Director

Joy Lesnick, Ph.D. –  jlesnick@philasd.org

Senior Research Associates

Each Senior Research Associate leads research and evaluation projects that are aligned with District priorities.

• Erin Cassar, Ph.D. – Health and Nutrition Projects – ecassar@philasd.org
• Melissa Karakus, Ph.D. – Climate Projects – mkarakus@philasd.org
• Adrienne Reitano, M.S.S.P. – Anchor Goal 3 Projects – areitano@philasd.org
• Kristyn Stewart, M.S. – Anchor Goal 2 Projects – kmstewart@philasd.org
• Theodore Wills, Ph.D. – Anchor Goal 1 Projects – twwills@philasd.org

Policy Research Analyst

• Ebru Erdem-Akçay, Ph.D. – eerdem@philasd.org

Program Managers

• Amber Goldberg, M.A. – afgoldberg@philasd.org
• Soula Panagodimos, M.S. – spanagodimos@philasd.org

Research Specialists

• Kelly Linker, M.S. – klinker@philasd.org
• Sulianie Mertus, M.P.H. – smertus@philasd.org
• Katie Mosher, M.A. – kmosher@philasd.org

Statisticians & Data Analysts

• Ji Eun Park, M.A. – jpark@philasd.org
• Shannon Hitchcock, M.A., M.S. – smhitchcock@philasd.org
• Catherine Tkatch, M.S.Ed. – ctkatch@philasd.org

Research Assistants

• Sydney Negus, M.S.Ed. – snegus@philasd.org
• Giselle Saleet, M.S.Ed. – gsaleet@philasd.org

Part-Time Staff

In addition to full-time staff, our office employs a variety of part-time staff, usually students, in partnership with local organizations and universities. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us.