To improve the outcomes of adult learners, programs and educators need research they can trust and readily use to inform practice. AIR contributes to the research base about what works for adult learners by conducting rigorous and policy-relevant studies focused on teaching and learning.
Charrise Hollingsworth is a researcher at AIR, where she evaluates programs and initiatives related to thriving youth and adults. Her growing body of work focuses on youth workforce development, advancing equitable outcomes in K-12 education, promoting socioemotional wellness for students and teachers, and supporting AIR’s cross-disciplinary place-based initiatives. A former ...
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, ...
Anthony Adkisson is a principal TA consultant at AIR with over 20 years of combined experience in workforce development and the health and human services field. In this role, he provides leadership to a team of staff supporting Job Corps Business Engagement Initiative and Enrollment Services Systems projects. Previously, he ...
Megan Scott is a TA Consultant in the Workforce Program Area at AIR. Scott has extensive experience in apprenticeship, workforce development, and non-profit work. As part of the TA team for the State Apprenticeship Expansion project, Scott provides customized coaching to state grantees and develops technical assistance resources and training ...
Siobhan Mills De La Rosa is a senior researcher at AIR. She is passionate about using evaluation and data analytics to identify and replicate strategies that strengthen the workforce system. She brings over a decade of experience designing and implementing experimental, implementation, and cost studies of job training, income security, ...
Toni M. Smith is a managing researcher at AIR where she directs research and development projects focused on mathematics instruction and teacher professional learning.
Dr. Smith currently directs the development and experimental testing of a virtual coaching program designed to improve the alignment of teachers’ instruction to state standards funded by ...
Maria Payri is a researcher in the Youth, Family, and Community Development program at AIR. Payri has over 10 years of experience as an evaluator with expertise in qualitative research and survey design for large-scale federal studies such as the National Household Education Study (NHES), where she serves as qualitative ...
Brittany Lenertz is a senior TA consultant with AIR. Her primary responsibilities include providing subject matter expertise, support and leadership on various projects, primarily for state and local workforce areas. She has over 20 years of experience in the public workforce development system. Lenertz’s work at AIR has included program ...
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.