About the Evaluator
Chandria D. Jones, PhD, MPH, is a Principal Research Scientist at NORC at the University of Chicago and an NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Evaluation Fellow. She brings over 20 years of experience leading evaluations of federally funded programs, with a focus on workforce development, public health, and systems change. Dr. Jones specializes in designing utilization-focused evaluation approaches that support continuous improvement and strengthen program impact, particularly in community college and technical education settings. Her work integrates participatory methods, mixed-methods research, and culturally responsive practices to ensure evaluations are both rigorous and actionable. She has led multi-site national evaluations for agencies including SAMHSA and CDC, and is committed to advancing evidence-building that informs policy, practice, and equitable access to high-quality career pathways.
Evaluation Background
I specialize in...
- Qualitative methods
- Mixed methods
- Culturally responsive evaluation
- Participatory evaluation approaches
- Utilization-focused evaluation
I have worked with projects in the areas of:
- Projects at two-year colleges
- STEM education projects supported by funder other than NSF
Training and Certifications
- Professional development workshops
- Webinars
- Online courses on evaluation
Outside of Work, I enjoy...
…traveling, mentoring, and spending time with loved ones, including my dog Baxter. I find joy in giving back and community service. I’m also a Disney adult and lifelong sci-fi fan who loves watching Star Wars, DC, and Marvel movies and TV shows.
A Successful Evaluation...
…is one that is useful, credible, and grounded in the realities of the program it serves. For me, success means generating actionable insights that inform decision-making, strengthen implementation, and demonstrate meaningful outcomes. It requires clear alignment between evaluation questions, methods, and intended use, along with early and ongoing engagement of stakeholders. Strong evaluations also balance rigor with practicality—using methods that are feasible while still producing trustworthy evidence. Finally, a successful evaluation is adaptive and forward-looking, supporting continuous learning and improvement while helping programs tell a compelling, evidence-based story about their impact.
My Working Style...
…is relationship-centered and responsive. I listen first, ask thoughtful questions, and work alongside project teams to design evaluations that are useful, credible, and aligned with their goals, not just funder requirements.
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.