Meet the VentureWell staff— a team of experts, leaders, and high-performing individuals committed to expanding the impact of innovation and entrepreneurship.
evaluation
Department
Meet the VentureWell staff— a team of experts, leaders, and high-performing individuals committed to expanding the impact of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Department
Chithra Adams
Director, Learning and Evaluation
Chithra Adams brings to the Director of Learning and Evaluation role 15 years of experience in program evaluation, including successfully leading an evaluation team for the last nine years. She has worked across multiple disciplines evaluating programs of varying scale in: special education, employment, mental health and substance use, community integration, health and wellness, translation science, and assistive technology. Chithra has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Sciences from the University of Kentucky.
Adam Blandford
Evaluation Analyst
Adam analyzes the impacts of VentureWell’s programs and assesses their outcomes using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. His prior experience includes applied economics research on behalf of public, private, and not-for-profit organizations, with specific emphasis on the energy industry and economic impact analyses. Adam holds an M.A. in International Commerce with a concentration in Development Economics from the Patterson School at the University of Kentucky.
Demetria Gallagher
Vice President, Learning, Knowledge, and Impact
Demetria leads the Evaluation and Marketing & Communications teams at VentureWell, and supports the development and implementation of an organizational knowledge and learning agenda. She has led across multiple sectors including government, STEM, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Notably, she co-founded the Jamii Group, leading cross-sector business development, innovation, and social impact; she also served as a policy analyst and White House Political Appointee in the administration of former President Barack Obama. Demetria holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master’s in Sustainable Urban Planning from George Washington University.
Stefanie Leite
Senior Evaluation Analyst
Stefanie provides support for learning and evaluation within VentureWell’s early-stage entrepreneurship programs. Stefanie has served as an evaluation analyst for 13 years in nonprofit, higher education, and philanthropic organizations for programs in social services, workforce development, education, and public health. She holds a B.S. in psychology from Worcester State University and an M.A. in psychology with a co-concentration in organizational behavior and program evaluation from Claremont Graduate University.
Olivia Noel
Evaluation Analyst
Olivia supports VentureWell’s evaluation work across programs, including leading the Evaluation Team’s questionnaire development and methodology efforts. She brings a keen organizational eye from her previous positions with local and international nonprofits, which she uses to ensure consistency and efficiency in program evaluation at VentureWell. Olivia holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Hampshire College, where her research focused on globalization and traditional foodways.
Addison Ransom
Evaluation Analyst
Addison conducts evaluative data analysis for VentureWell’s programs supporting the Federal Innovation team. Her previous experience includes managing community-based intervention focusing on increasing care via telehealth for populations experiencing homelessness, recent incarceration, and substance use. She has also worked on implementing quality improvement programs nationwide for elderly populations experiencing adverse cardiac outcomes. Addison holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas and an M.P.H. in Health Promotion/Health Education concentrating in Health Disparities from the University of Texas Health Science Center.
Ariel Ricci
Senior Evaluation Analyst
Ariel promotes learning and program improvement through monitoring and evaluating the impact of federal innovation programs. She brings experience of evaluating programs and outcomes of state economic development programs, along with a previous career as a trial attorney in England and Wales. In addition to her legal qualifications, she holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Southern Maine and an M.A. in Human Rights from the University of Essex (England).
Ani Whitmore
Senior Evaluation Analyst
Ani conducts research and evaluation data analysis in her position at VentureWell, supporting the higher education portfolio. In her previous experience, Ani worked on programs and research projects aimed at improving the lives of young children. She holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Psychology, a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, and a Project Management Professional Certification.
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