About the Evaluator
Dr. Jennifer (Jen) Gruber is a Senior Researcher and Evaluator at Magnolia Consulting, LLC. Jen is a mixed-methods evaluator with expertise in program evaluation, research, and technical assistance. At Magnolia, she leads evaluations of educational programs and initiatives spanning PreK–16 settings, including community and technical colleges.
Jen has extensive experience supporting and leading evaluations of projects funded through various National Science Foundation programs, including ATE, ITEST, IUSE (including ITYC), and S-STEM. This work includes evaluations of summer bridge programs, curriculum redesign, work-based learning, industry partnerships, educator professional development, and K-12 outreach supporting technician education and workforce development across a range of advanced technology fields. In recognition of her contributions to ATE project evaluation through her work at Magnolia Consulting, she received the 2024 Outstanding NSF ATE Evaluation Award.
Evaluation Background
I specialize in...
- Qualitative methods
- Quantitative methods
- Mixed methods
- Developmental evaluation
- Participatory evaluation approaches
- Theory-driven evaluation
- Utilization-focused evaluation
I have worked with projects in the areas of:
- 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...
…exploring the outdoors, reading, baking, and spending time with my family.
A Successful Evaluation...
…is collaborative, organized, and grounded in clear communication. I strive to build strong relationships with project teams, establish shared expectations, and provide responsive support throughout the evaluation process.
My Working Style...
…is collaborative, actionable, and aligned with project goals. It provides meaningful information that helps project teams make continuous improvements, demonstrate impact, and document progress toward intended outcomes.
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.