David Chavis, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow
Community Science

David has made significant contributions to building the capacity of foundations, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies to research and evaluate community and systems change. With three decades of experience, he has led the implementation and evaluation of comprehensive community initiatives at both national and local levels, with an emphasis on integrating science- and practice-based knowledge. The focus of his work has been on the relationship between community and prevention, that is, on the connections between sense of community and social support structures and the prevention of poverty, violence, substance abuse, and other social problems. He has also focused on the role of coalitions in strengthening communities. He is expert in a wide array of research and evaluation methodologies, from cross-case study to experimental design.

He is also author of the Sense of Community Index I and II, a widely accepted index used to measure sense of community in all sorts of settings, from war-torn countries to the U.S. military. He is recipient of the 2002 American Evaluation Association (AEA) Outstanding Evaluation Award, and the Society for Community Research and Action (Division 27 of the American Psychological Association) Award for Distinguished Contributions to Practice in Community Psychology. He also was AEA Secretary/Treasurer and original faculty member of The Evaluator’s Institute.

Kien S. Lee, Ph.D.
Vice President of Consulting
Community Science

Kien has expertise in matters related to equity, inclusion, and cultural competency, as they pertain to strategies for health equity, immigrant integration, food security, civic engagement, and leadership development. She has two decades of experience as a capacity builder, evaluator, and researcher to federal and local government agencies, foundations, and nonprofit organizations working to effect community and systems change by investing in the above types of strategies. She is seen as a thought leader in work that occurs at the nexus of evaluation and racial equity, and presents and writes extensively about how evaluation can be scientifically rigorous and supportive of racial equity at the same time. Kien’s commitment to bridge science, practice, and social change led to her appointment to Governor Martin O’Malley’s Commission to study the impact of immigration on Maryland and receiving the Distinguished Contributions to Practice in Community Psychology award and the Outstanding Evaluation of the Year award from the American Evaluation Association (in collaboration with David Chavis).

Marissa Salazar, Ph.D.
Associate
Community Science

Marissa has extensive experience in using research and evaluation to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations. She specializes in developing, implementing, and evaluating strategies to promote inclusion and racial equity and to build leadership capacity to advocate for antiracist policies and practices. She especially brings a wealth of knowledge in White allyship. Marissa is a trained mixed-methods and critical social justice researcher with competencies in a range of methodologies and methods, including experimental designs, cross-case studies, survey research, interviews, and focus groups – all with an explicit focus on equitable, rigorous practices.