and strengthen institutional performance.
Lara has served as project director, Co-PI, and external evaluator on numerous NSF grants. She earned a Master of Science in Measurement and Evaluation from American University—as part of the program’s inaugural cohort in the first graduate program of its kind in the nation. She also holds Bronze Certification in Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels Evaluation Methodology.
Lara has served as a peer reviewer for NSF programs including ATE, HSI, and S-STEM. She was named an inaugural member of the NSF College of Reviewers for Undergraduate Education, affirming her expertise in evaluating federally funded programs and proposals.
Evaluation Background
I specialize in...
- Qualitative methods
- Quantitative methods
- Mixed methods
- Culturally responsive evaluation
- Developmental evaluation
- Empowerment evaluation
- Most significant change
- Participatory evaluation approaches
- 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...
… spending time with my family.
A Successful Evaluation...
… provides analysis and guidance to overcome challenges, explore opportunities, and demonstrate meaningful impact.
My Working Style...
… is insightful and professional, yet flexible.
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.