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Senior Management Team
Ron D'Amico, Ph.D.
President, Chair of the Board & Senior Social Scientist
Dr. D'Amico is SPR’s President and also serves as a Senior Social Scientist. He has extensive experience in conducting and leading studies of workforce development and education programs, including quantitative impact studies and qualitative process and implementation studies. His major areas of research have included the study of school-to-work programs and workforce programs for adults and youth, dislocated workers, and special populations, including Native Americans and farmworkers. Dr. D'Amico holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Johns Hopkins University and is the author of numerous articles in professional journals, including the American Sociological Review, Sociological Methods and Research, Sociology of Education, Work and Occupations, and Industrial and Labor Relations Review. He has also presented papers at many national conferences over the years, including at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Workforce Innovations, and the American Sociological Association. Prior to joining SPR, Dr. D'Amico was on the faculty at Ohio State University, where he worked at the university's Center for Human Resources Research, participating in the design and analysis of the National Longitudinal Surveys of Labor Market Experiences, and he periodically taught classes in research methods to graduate students. In his spare time, he enjoys taking long and lazy walks with his family and dog, cooking, and training for triathlons.
Dr. D’Amico’s representative projects include:
Hanh Cao Yu, Ph.D.
Vice President & Senior Social Scientist
Hanh Cao Yu is a Vice President, Senior Social Scientist, and member of the corporate senior management team. She oversees SPR's work in youth and education. Dr. Yu is known for her expertise in qualitative and quantitative research in the areas of organizational effectiveness, school reform, multicultural education, intergroup relations, and vulnerable, immigrant populations. She also has a wealth of experience in working with foundations to assess funding priorities, institutional change, program performance, and effective outcome measures for a variety of education and community-based programs. Dr. Yu came to SPR from The San Francisco Foundation and is the author of numerous publications and contributor to peer-review journals, including Adolescent Worlds: Negotiating Family, Peer, and School Worlds and the Handbook of Leadership Development Evaluation, American Educational Research Journal, and Phi Delta Kappan. She has been an invited guest speaker at the Annual Meeting of the, Council on Foundations and Grantmakers for Education, Grantmakers in Health, and American Educational Researcher Association conferences. She received her Ph.D. in Education (Administration & Policy Analysis) from Stanford University, and holds a B.S. degree in Business (Finance Economics) from the University of Southern California. When not working, she is an avid reader, active school volunteer, and energetic parent of two inquisitive and artistic daughters.
Dr. Yu’s representative projects include:
Kate Dunham, M.P.P.
Social Scientist
Kate Dunham is a Social Scientist and member of the SPR Management Team. She specializes in qualitative research, program evaluation, and technical assistance and training for workforce development and health projects. Prior to joining SPR, Ms. Dunham served as School-Linked Services Coordinator for Alameda County, worked as a consultant in Hanoi, Vietnam for Oxfam Hong Kong and Action Aid, and was China and Taiwan Programs Director for Volunteers in Asia. She earned her Master in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, where she focused on collaboration and social and educational policy. Ms. Dunham received her B.A. in Politics and Economics from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Ms. Dunham is an avid traveler and has traveled around the world from Beijing to Los Angeles by train.
Ms. Dunham’s representative projects include:
Traci Endo Inouye, M.P.P.
Social Scientist
Traci Endo Inouye is a Social Scientist with specialized expertise in foundation grantmaking, multicultural evaluation methods, and the intersection between race and public policy. She has managed and directed a range of projects at SPR, including a number of projects related to youth development and activism, community-led change, and diversity-related grantmaking and evaluation. Previously, Ms. Inouye worked with the San Francisco School District, as well as with the California Department of Health Services, on Capitol Hill as a congressional fellow, and at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on immigrant welfare reform issues. Ms. Inouye received her Master in Public Policy from Harvard University, where she concentrated on education and human services and the strategic management of organizations. She received her B.A. in Communication Studies and Asian American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Ms. Inouye’s representative projects include:
- Evaluation of The California Endowment's Hmong Project, Project Investigator
- Evaluation of WestEd's Community Laboratory, Co-Project Director
- The California Endowment Diversity in Health Evaluation Project, Co-Principal Investigator
Richard West
Senior Econometrician
Mr. Richard West, Senior Econometrician, has specialized expertise in econometric modeling, empirical labor economics, program evaluation, and developing accountability systems. He is recognized throughout the country as the premier expert on JTPA performance management, having developed and presented annual training sessions as well as written numerous reports on performance standards issues. Mr. West has authored a number of articles published in leading professional journals, including American Economic Review, Journal of Human Resources, and Journal of the American Statistical Association. He has completed all requirements for a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, except for the dissertation, and holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.
Andrew Wiegand, Ph.D., M.P.P.
Social Scientist & Chief Financial Officer
Andrew Wiegand is a Social Scientist and the Chief Financial Officer at Social Policy Research Associates. During more than ten years of program and evaluation research, he has developed specialized expertise in quantitative analysis, survey methods, outcomes evaluations, and technical assistance designed to improve data collection and accountability. He has led numerous multi-year evaluations of workforce development programs for both youth and adults. He also has presented papers at several national conferences, including the American Psychological Society and Workforce Innovations. Dr. Wiegand received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He also received his Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley and his B.A. in Psychology from Beloit College. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, hiking and other exercise and spending time with his wife in California’s wine country.
Dr. Wiegand's representative projects include:
- Impact Evaluation of the Senior Community Service Employment Program, Project Director and Co-Principal Investigator
- Evaluation of the Career Advancement Account Demonstration, Principal Investigator
- Evaluation of the YouthBuild Youth Offender Grants, Project Director and Principal Investigator
- Evaluation of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Performance Measurement System, Project Director
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Evaluation of the WIA Substate Allocation Formulas, Project Director and Principal Investigator
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Evaluation of the Youth Opportunities (YO!) Initiative
Research Staff
Jo-Ann Adefuin, Ph.D.
Social Scientist
Jo-Ann Adefuin is a Social Scientist, and specializes in culturally competent evaluation, qualitative research, youth, health access, and education. She has many years of experience researching community-based supports and coalition building efforts among immigrants, youth and their families. She has served as a project manager and key analyst on numerous youth and health-related projects, evaluating multi-level individual, program-level, and initiative level outcomes as they relate to advocacy and social change. She has also served as a key analyst on diversity-related grantmaking projects and has contributed to evaluations on workforce development, particularly as they relate to vulnerable youth. Prior to working at SPR, Dr. Adefuin researched Asian American youth violence, ethnic identity development among immigrant and second generation youth, and the role that ethnic enclaves play in enhancing educational opportunities for their youth. She has also taught classes in Education and Asian American Studies at University of California, Los Angeles, and California State University, Northridge. Dr. Adefuin received her Ph.D. and M.A. in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her B.A. in Anthropology from Stanford University.
Ms. Adefuin's representative projects include:
Laura Aron, M.P.P.
Policy Analyst
Laura Aron is a Policy Analyst at SPR where she has expertise in workforce development policy analysis, technical assistance and training, political analysis, qualitative research methods, and multicultural issues. Ms. Aron has trained hundreds of workforce development practitioners in One-Stop system building, heightening organizational capacity, enhancing performance, and developing partnerships. Prior to joining SPR, she conducted legislative research and policy analysis in the areas of career advancement for low-income workers, first source hiring, and living wage issues. Ms. Aron received a Master in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.A. in Philosophy and Psychology from Emory University.
Ms. Aron's representative projects include:
Rachel Estrella, Ph.D .
Social Scientist
Kim Foley .
Research Assistant
Christian Geckler , M.A.
Policy Analyst
Christian Geckeler is a Policy Analyst who specializes in workforce, ex-offender and youth-related projects and has expertise with qualitative research methods, program evaluation and the implementation of random assignment studies. Prior to joining SPR, Mr. Geckeler was a researcher with MDRC, where he worked on random assignment and implementation studies focused on higher education and K-12 programs. In the past, he also completed evaluations for local and state government agencies on Social Security disability programs and the Workforce Investment Act. Mr. Geckeler received a Master's in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley. He also received his M.A. in Philosophy from the University of California, Davis and his B.A. in Philosophy from The College of Wooster.
Deborah Kogan, M.C.P.
Social Scientist
Deborah Kogan is a Social Scientist with over ten years tenure with SPR. She specializes in qualitative studies of program implementation and effectiveness and has expertise in workforce development programs, science education, and strategies to promote educational and career success for members of underrepresented groups. She recently returned to SPR after working for nine years as an individual evaluation and program planning consultant. For SPR, Ms. Kogan has directed large-scale evaluations in the areas of dislocated worker programs, child care, and sectoral strategies for employing workers at a living wage. Prior to her work at SPR, Ms. Kogan worked for SRI International and Berkeley Policy Associates on projects evaluating a wide variety of programs ranging from welfare reform to workforce development performance standards to refugee resettlement programs. Ms. Kogan received her Master in City and Regional Planning from the College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts in Photography from California College of the Arts and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Swarthmore College.
Vinz Koller, M.A.
Director of Training and Technical Assistance and Social Scientist
Vinz Koller is Director of Training and Technical Assistance at SPR. His work focuses on organizational improvement, performance management, strategic planning, facilitating change, and capacity building though technical assistance and training. Most recently he has also led SPR’s online training line of services. He has trained thousands of practitioners around the country on One-Stop career center system integration and performance management. Prior to joining SPR, Mr. Koller coordinated the One-Stop Career Center System Task Force, and supervised youth and adult employment training programs in Monterey County, California. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Zurich, Switzerland and holds an M.A. in International Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. Mr. Koller is also a singer, mountain climber, and bread baker.
Mr. Koller’s representative projects include:
Recent webinars conducted by Mr. Koller that are available in archive form are the following (accessing them requires setting up a login account with Workforce3 One):
- Knowing How Your Program is Doing - Sooner: Real-time Performance Measurement for WIA Programs. This Webinar consists of three parts: Part 1: Establish that there is a need for real-time performance management and the problems associated with delayed tracking of outcomes; Part 2: Focus on three core performance outcomes pertinent to all Adult and Youth programs; and Part 3: Show how to select and track real-time indicators that can help program managers determine how they are doing on key performance outcomes.
- The Potential of E-Learning in Workforce Development. E-learning is a promising solution to the increasing need for rapid, flexible training, but it also raises questions. How do we distinguish between sustained trends and passing fads, and how do we measure e-learning success?
Chandra Larsen, M.A.
Social Scientist and Training and Technical Assistance Specialist
Chandra Larsen is a Social Scientist who specializes in technical assistance on youth-serving system change, in particular, efforts focused on cross-system collaboration and alignment. Since 1998, Ms. Larsen has worked in the field of youth development and system reform, with an emphasis on supporting disadvantaged and disenfranchised youth. Her professional background includes managing and coordinating technical assistance for a number of statewide and national initiatives focused on strengthening educational pathways to college and careers through intermediary development, multi-agency and system collaboration, and school transformation. In addition, she has served as a program director, facilitator, coach, and teacher in a number of direct-service, youth-leadership development organizations, afterschool programs, and schools. Ms. Larsen completed her education at Sonoma State University in California, and holds a M.A. in Education Policy and System Reform (Interdisciplinary Studies), and double majored as an undergrad earning a B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies and a B.A. in Liberal Studies (Hutchins School). In her free time, she enjoys yoga, organic gardening, and hiking.
Charles H. Lea, III, M.S.W.
Policy Analyst
Charles Lea is a Policy Analyst who specializes in qualitative research methods, and serves on workforce and youth development projects. Prior to joining SPR, Mr. Lea worked as a case manager serving adjudicated and developmentally delayed youth, and held positions as a health educator, mental health assistant, and support counselor. Mr. Lea also participated in various research and evaluation projects in the areas of youth development, HIV/AIDS, and adjudicated youth. Mr. Lea received a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan, and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Sengsouvanh (Sukey) Leshnick, M.A.
Social Scientist
Sengsouvanh (Sukey) Leshnick is a Social Scientist and specializes in qualitative research methods, educational policy analysis, diversity, technical assistance, and training. For the last 12 years, she has conducted numerous studies on youth development, youth labor programs, education policy, and faith-based organizations. Throughout her career, she has worked extensively on issues facing youth of color, looking particularly at how their social contexts affect their ability to respond to interventions. She has conducted a number of studies related to education reform, including efforts to reduce intergroup conflict, youth violence, school-to-career initiatives, and afterschool initiatives. In addition to her research expertise, Ms. Soukamneuth is an experienced trainer and technical assistance provider for non-profits and government agencies. She has provided trainings on organizational self-assessments, partnership building, and has facilitated strategic planning sessions. Ms. Soukamneuth received a M.A. in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles and a B.A. in Political Science from Bates College. Ms. Soukamneuth has served as a member of SPR’s Management Committee, is a yogi, an avid fan of modern dance, and a “foodie.” She is also exceptionally knowledgeable of children’s books, having read many to her two children, Elijah and Jasmine.
Ms. Soukamneuth’s representative projects include:
Jillianne Leufgen, M.A.
Policy Analyst
Heather Lewis-Charp, M.A.
Social Scientist
Heather Lewis-Charp is a Social Scientist who specializes in qualitative and ethnographic research methods, and has content-area expertise in racial and cultural identity development, intergroup relations, youth development and civic engagement. Ms. Lewis-Charp has served as a co-project leader on several related projects at SPR which focus on the role of identity and civic involvement in young peoples' development. Ms. Lewis-Charp also has experience providing technical assistance and training, and she directs SPR's community of interest on civic activism and evaluation, which provides technical assistance on evaluation to youth development organizations across the country. Beyond her research interests at SPR, Ms. Lewis-Charp has been working on an independent genealogy research project, including videotaped interviews with family members and photo preservation to capture the oral and living history of her and her husband's family. Before coming to SPR, Ms. Lewis-Charp worked in health education and counseling and held positions as a rape-crisis counselor, women's health educator, and caseworker at a homeless shelter. Ms. Lewis-Charp received a Masters in Education Research from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a B.S. in Environmental Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Ms. Lewis-Charp's representative projects include:
Stephanie Lowenthal-Savy
Research Assistant
Tyler Moazed, M.P.P.
Policy Analyst
Tyler Moazed is a Policy Analyst at SPR in the workforce division. Mr. Moazed’s experience includes both qualitative and quantitative analysis. His research interests include a variety of workforce and labor related issues with an emphasis on displaced/dislocated workers. Just prior to arriving at SPR Mr. Moazed received his Masters in Public Policy from the Institute for Policy Studies at Johns Hopkins University where he was doing research on the effect of macroeconomic conditions on unemployment duration for displaced workers. Beyond workforce Mr. Moazed also has experience in various aspects of social policy including welfare reform and homelessness assistance. Tyler received his B.A. in Sociology from the University of California Santa Cruz.
Annie Nyborg, M.A.
Policy Analyst
Annie Nyborg is a Policy Analyst who specializes in qualitative research and program evaluation and serves on effective philanthropy, health, education, and youth development projects. Prior to joining SPR, Ms. Nyborg worked in the non-profit sector at several organizations including Hispanics in Philanthropy, The Municipal Art Society of New York, and The Breakthrough Collaborative. Ms. Nyborg received a Masters in Latin American Studies from the University of California, San Diego and wrote her thesis on the gentrification of San Francisco’s Mission District and its impact on the Latino community. She received her B.A. in International Relations from Stanford University. She loves eating Mission burritos, biking around the San Francisco, and attending music festivals.
Anna Rubin, B.A.
Policy Analyst
Anna Rubin is a Policy Analyst Social Policy Research Associates who specializes in qualitative methods. He work focuses on youth development, education, and effective philanthropy, including capacity building and movement building initiatives. Prior to joining SPR, Ms. Rubin worked with Bay Area youth as part of several afterschool and in-school programs and also contributed to social psychology research on unconscious biases and discrimination. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Jeffrey Salzman, M.A.
Social Scientist
Jeffrey Salzman is a Social Scientist at Social Policy Research Associates with over 20 years of experience working with employment and training programs. Mr. Salzman has professional expertise in qualitative methods, workforce development generally, as well as in dislocated worker and labor exchange programs. Prior to joining SPR, Mr. Salzman was the Dislocated Worker Team Leader in the San Francisco Regional Office of the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), U.S. Department of Labor. Before that he specialized in labor standards, labor-management, and dislocated-worker issues for the Labor Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. Mr. Salzman holds a B.A. in History from Brandeis University and an M.A. in History from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a big fan of underground hip-hop music.
Mr. Salzman's representative projects include:
Brittany Tate,
Research Assistant
Miloney Thakrar, M.A.
Policy Analyst
Sheryl Ude, M.S.W.
Policy Analyst
Sheryl Ude is a Policy Analyst who specializes in qualitative research methods, and serves on workforce and technical assistance and training projects. Prior to joining SPR, Ms. Ude worked as a project intern at a small business and technology development center assisting current and aspiring business owners grow and expand their entrepreneurial ventures. She has also spent a portion of her career as a case manager and Own Recognizance Interviewer in local criminal courts and county jails, verifying and preparing reports for that detail an offender’s tie to the community and workforce. Ms. Ude has extensive experience working and volunteering for foundations that support low income minority high schools. Ms. Ude received a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Finance & Administration
Colette Duncan
Business Manager/Contracts Administrator
Colette Duncan is responsible for Accounting, Contract Administration, Benefits Administration, Budgeting, and whatever else needs to be done. Prior to SPR Ms. Duncan worked in healthcare consulting and finance. She holds a BA in Economics from California State University, East Bay and is active in the American Society of Women Accountants and the Institute of Management Accountants.
Eloisa Dellosa, B.A.
Office Manager
Eloisa Dellosa is the Office Manager of SPR, responsible for the day-to-day administration and coordination of all work activities. A native of the Philippines, Ms. Dellosa holds a B.A. in Business Administration, with a focus on Economics, from the University of the East, Manila. She also served in the Women's Auxiliary Corps of the United States Army. |
