Jessica Heppen, a nationally recognized expert in education research, policy, and practice, is the president & CEO of AIR. Dr. Heppen been with AIR for 20 years and, in that time, has held several key roles during her tenure.
Stephanie Cronen is a managing researcher at AIR. Dr. Cronen’s work during the past 20+ years has focused largely on managing and conducting large-scale research studies, including survey research, experimental studies, and mixed-methods studies in adult education, professional development, and workforce preparation. ...
Kwelin Waller is senior program manager with the AIR Equity Initiative. Waller works to combine research and technical assistance with real-world applications, leading the Equity Initiative's work in the interconnected areas of workforce development, community health and well-being. Additionally, she leads the AIR Scholars and Leaders Award grant competition, an initiative that ...
Nicholas Sorensen is a principal researcher at AIR. His research is primarily focused on dropout prevention and helping struggling students succeed across the transition to high school. His work emphasizes the role of social psychological interventions, strategies to support success in algebra and mathematics, and use of early warning systems ...
Amy Young is a principal TA consultant at AIR with over 20 years of experience in public policy, program management, and technical assistance in the workforce development field. She is an accomplished director with extensive experience designing and leading high-profile projects, complex technical assistance initiatives, and large-scale grants and contracts. ...
Rebecca Zumeta Edmonds is a managing researcher at the AIR in Washington, DC, where she serves as the co-director of the National Center on Intensive Intervention, and as project director for an Investing in Innovation and Improvement (i3) Development Grant. She previously coordinated services for the Response to Intervention Center ...
Kim Gattis is a nationally recognized expert in large-scale mathematics assessments through her work at the state, national, and international levels. For over a decade she has led AIR projects supporting the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. Currently ...
Kyle Esdaille is a Principal Researcher in the Health Division at AIR. He currently works on projects that incorporate health equity into healthcare access. Dr. Esdaille is a solution focused health professional with a sincere passion for improving quality of care and access to care. He has experience in healthcare ...
Jennifer Pirtle is a principal technical assistance consultant at AIR with 25 years of experience in the workforce and economic development field. She serves as project director for several projects in AIR’s Workforce Development Program and Policy Division, including the U.S. Department of Labor’s Real-Time State and Regional TA project, ...
Larry V. Hedges is an AIR Scholar, as well as Board of Trustees Professor of Statistics, Education and Social Policy, and Psychology and co-director of the Center for Statistics in Education and Public Policy (STEPP) Center at Northwestern University. His appointments include serving as chair of the Board of Directors ...