About the Evaluator

Dr. Blake Urbach, Principal Consultant, has 20 years of experience evaluating grant-funded projects in higher education. She has led evaluations for dozens of NSF-funded initiatives focused on STEM student success and workforce readiness, faculty development, and institutional capacity-building. Her work spans projects with $5M+ budgets, involving 100+ institutions across dozens of states. In 2019, she was one of seven evaluators selected nationally for the ATE Evaluation Task Framework Validation Study funded by The Evaluation Center at WMU and NSF.

Preferred Program Evaluations offers specialized experience in evaluating educational initiatives from project conception pre-award through closeout or expansion. We strengthen projects, present evidence of impact, and bolster change-making efforts through participatory, mixed-methods evaluation. Our systematic approach to data collection, interpretation, and adjustment is central to our services.

Evaluation Background

I specialize in...

  • Qualitative methods
  • Quantitative methods
  • Mixed methods
  • Culturally responsive evaluation
  • Participatory evaluation approaches
  • 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

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

Outside of Work, I enjoy...

Walking my Goldendoodle, hiking with my son in the Blue Ridge Mountains, baking bread, listening to indie jazz, and going to stand-up comedy shows.

A Successful Evaluation...

is comprehensive and scientific, yet remains inclusive, purposeful, and economical.  As a collaborative partner, Preferred Program Evaluations is interested in contributing to the success of each project in addition to providing evidence of its effectiveness.

My Working Style...

is data-driven, action-oriented, and adaptable.  I work closely with my clients to conduct project evaluations that build their capacity, unearth intended and collateral impacts, and make a case for sustaining effective project components once the current funding stream has been exhausted.

Evaluator Details

Education

Ph.D. M.S. B.S.

Stem Discipline

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

Location

Orlando, FL

ATE Central Evaluator Profile

“Through meaningful data and dynamic visuals, Preferred Program Evaluations makes targeted recommendations that have the power to engage stakeholders, increase understanding, and contribute to positive social change.  The firm takes pride in providing its clients with evaluations designed to address operations and outcomes at both the participant- and project-level.”

Work Samples

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Outcomes Matrix

This outcomes matrix is an example of a product I provide my clients to help them track, monitor, and share their progress throughout the performance period.

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Institutional Data Dashboard

I created this dashboard to highlight the institutional data that corresponds to one of the project's primary objectives: increasing enrollment of females and veterans in a new technical degree program.

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Survey

With the input of the project team, I designed this summer camp participant survey to assess high school students’ interest, engagement, and learning in the discipline.

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Other Work

Data Storytelling Leads to More Relevant, Usable Reports

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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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