Owner/Principal Consultant, ML Whalen Consulting, 2015 – Present
Manager of Impact Measurement, Thrive Washington, 2014-2015
Data Manager, Launch (formerly CDSA), 2013-2014
Program Analyst, Seattle Goodwill Industries Job Training & Education Program, 2009-2012
Instructor Washington State University, Department of Sociology, 2004-2008
Research Assistant Washington State University, Department of Sociology, 2003-2004
Building Manager Washington State University, Compton Union Building, 2001-2004
Education
M.A. in Sociology, Washington State University, 2009
Thesis:
B.A. in Women’s Studies, magna cum laude, Washington State University, 2004
Areas of Research Expertise
Produced and presented research and evaluation reports for a wide variety of audiences including funders, board members, organization leadership, partner agencies and program staff.
Contributed to a number of evaluation projects including the evaluations of the Washington State Early Achievers Program and Tribal MIECHV.
Translated complex data into accessible visualizations using MS Excel and Tableau.
Conducted community needs assessments and mapped findings using GIS software and Tableau.
Applied academic rigor to projects, beginning each with a thorough literature review in order to understand the landscape prior to making methodological and analytic decisions.
Followed trends in non-profit program evaluation methods and reporting.
Community Engagement
Partnered with direct service staff to design efficient data systems that balanced evaluation needs with staff workload.
Created and refined existing staff positions to eliminate gaps in data collection and quality control systems.
Supervised staff members involved in data collection and reporting.
Primary point person for communication and cooperation with a variety of partner organizations including Washington State Department of Learning and Department of Health.
Built a partnership with the Public Sociology Graduate Program at Humboldt State University allowing for a low-cost evaluation of a community-based program in Yakima.
Established a strong professional network of public sector professionals in King County.
