Julia Alemany
Senior Associate
Julia Alemany leads our work in the area of college access and success, providing evaluation, technical assistance, and data management support for these clients. She brings to all of her work deep experience with rigorous evaluation design, formative and summative evaluations, stakeholder engagement. Julia also has strong expertise in building client capacity to use data effectively and working with vulnerable and Spanish-speaking populations. As a senior researcher at Metis, Julia directs large-scale studies in the areas of P-16 education, youth development, mental health, child welfare, and school climate and safety initiatives.
Dr. Lori Ramsey
Senior Associate
Lori Ramsey has over two decades of experience conducting applied research and evaluation projects in PK-12, higher education, and community-based settings. Prior to pursuing her doctorate in Instructional Technology and Media at Teachers College, Columbia University, Lori served as a public-school educator and technology coordinator with the Cincinnati Public Schools. Leveraging her experience as an education practitioner and academic researcher, Lori designs and manages evaluations in the areas of educational technology, equity and school choice, out-of-school time programming, curriculum and instruction, STEM/STEAM, arts, and health education. Lori takes pride in the strong collaborative working relationships she establishes with her clients, helping them to use data to refine and improve their programs over time.
Michael Scuello
Senior Associate For Design and Analysis
Michael Scuello has specialized expertise in research methodology, including sampling design, human subjects protection, data acquisition, and advanced statistical data analysis. Michael directs research studies with impact or rigorous designs, and he serves as the quantitative lead for many of our program evaluations of educational interventions in the areas of reading/literacy, college success, out-of-school time, and teen pregnancy prevention. He is also steeped in evidence-based approaches to social and educational research and completed What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) training in using evidence-based standards to support our work. Michael serves as the chair of Metis’s Institutional Review Board, and he is a member of the NYC Department of Education IRB.
Donna Tapper
Senior Research Scientist
Donna Tapper is a senior research scientist with extensive experience in the evaluation of human services and educational interventions in both the public and nonprofit sectors. Donna designs and directs large-scale assessments of youth development, college access and success, and anti-poverty initiatives, specializing in New York City-based efforts. Donna brings to her work in-depth knowledge of New York City government agencies and community-based organizations and related systems, policies, and programs.
Dr. Jing Zhu
Senior Associate For Design and Analysis
Dr. Jing Zhu is a certified What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviewer. With a robust knowledge of evidence-based research design and advanced statistical analysis, Jing is our in-house expert on impact evaluation projects. She serves as the quantitative and design lead for rigorous impact evaluations of educational and social service interventions. These studies use randomized controlled trials and stringent quasi-experimental plans that require her expertise in the application of WWC procedures and standards.