Thursday, May 29, 2025
By Anisha Lewis
Dear AEA Members,
We recognize that recent legislative changes have led to unexpected employment disruptions for many in our community. In response, the American Evaluation Association is making several key adjustments to Evaluation 2025 to ensure greater accessibility and support for all members, especially those affected.
We continue to prepare for an exciting conference (and stay committed to our contracts), while recognizing that many people will not be in a position to join us in-person. We are making every effort to ensure accessibility to the conference and provide meaningful opportunities for presenters, while navigating increased production costs and decreased revenue.
Thank you for your feedback via the Eval24 Post-Conference Survey! Below is a summary of some of the key shifts to expect for this year, with more updates to follow:
AEA remains committed to supporting our members and the evaluation community, and we are grateful for the resilience and dedication of our members. Thank you for choosing AEA as your professional home.
By Nina Sabarre, PhD
Affiliation: Intention 2 Impact Degrees: PhD in Evaluation & Applied Research; MA in Political Science Years in the Evaluation Field: 12 Joined AEA: 2013
Why do you belong to AEA?
I’ll never forget my first AEA conference in 2013. At the time, I was working in international survey research and didn’t yet grasp the distinction between research and evaluation. Being immersed in the professional evaluation community felt like a veil was lifted. It clicked: evaluation — systematic inquiry with valuing at the center — was the missing piece in my applied research work. That first AEA conference was my very own “eval meet-cute,” and the rom-com has been going strong ever since! I love that AEA brings together diverse practitioners across sectors, industries, identities, and disciplines, all united by the shared goal of advancing social betterment through our work.
Why do you choose to work in the field of evaluation?
This is a little embarrassing to admit, but back in 2012, I thought I had invented evaluation. I was a grad student studying Political Science, focused on political survey research. One night, I literally jumped out of bed with an idea: What if surveys weren’t just about measuring political attitudes, but used to understand community needs and help nonprofits increase their impact? I had no idea that an entire field already existed. Then I went to the AEA conference in 2013, and everything changed. I’ve since earned my PhD in Evaluation & Applied Research and quickly realized I hadn’t “discovered” the field — in fact, I was standing on the shoulders of giants. Now, through my work and leadership at Intention 2 Impact, I’m proud to be helping shape the future of the field.
What advice would you give to those new to the field?
Anything additional you would like to share with the AEA community?
Subscribe to Intention 2 Impact’s monthly newsletter if you’re interested in what is:
And connect with me on LinkedIn!
Congratulations to AEA Member Dr. Donna Mertens, Professor Emeritus, Gallaudet University, who was recently announced as the recipient of the inaugural TEI Social Betterment Award. The award presentation took place on May 1, 2025, at the Western Psychological Association (WPA) Convention during a special event celebrating the Claremont Colleges’ longstanding impact on applied psychological science and evaluation. The award recognizes evaluators whose work exemplifies the potential of evaluation to drive meaningful societal change.
"Recognizing Donna Mertens with the inaugural TEI Social Betterment Award highlights the profound influence she has had in advancing evaluation as a force for social good. Her legacy sets a high standard for all who seek to use evaluation to foster a more just and thriving society." - Dr. Stewart I. Donaldson, Executive Director of TEI and Distinguished University Professor at Claremont Graduate University
Read More
The AEA Publishing Corner spotlights work published by our members. If you have a recent publication or professional accomplishment you would like to share, please submit it here.
Congratulations to AEA member Chandria Jones and co-authors, A. Christson Adedoyin and Ndidiamaka N. Amutah-Onukagha for the publication of their book, Culturally Responsive & Equitable Evaluation: Visions and Voices of Emerging Scholars (First Edition), published by Cognella.
By Nathan Varnell, Consultant for the Evaluation Policy Task Force
With the publication of the March edition of Policy Watch, impacts to the evaluation ecosystem were rapidly evolving, and long-term implications for evaluation capacity at the federal level were unclear. Now, with the execution of further reductions-in-force, reorganizations plans, and the release of proposed budgets for federal agencies, there is greater clarity into evaluation’s future in the federal government and beyond.
Executive Branch Restructuring Impacting Evaluation
Federal agencies are further in the implementation of reorganization plans required under guidance from the White House Office of Management and Budget. As of May 19, several department and agency reorganizations are underway, including:
These reorganizations have made sweeping changes to agency functions, with impacts to evaluation units varying between agencies. Some have faced significant reductions in evaluation personnel and contracts with private entities, while others have primarily been subject to consolidation of research offices and responsibilities. Likewise, the impact of restructuring to long-standing data resources such as evidence clearinghouses and statistical agencies are still unclear. The reorganization process is currently facing legal challenges, delaying implementation. On May 9, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking reorganization plans for reductions-in-force, with a hearing scheduled for May 22, to determine whether to issue a longer-term injunction.
The federal reorganization initiatives, resignations, and retirements are already impacting the implementation of legislation supporting evaluation, per the Data Foundation’s monthly Evidence Capacity Pulse Reports. Over a dozen of the key governance positions established by the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act), such as Chief Evaluation Officers, are sitting vacant or have been taken up by acting officials. These vacancies will affect agencies’ capacity to fulfill their evaluation missions and ongoing program evaluation activities until filled. The Data Foundation also reports strategic termination of research programs and contracts has expanded to include major consulting firms, further disrupting private sector workforces at companies supporting government data governance.
Previewing the April AEA Impact Survey
In response to shifts in the federal landscape, AEA staff put out an anonymous impact survey to membership in April to better understand the impact of funding freezes, executive orders, and federal restructuring. With over 1,100 responses, the survey yielded a detailed picture of the circumstances faced by AEA members. Across the survey, the majority of respondents reported increased stress and risk as administrative decisions give way to cancelled contracts, greater competition for clients, and new requirements for evaluation work to be federally compliant. Some respondents expect to experience impacts to their incomes and are looking for new opportunities, although, fortunately, the majority of respondents have not yet experienced losses. A more detailed report on the survey’s findings will be released in the near future by AEA staff, and AEA will be conducting further impact surveys as members’ circumstances change.
Looking Ahead
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has reintroduced a resolution to establish a new Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking. The commission will be charged “to review and recommend ways to integrate federal data and evidence into the legislative process,” building on the work of the 2016 Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission which led to the signing of the Evidence Act into law. The resolution signals that a culture of evaluation and evidence-informed decision-making continues to be a priority for a cohort of lawmakers. The Evaluation Policy Task Force is continuing to monitor the impacts of federal policy decisions for the evaluation community and is coordinating with the AEA Board on potential actions. If you are aware of changes in government and the evaluation community that are impacting your work or the work of other evaluators, consider providing information to the Evaluation Policy Task Force via evaluationpolicy@eval.org.
Co-Sponsored by AEA & APPAM
AEA co-sponsored the recent Policy on the Rocks event, an evening of dialogue, connection, and critical reflection on the state of public policy and public management in today’s political climate. Hosted by the Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management (APPAM) the featured panel discussion, “Where Are We Now? Policy Analysis and Management Under a Trump Administration,” brought together leading experts Joan Alker, Don Moynihan, Michael Strain, and Christina Yancey to explore the current state of public policy, federal workforce challenges, and the importance of evidence in policymaking.
Key themes included:
AEA and APPAM members are not only generating high-quality research—they're doing work that matters. Both organizations remain committed to continued collaboration and joint advocacy.
Learn More
AEA’s partner COSSA (Coalition of Social Science Associations) has issued an advocacy action for the public to urge Senators and House of Representatives to support FY2026 Science Funding. To lend your voice, visit the COSSA ACTION CENTER to send a message to your local representatives to support science funding. Deadlines for support are approaching quickly.
In April, the Atlanta- Area Evaluation Association (AaEA) hosted a live conversation on Brining Your Evaluation Skills Into the Private Sector at the Emory Rollins School of Public Health. The event addressed: How project management, sense-making, tech fluency, and liberating structures create a competitive edge; How to tailor résumé and networking for private-sector success; and real-word journeys from philanthropic evaluation to corporate research. You can now access the recording from this event.
“Kudos to AaEA for being so proactive about offering support to evaluators in these times of UNPRECEDENTED challenges. Besides providing a place for us all to commiserate, they’ve taken the bull by the horns and offered advice and resources about transitioning our skills to a new area and new sectors, even though most of us who have devoted our lives to this work in the interest of making positive community change, find that an unfortunate potential reality.” - Thomas Chapel, Centers for Disease Control Foundation
Watch Recording
Deadline: June 30, 2025
The Evaluation Policy Task Force (EPTF), established in 2009, has been the driving force behind AEA’s influence on evaluation-related policy at the federal level. The EPTF is now calling for nominations—either self-nominations or recommendations of others who may be interested in becoming members of the Task Force. At this time, the EPTF is not seeking to immediately select new members but is seeking letters of interest from individuals who may be considered as potential members for upcoming openings and opportunities to work with the Task Force.
Learn more about the EPTF and criteria for this volunteer opportunity.
The Data Foundation released its second "Evidence Capacity Pulse Report" documenting substantial changes affecting America's data and evaluation infrastructure. The report, compiled in part through the Data Foundation's SAFE-Track (Secure Anonymous Federal Evidence, Data and Analysis Tracking) portal, identified several critical developments since our March report affecting government and industry capacity for data collection, analysis, and evaluation activities.
AEA will continue to share these reports with our membership.
Congratulations to all AEA members celebrating academic achievements this year, including 2025 graduates! We are excited to support you as you continue your professional journey within AEA's vibrant evaluation community. Watch the video below for a special message from the Graduate Student and New Evaluator Topical Interest Group! This TIG offers a community for graduate students, new evaluators, interested faculty, and recent graduates to connect, network, and advance relevant opportunities in AEA.
Watch Video
AEA congratulates its Atlanta- Area Evaluation Association (AaEA) on 25 years of advancing evaluation excellence. AaEA fosters an inclusive, multi-sector community for evaluators at all career stages, connecting professionals across organizations and fields to strengthen both the theory and practice of evaluation. Join AaEA in raising a glass to this milestone, sharing reflections on their growth, and looking ahead to the future of evaluation.
To support those wanting to secure funding to attend Evaluation 2025, we’ve opened early bird registration for full conference attendance ahead of schedule—allowing you to use remaining professional development funding in your budget and providing more time to utilize the early discounts on registration.
Use our justification toolkit to create a personalized plan for your conference attendance and create a compelling case for attending.
The first issue of the American Journal of Evaluation's 46th volume is now available online! In this issue, authors discuss matters of evaluating complex interventions and matters of evaluation usefulness and use. The articles share insights on the methods of Contribution Analysis, Qualitative Comparative Analysis, and the Describe, Analyze, Theorize, Act framework—three approaches that leverage qualitative methods to enhance the causal inferences one can draw from an evaluation. Read the full issue.
Do you have scholarly or practitioner insights on evaluation? Consider submitting to the American Journal of Evaluation (AJE). AJE offers original, peer-reviewed, often highly cited articles about the theory, methods, and practice of evaluation and the role of evaluation in society. Visit the website to learn about the journal and submission guidelines. We look forward to your submissions! PS: As a reminder, your AEA membership includes access to the journal-- read, love, cite!
Coming soon in New Directions for Evaluation: "From Reasoning to Results: Revitalizing Classic Methodologies for Contemporary Evaluation" explores how time-tested evaluation approaches can be reimagined to meet today’s complex challenges. Guest edited by Lyn Alderman and Benjamin Harris, this special issue offers fresh perspectives on classic methods—bridging foundational thinking with modern-day practice. All articles are open access online , with the print edition arriving soon. Stay tuned for insights that connect the past, present, and future of evaluation!
Starting June 10, 2025 | 2 p.m. ET
Learn the practical applications of Kirton’s Adaption-Innovation (KAI) theory in evaluation practice. This two-part eStudy is designed for evaluation professionals looking to deepen their understanding of how cognitive diversity impacts evaluation, problem-solving, and leadership. Learn More
June 12, 2025 | 2 – 2:30 pm ET Free for All AEA Members
During this coffee chat, Shelli Golson-Mickens will share principles and examples of concrete strategies to support evaluators in communicating equitably. These are concepts that all practitioners can navigate in their pursuit of communicating more equitably. Learn More