Meet Community Science
It takes a diverse team of people to understand the challenges faced by funders, grantees, and those they serve. We’re proud of who we are and work hard to reflect the communities we serve.
Our people help our clients meet their challenges by applying their expertise, multi-disciplined approaches, multicultural understanding, and personal experiences. We are here to make a difference in the world in which we all live. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths because we appreciate the value that lived experience brings to our work. The right people with the right attitude make us who we are. We come from a variety of backgrounds with advanced degrees in psychology, public health, urban and regional planning, sociomedical sciences, public policy, social work, education, business administration and economics. Joining community Science means that you are joining a lifelong learning and professional development process. Community Science invests heavily in the professional development of its team members to further advance their expertise, research skills, and other competencies. We are active in presenting at national and international professional and practitioner forums.
Cross-cultural competence is a core capacity for our company and our people. In addition to their lived experience, Community Science staff are fluent in several languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Malay, Italian, and French. Language proficiency, however, is not the most important element of our capacity to work across cultures. We spend a great deal of time learning about the social organization, customs, norms, and history of the groups with whom we work, enabling us to build upon the strengths of different culture. Because of our cultural competence, Community Science staff members have been able to work effectively with communities and organizations throughout Latin America, Africa, Canada, Europe, Russia, and Southeast Asia, in addition to different ethnic communities throughout the United States.
Meet The People Making a Difference Everyday
Kien LeeVice President of ConsultingKien S. Lee, Ph.D., Vice President of Consulting, has expertise in promoting equity, inclusion, and cultural competency for health, food security, civic engagement, and leadership development. Current evaluations include those with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the Colorado Trust, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.- Michael ShieldsManaging AssociateMichael "Mike" Shields, Ph.D., Managing Associate has expertise in social science research and equitable community development. He is passionate about forging impactful partnerships with nonprofit and community organizations, government agencies, private entities, and academic institutions to effect change in their communities. Mike excels at translating complex research topics and products about community development into accessible insights for different audiences, especially those with little technical or specialized knowledge about research or the relevant issue.
- Andrea EpstienAnalystAndrea Epstein, MBA, MPP, Analyst, has vast experience in mixed methods and qualitative analysis, specifically for initiatives that center antiracism and racial equity. She believes that communities pushed to the margins of society have a deep understanding of their strengths and challenges and are best positioned to lead solutions that drive equitable change.
- Marissa SalazarAssociateMarissa M. Salazar, Ph.D., Associate, has expertise in critical theories and critical consciousness development, with a specialization in developing civic engagement and anti-racist efficacy. She currently works on evaluations for Schenectady Foundation, the Colorado Trust Foundation, and the Bush Foundation.
- Maysoun FreijSenior AssociateMaysoun Freij, Ph.D., MPH, Senior Associate, has extensive experience researching and evaluating programs and initiatives aimed at achieving health equity. With roots in health education and advocacy, her expertise spans health coalitions and networks, health care and language access, immigrant and refugee health, social determinants of health, and intersectoral approaches to health and well-being.
- Mariah LairdAssociateMariah Laird, MPH, CHES, Associate, skillfully designs and conducts qualitative research and evaluation that seeks to improve public health and strengthen institutions that promote public health. Her scholarship is grounded in her public health training and life experiences as a Black woman. She works assertively to draw out the perspectives of the community that others may overlook and ensures research and evaluation studies produce feasible and tangible action steps to drive the improvement of public health and organizational change strategies.
- Faith GarnettSenior AnalystFaith Garnett, MS, Senior Analyst, is a critical thinker and incisive writer who strategically partners with organizations interested in systems transformation and organizational effectiveness to operationalize racial equity at the enterprise scale. She is skilled in qualitative research, group facilitation, community engagement, and teaching communities about racial equity and conflict analysis and resolution.
- DaVonti’ HaynesManaging AssociateDaVonti’ Haynes, MSW, Ph.D., Managing Associate, is a data-driven scholar-practitioner dedicated to enhancing and supporting the development and implementation of strategies and initiatives focused on education and workforce equity in both urban and rural settings. With extensive research, evaluation, and facilitation experience, he is well-positioned to drive meaningful change in these critical areas.
- Jasmine JohnsonSenior AnalystBio coming soon.
Yen LimSr. Contracts ManagerYen Lim, B.A., Senior Contract Manager, has several decades’ experience in contract compliance, cost proposal development and submission, and contract negotiations, in both domestic and international contexts. Most recently, she has worked on agreements with clients including W.K. Kellogg, Walton Family, Conrad Hilton and other foundations.- Amber TroutSenior AssociateAmber Trout, Ph.D., Senior Associate, has extensive organizational and leadership development, change management, and capacity building experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Most recently, she worked with the Institute for Nonprofit Practice to manage the implementation of their new learning agenda, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to manage the evaluation of the Racial Equity Anchor Collaborative, and the Knight Foundation to map pathways of change and more for an equitable revitalization project.
- Corianne ScallyPrincipal AssociateCorianne Payton Scally, Ph.D., Principal Associate and Equitable Community Development Practice Lead, is an expert on affordable housing and community development policies and program implementation, from big cities to small rural towns. She leads research and evaluation using mixed methods and collaborative approaches and provides thought leadership and evidence to inform decision-making and investments. Corianne is passionate about translating knowledge to inspire actions that reduce racial, economic, and geographic disparities between places and populations.
- Danielle GilmoreAssociateDanielle Gilmore, PhD, MPP, CHES, Associate, specializes in equity-informed evaluations and qualitative research methodologies. With a proven track record in youth engagement, strategic design, community engagement, and policy advocacy, her work seamlessly integrates scientific rigor and community involvement to drive sustainable, equity-centered change across diverse stakeholders and communities.
- Carlos AnguianoManaging AssociateCarlos Anguiano, Ph.D., Managing Associate, is an educational psychologist whose professional interests and commitments are rooted in his passion to ensure that every child has fair access to high quality education, from their formative years to adolescence and young adulthood. His research training combined with his cultural experiences enable him to work effectively with parents, youth, educators, and community leaders from different backgrounds.
- Vanessa HattonAnalystVanessa Hatton, PhD, Analyst, brings experience in researching health and educational equity issues, particularly through an examination of social determinants at the intersection of race and gender. She has conducted research studies to examine the impact of discriminatory practices by healthcare, law enforcement, and education institutions on people based on their race, gender, and other identities.
- Jasmine Williams-WashingtonManaging AssociateJasmine Williams-Washington, Ph.D., Managing Associate, specializes is in the implementation and evaluation of community organizing and organizational capacity building initiatives. Current projects include evaluations and capacity building support for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Public Welfare Foundation.
- Kerlin MoralesSenior AnalystKerlin Morales, MBA, Senior Analyst, is an advocate for racial equity and social change through rigorous scientific practice. She excels in data mining, qualitative analysis, and effective communication of research findings. She is passionate about community development and the application of organizational psychology as a mechanism for enhancing workplace dynamics and employee well-being.
- Dontarious CowansAnalystDontarious Cowans, M.A., Analyst, has experience in mixed-method analysis and data collection on community development and urban sociology topics. His focus includes urban planning, affordable housing, connectivity and accessibility, resource allocation, and public-policy data analysis.
- Brandi GilbertSenior AssociateBrandi Gilbert, Ph.D., Senior Associate, brings expertise in researching topics and evaluating initiatives related community resilience, especially efforts that build community capacity to respond to natural disaster. She also has extensive experience working with youth to build their capacity to lead change in their community. She is actively involved in the evaluation profession, is a graduate of the American Evaluation Association (AEA) Graduate Education Diversity Internship (GEDI), and then led the program for six years.
- Suprotik Stotz-GhoshPrincipal AssociateSuprotik Stotz-Ghosh, MFA, Principal Associate, brings over 20 years of experience in facilitating, building, and evaluating equitable systems, racial equity initiatives for leading multinational nonprofit organizations, philanthropic institutions, philanthropy-serving organizations, and consulting firms. Suprotik oversees the design of equity-centered strategic planning processes for organizations seeking to promote health, economic, and education outcomes.
- Tobias BrayDirector of MarketingBio coming soon.
- Michelle Haynes-BaratzManaging AssociateMichelle Haynes-Baratz, Ph.D., Managing Associate, is an organizational psychologist who brings two decades of experience researching, developing, and implementing evidence-based interventions to create more equitable and inclusive workplaces. She specializes in leveraging data, both quantitative and qualitative, to understand organizational ecosystems with a specific focus on transforming organizational culture and climate with equity at its core.
- Leonardo FloresAssociateLeonardo Flores, MSW, Associate, has extensive experience in program evaluation, measurement development, and mixed methods – all with a culturally and linguistically responsive lens. He combines his technical expertise with strong facilitation skills to advance community-driven research and evaluation practices that inform sustainable solutions for challenges facing communities, particularly in the areas of early childhood, mental health, and substance use.
- Noah RussoAnalystNoah Russo, M.S.P.P.M., Analyst, is deeply committed to supporting the unhoused population and reducing homelessness in the United States. He is proficient in data science and visualization, especially in R and Python, as well as in advanced statistical methods, including machine learning, time series forecasting, and optimization modeling.
- Annapurna GhoshManaging AssociateAnnapurna Ghosh, MPH, Managing Associate, has more than 15 years of experience as a public health researcher, evaluator, and strategic planner for a range of programs that focus on substance use disorder (SUD), HIV, and chronic diseases. She has expertise in facilitating strategic planning and the use of data with multi-sector coalitions, working across health departments to support coordination of care, and developing resources to promote best practices in patient centered care.
