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To whom it may concern,

My name is Michelle Manson, and I am a data and research professional with 3 years of direct experience and 7 years of professional experience. As the Evaluations Coordinator at BUILD Chicago, I participated in the management and analysis of program data for grant reports and programmatic improvements. I completed periodic performance reports and annual performance reports for federal and private funding organizations. My work particularly focused on creating automations to streamline data analytic functions and visualizations via PowerBI, Excel, and R. Additionally, I created surveys and data collection tools that were used in program evaluations, funder reporting, and communications. In my role as a Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant at the Field Foundation of Illinois, I conducted a landscape review of local and national evaluation tools and synthesizing findings into actionable insights to optimize evaluation practices. These research findings were adapted to the mission and values of Field Foundation to develop a sample evaluation model. I have a deep understanding of best practices to be used in both quantitative and qualitative data analysis. My experience as a Grantmaking Fellow at the Field Foundation of Illinois has equipped me with extensive skills in program evaluation, client relations, and strategic planning. I developed a research-based approach to social issues, demonstrated through my development of the Social Justice Research program. Additionally, I gained experience in organizational storytelling via data visualization and analysis, a skill initially learned through my undergraduate research in psychology.
I am adept at placing data within its social and political contexts. While I have significant experience in collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, I have learned that the true benefit of research is in its ability to reflect and benefit the intended communities.

My experiences as a researcher, program evaluator, and administrator give me a well-rounded and nuanced perspective in research and analysis.