This blog features content by AKEN members. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at alaskaeval@gmail.com!
What and Where:
You are invited to attend an upcoming 1.5-hour Evaluator Peer Networking (EPN) event on May 8th, 2024, at 2 pm EST/11 am PST.
EPN is an ongoing series of free Zoom speed networking events. The space is created for evaluators to meet and network with other evaluators in rounds of one-on-one meetings to share your work, learn from others, and build relationships.
How:
Register here. Space is limited so please reserve your spot early.
Future Dates:
Having a meeting conflict but interested in attending a future meetup? Sign up here to receive announcements about future EPN events. (Note: You don’t need to sign up again if you previously registered for an EPN event and opted in to receive email announcements.)
Hoping to see you there!
Best,
Sylvia
Sylvia Pu, Ph.D.
Principal | Sylvia Pu Consulting
Dear colleagues,
Please join us for one of our upcoming #eval courses at the EnCompass Learning Center.
To view our full 2024 line-up, please view the schedule at: https://encompassworld.com/elc/elc-course-schedule-2024/
To join our mailing list, sign up at: https://encompassworld.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=49a591b4cf3b4fb9944de2794&id=8fc76eeba0
Thanks,
Beeta Tahmassebi
Dear evaluation colleagues, I hope this message finds you well and thriving. As Communications Chair for the Indigenous Persons in Evaluation (IPE) Topical Interest Group of the American Evaluation Association, I am very excited to bring our plans for the May 2024 newsletter to fruition. This edition is particularly special as it aims to honor MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) Awareness Month, casting a spotlight on crucial issues that impact our Tribal communities so deeply. We are seeking submissions that reflect on and explore the intersections of gender, Indigenous feminisms, violence prevention, grassroots advocacy, land and environmental stewardship, among others, with a particular focus on their connection to Indigenous evaluation. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals doing innovative work in these spaces to share their insights, research, and stories. What We Are Looking For: Innovative Articles: Insights, projects, evaluation findings, or thought pieces that delve into the aforementioned themes. Whether you're working on the frontlines of advocacy, conducting innovative evaluation, or have compelling personal narratives tied to these issues, we want to hear from you. Evaluator Profiles: We are also keen to feature an Indigenous evaluator who is making significant contributions to our field. If you or someone you know has a story to tell about challenges, successes, and insights gained from working in these areas, please reach out. Submission Guidelines: Length: Our average article length is around 500 words. However, we believe in the power of your stories and insights, so we are flexible and open to pieces of varying lengths. Please visit our website to view previous newsletters. Format: Please send your submissions or proposals in a Word document or PDF file. Include any relevant images, graphics, or links that complement your article (please be sure to provide image credits where necessary). Deadline: We aim to finalize contributions by May 1, 2024. This will give us ample time to prepare and showcase your valuable work in the best light possible. How to Submit: Send your articles, ideas, or profiles to me (jeremy@tlpi.org) with the subject line "May 2024 Newsletter Submission." If you have preliminary ideas or questions, do not hesitate to contact me beforehand. We are here to support you through the submission process. Spread the Word: If you know someone whose voice and work should be featured in our newsletter, please forward this call for submissions to them or send me their contact details. Your recommendations and networks can help ensure a rich, diverse collection of perspectives and knowledge in our upcoming edition. Thank you for considering contributing to our May 2024 newsletter. With your involvement, we can shed light on pressing issues, celebrate our strides in advocacy and evaluation, and foster a community of support and resilience. Looking forward to your submissions and stories! Yours in love and solidarity, Jeremy
Dear evaluation colleagues,
I hope this message finds you well and thriving. As Communications Chair for the Indigenous Persons in Evaluation (IPE) Topical Interest Group of the American Evaluation Association, I am very excited to bring our plans for the May 2024 newsletter to fruition. This edition is particularly special as it aims to honor MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) Awareness Month, casting a spotlight on crucial issues that impact our Tribal communities so deeply.
We are seeking submissions that reflect on and explore the intersections of gender, Indigenous feminisms, violence prevention, grassroots advocacy, land and environmental stewardship, among others, with a particular focus on their connection to Indigenous evaluation. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals doing innovative work in these spaces to share their insights, research, and stories.
Send your articles, ideas, or profiles to me (jeremy@tlpi.org) with the subject line "May 2024 Newsletter Submission." If you have preliminary ideas or questions, do not hesitate to contact me beforehand. We are here to support you through the submission process.
If you know someone whose voice and work should be featured in our newsletter, please forward this call for submissions to them or send me their contact details. Your recommendations and networks can help ensure a rich, diverse collection of perspectives and knowledge in our upcoming edition.
Thank you for considering contributing to our May 2024 newsletter. With your involvement, we can shed light on pressing issues, celebrate our strides in advocacy and evaluation, and foster a community of support and resilience. Looking forward to your submissions and stories!
Yours in love and solidarity,
Jeremy
Hello AKEN Members and Supporters,
On April 19th, the Alaska Evaluation Network is holding a Spring Social in Anchorage to bring together network members and evaluation colleagues in an informal gathering to connect and meet with other Alaskan evaluators. During the evening, there will be open time to socialize as well as some interactive activities with attendees and upcoming network event announcements. Light snacks will be provided.
We are requesting that interested parties RSVP, as this will help with our planning for attendance numbers. For full details and to RSVP, please visit the Spring Social web page, through the QR code below or provided LINK.
Please forward this announcement within your networks and to interested colleagues and peers.
We look forward to seeing you on the 19th!
AKEN BOM
We have set our quarterly Member Meeting for Thursday, March 7th at 2:00-3:30 pm. Please register in advance for this meeting: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYsf-2pqD0tE9brn1jkfPdG_s3LtSrDa-bF
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting. The agenda will be forthcoming in late February.
We are also looking for volunteers who would like to present their work or on an evaluation topic at the Members meeting, where there would also be Q&A and/or a Group Discussion on the presentation. If you are interested in presenting, please contact the AKEN BoM at alaskaeval@gmail.com.
Thank you for your continued support and we hope to see you at our March meeting!
AKEN BoM
Alaska SeaLife Center is hiring for a Research Coordinator/Evaluator. Please see link for full application details: https://jobs.ourcareerpages.com/job/861602?confirmID=84aed790-26ef-4dc6-957f-b3c9e0479896
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled; apply by Jan 3, 2024 for full consideration.
Summary:
This position is responsible for ensuring the successful development and implementation of evaluation projects that enhance our understanding of our audience experiences and fosters innovation and informed decision-making across departments. It will lead and/or participate in evaluation studies and reporting, provide operational support to improve the quality of projects, and ensure lessons from evaluations are applied to the continuous improvement of programs and strategy.
Crime and criminal justice are among the most urgent public policy issues facing Alaskan communities. Become a member of Alaska’s preeminent crime and criminal justice research center – the Alaska Justice Information Center (AJiC)! AJiC’s mission is to compile, analyze, and report crime and justice data to assist policymakers and practitioners with the development of evidence-based policies and practices to improve the safety and wellbeing of Alaska communities.
To thrive in the Research Professional role, you must possess knowledge of social science research methods and be able to develop and maintain analytic data sets and perform descriptive data analyses using computerized software applications. You will be required to accurately document data analytic processes and procedures according to established standards. Importantly, you’ll be working as a member of a team in a highly collaborative research environment, so well-developed interpersonal and oral communication skills are a must. AJiC research projects have firm deadlines, which makes personal organization and time management skills paramount. As a dedicated research unit housed within the UAA Justice Center, you will routinely interact with Justice Center and other UAA faculty, students, and staff and therefore you must embrace the values of intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning, rigorous and systematic empirical inquiry, professional and public service, as well as the principles of inclusion and diversity in the workplace.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree and one year experience in a field relevant to criminal justice/criminological research, or an equivalent combination of training and experience. One year of research experience in a social science (e.g., criminal justice/criminology, sociology, psychology) or other data analytic discipline (e.g., economics, mathematics/statistics, data science). This experience may include a combination of post-secondary training, university thesis work, and/or paid professional experience.
Position Details:
This position is located on the UAA campus in Anchorage. This is a full-time, term-funded, exempt staff position complete with both a competitive salary and full employee benefits package. UA provides a generous compensation package that includes retirement options, annual leave, 12 paid holidays per year, tuition waivers for employees and family members, and affordable medical, dental and vision care coverage. New hires will be placed on the UA staff salary schedule, Grade 79, based on education and experience.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until a successful candidate is identified. Review of application materials will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient and viable number of qualified candidates have been identified.
The Alaska SeaLife Center is searching for an evaluator with expertise in learning program evaluation, ideally informal learning evaluation, and prior experience working with Alaska Native communities in the Kenai Peninsula. Dr. John Fraser, the new Director of Mission Impact for the Alaska SeaLife Center, is submitting a 4-year NSF grant proposal for a two-part study of the quality of forage fish that are the basis of the food web for our subsistence and recreational fishing, and specifically how the general public, recreational fishers, and Alaska Native communities are learning and acting on what’s changing in our food supply.
Dr. John Fraser is in the midst of a grant proposal that’s due in the second week of January, but the project wouldn’t start until Fall 2024. The Alaska SeaLife Center’s critical priority for this search/call is to find an evaluation firm who is the right fit for the project and to meet and discuss the NSF project proposal and next steps to submit by the deadline. The estimated evaluation budget for the proposal is about $200K over four years. If you’re interested, Dr. John Fraser can be contacted for more details.
John Fraser Ph.D. AIA (he/they) Director of Mission Impact Alaska SeaLife Center P.O. Box 1329 • 301 Railway Ave • Seward, AK 99664
Email: JohnFraser@AlaskaSeaLife.org
The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust) is seeking a skilled and dynamic professional who is committed to forwarding the mission of the Trust of improving the lives of its beneficiaries to join the Trust as an Evaluation and Planning Officer.
The Evaluation and Planning Officer (EPO) is an integral part of the Trust team. The EPO supports Trust leadership and the board of trustees in accomplishing Trust goals and responsibilities, and in developing policy concerning the nature, level, scope, and funding of the state’s Comprehensive Integrated Mental Health Program (the Plan). The EPO is responsible for reviewing and analyzing the effectiveness of the state’s statutorily required integrated comprehensive mental health state program (the Plan) as directed by AS 47.30.660(a)(1). The EPO will assist in complying with state statutory mandates to gather and analyze data to report the status and needs of Trust beneficiaries as well as assist in the facilitation and evaluation of the Trust’s grantmaking and performance.
The Trust is a leader in philanthropy in Alaska and grants approximately $25 million a year to organizations across the state. The Trust focuses all grants towards improving the lives of beneficiaries which include Alaskans with mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse disorders, Alzheimer’s and related dementia, and traumatic brain injuries.
Interested individuals should submit a cover letter, resume, and the names and telephone numbers of three professional references by mail or email to:
Valette Keller, Administrative Manager valette.keller@alaska.gov Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority 3745 Community Park Loop Suite 200 Anchorage, AK 99508
The application period closes Thursday, December 14, 2023. Inquiries will be kept confidential.
A complete copy of the position description is attached and can be viewed online.
This is a fully exempt, professional position in Anchorage, Alaska, and is offered with a starting salary between $90,000 to $100,000 annually and a complete State of Alaska benefit package. Final salary will be negotiated at the time of hire and will be based upon the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.
The Trust and State of Alaska is an equal employment opportunity employer and supports workplace diversity. Individuals requiring accommodation should call 907-269-6039.
