Kristina L. Zeiser is a principal researcher at AIR. Her primary research interests include the transition from high school to postsecondary education, academic outcomes among English language learners (ELL), and social disparities in educational outcomes and experiences. Throughout her graduate career at the Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Zeiser received training ...
Kathleen M. Murphy is a managing researcher in the Workforce program area at AIR. She directs business development related to adults with disabilities at AIR, in her role as lead of AIR's work on individuals with disabilities.
Dr. Murphy is principal investigator for AIR’s Center on Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation ...
Cecilia Xuning Zhang is an interdisciplinary researcher with years of mixed-methods research experience and a wide breadth of content knowledge in the areas of Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Technology-Based Learning Supports. She has rich technical expertise in collecting and analyzing extant data to inform enrollment trends and population estimates, leading user ...
Robyn Madison is a senior technical assistance consultant in the Education Systems and Policy program at AIR. Her primary responsibilities include supporting many AIR project teams with advancing diversity-equity-inclusion and cultural and linguistic competence through their work with each other as colleagues and with our external constituency. Dr. Madison works ...
Kristin Ruedel, managing researcher at AIR, currently serves as a task leader on the Center for Technology Innovation. Responsibilities include developing and writing of an Implementation Practice Guide including as well as providing support to field site liaisons and overall coordination of field test activities. She also collaborates with team ...
Vanessa Hoffman is a researcher in the International Development Division at AIR. She has over 8 years of experience leading qualitative approaches for evaluations and assessments in developing country settings. Her current work evaluates energy efficiency and renewable energy generation activities in Kosovo, improving children’s educational outcomes in Burkina Faso, ...
Jessica Heppen, a nationally recognized expert in education research, policy, and practice, is the president & CEO of AIR. Dr. Heppen been with AIR for 20 years and, in that time, has held several key roles during her tenure.
Young Yee Kim is a principal psychometrician/statistician at AIR who has expertise in advanced psychometrics, such as multidimensional item response theory, as well as educational policy and research. Dr. Kim has extensive technical and practical expertise in issues related to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). She is currently ...
Jillian Reynolds is a senior program manager at AIR. In this role, Reynolds works with AIR leadership on the AIR Equity Initiative to implement strategic efforts that connect research, policy, and practice to advance AIR’s mission. She leads the Pipeline Partnership Program (P3-US) which seeks to build a pipeline of ...
Laura Shankland is a senior technical assistance consultant at AIR. She has more than ten years of project management and education experience, overseeing the development of a range of resources for Grades K–12 educators. Shankland provides technical assistance, professional development, and communication support for AIR’s work with the Illinois 21st ...