The Center for Research in Educational Policy (CREP) is part of the College of Education at the University of Memphis and is designated as a State of Tennessee Center of Excellence. For over 30 years, CREP’s primary mission has been to conduct rigorous research and evaluation in K-12 schools and higher education as well as multi-disciplinary and community outreach programs. Having conducted large-scale evaluations in over 37 states, CREP’s specialty areas include (a) research and evaluation design, (b) instrument development and validation, (c) conducting observations, interviews and focus groups, (d) collecting, managing, and analyzing large data sets using both qualitative and quantitative tools, (e) developing and leading quasi-experimental and randomized controlled trials, and (f) knowledge and application of What Works Clearinghouse procedures and standards. 

The team at CREP has led and collaborated on numerous federal, state and local grants and contracts funded by the National Science Foundation, Institute of Educational Sciences, U.S. Department of Education (DOE), National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and multiple state-level agencies. CREP has partnered with private corporations, higher education researchers, K-12 school districts, and state and municipal governments. CREP’s projects often involve collaborations over multiple years to achieve a common goal through analyzing project-related data regarding relevant contextual factors, inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes. 

CREP is pleased to designate team members to work closely with the ERVA Executive Committee to measure ERVA’s organizational goals and objectives, inform operational and programmatic growth, and identify the impact ERVA’s activities have on the engineering research ecosystem. 

Carolyn Kaldon. Ph.D., research associate professor, has worked with a wide range of districts and schools nationwide to conduct research focused on improving teacher and student success, particularly in the areas of STEM and literacy education and academic interventions for at-risk students. She has served as a principal investigator and co-principal investigator for numerous randomized controlled trial and quasi-experimental studies, many of which focus on interdisciplinary and industry collaborations. She serves as a catalyst and coordinator of the research team, through executing project logistics, evaluating implementation fidelity, collaborating on quantitative and qualitative data analyses, and contributing to reporting and dissemination activities to diverse audiences. 

Todd Zoblotsky, Ed.D., is a research professor and head of the CREP statistics department. He has extensive experience in providing accurate and meaningful data and reports to aid in the accountability and decision-making process regarding initiatives and programs affecting student success at the local, state, and federal levels. His experience includes work as a research evaluator and the coordinator of assessment with Memphis City Schools, where he collaborated with principals and school staff in the analysis and interpretation of state assessment results. He also has broad experience in quantitative and qualitative research design and statistical analysis (including experimental and quasi-experimental designs), in addition to instrument design and validation, data collection, project management, data visualization, and report writing.