About the Evaluator
Dr. Monique Inez Liston is the Founder and Chief Strategist of UBUNTU Research & Evaluation, a Milwaukee-based consulting firm specializing in culturally responsive evaluation, strategic learning, and workforce innovation. With more than 15 years of experience across education, public health, and workforce development sectors, Dr. Liston partners with two-year colleges, technical education programs, and community-based organizations to build stronger pathways to STEM careers, particularly for historically underserved populations.
A proud graduate of Howard University (BA, Sociology) and the University of Delaware (MPA), Dr. Liston earned her Ph.D. in Urban Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, focusing on the conditions that advance educational dignity and career success for Black and Brown youth. Her approach to evaluation blends methodological rigor with a deep commitment to equity, continuous improvement, and actionable results.
Dr. Liston leads national projects that strengthen technician education programs by embedding robust evaluation frameworks that align with workforce needs, elevate learner experiences, and foster dynamic partnerships between industry and education. She specializes in designing feedback systems that help programs stay agile and adaptive in a changing economy, ensuring that innovations in curriculum, student support, and employer engagement are evidence-based and community-informed.
Grounded in the Ubuntu philosophy of collective thriving, Dr. Liston supports ATE-funded initiatives by centering local partnerships, promoting data-driven decision-making, and amplifying the voices of students, educators, and employers. She brings a strong record of helping organizations meet grant requirements, demonstrate measurable outcomes, and tell powerful stories of program impact and innovation.
Recognized as a Milwaukee Business Journal “40 Under 40” honoree, Dr. Liston is committed to advancing technical education that not only prepares students for today’s workforce but builds stronger, more equitable futures for all.
Evaluation Background
I specialize in...
- Qualitative 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:
- 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...
… I’m usually throwing yoga poses, chasing tacos, hunting for the perfect pair of sneakers, writing stories that refuse to stay quiet, or pretending I don’t have six more books in my carry-on.
A Successful Evaluation...
… strengthens student success, aligns education with workforce needs, drives innovation through feedback, and builds trusted partnerships between colleges, industry, and communities; all while centering dignity, accountability and continuous improvement.
My Working Style...
… is collaborative, adaptive, and intentional; focused on building strong relationships, using data to inform action, and designing evaluation processes that are rigorous, responsive, and aligned with real-world 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.