Consisting of education researchers, scientists, curriculum development specialists, software developers, and experienced K-12 educators, the OCEP staff possess
Nichole Pinkard, Ph.D.
Faculty Director, OCEP, and Associate Professor, Learning Sciences
Pinkard (PhD98), one of the first graduates of SESP's Learning Sciences PhD program, focuses on creating supportive learning spaces, both on and offline and spearheading collaborations through OCEP. Pinkard, founder of the Digital Youth Network (DYN), received the 2014 Northwestern University Alumni Association Alumni Merit Award. In 2016, she delivered the keynote speech during the 2016 graduate convocation ceremony.
Amy D. Pratt, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Community Education Partnerships
Pratt joined OCEP in December of 2011, bringing 10 years of experience with non-profits both nationally and internationally to the team. Her program areas of expertise include education, public health, community development, and the environment. She has extensive experience in research and organizational development and strategy; program development, management, and evaluation; building partnerships between community groups, non-profits, government agencies, public schools, universities, foundations, and corporations; and grant development and fundraising. Pratt is a founding member of the National Alliance for Broader Impacts (NABI), which is designed to create a community of practice that fosters the development of sustainable and scalable broader impacts activity. Pratt has a PhD in geography from West Virginia University.
Aneta Baran
Experience Designer
Baran joined the OCEP team in 2017 as DYN's Experience Designer. In her role, she works alongside researchers, developers, and additional product stakeholders to design engaging experiences for youth across online and physical spaces. Prior to working at OCEP, Baran collaborated with DYN on various projects as an undergraduate research assistant, conducting research and design work for DYN's Digital Youth Divas program. Baran graduated from DePaul University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in User Experience Design.
Natalie Bueno
Program and Partnership Coordinator
Bueno joined the OCEP team in September 2018. She is working with the Baxter Center for Science Education to develop OCEP’s partnership with Baxter International Inc. and Round Lake Area Schools. Bueno is excited to share her passion for STEM at the Baxter Center’s newest location, Round Lake High School, and Northwestern. In working with OCEP, Bueno also hopes to promote equity in STEM education by supporting teacher professional development, providing authentic STEM experiences for students, and developing community partnerships in Lake County. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology and a certificate in Global Health from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Emily DePalma, M.Ed.
Research Program Coordinator
DePalma joined the OCEP team in 2016 and supports all of the programs and partnerships at OCEP as well as the operations of the office. Prior to working at OCEP, she taught elementary school in Chicago Public Schools. DePalma holds teaching licenses in Illinois and Minnesota. She earned a Bachelor of Science in the Foundations of Elementary Education degree in 2012 and a Masters of Education in 2013, both from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Tre Everette
Senior Developer
Everette is architect and senior developer at OCEP's Digital Youth Network. He primarily directs the technical architecture of the learning platform L3 and its ecosystem of connected learning products such as Chicago City of Learning. He bridges the worlds of researchers, educators, and technologists in order to build blended learning tools that help educators and learners connect with valuable resources inside and outside of the typical educational environment. Everett, an alumnus of Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering, dabbles in data science when taking a break from coding and designing.
Kristen Perkins-LaFollette, B.S.
ETHS-NU Partnership Coordinator
Perkins-LaFollette began working with OCEP in 2010. She currently serves as the Partnership Coordinator for the Northwestern University - Evanston Township High School (ETHS) Partnership Office. Perkins-LaFollette focuses on increasing collaboration between ETHS and Northwestern University, as well as bringing new learning opportunities to the students. She previously worked as a science teacher at Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago.Perkins-LaFollette graduated from Purdue University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology Education.
Emily Ferrin, Ph.D
Program Director and Resident Scientist
Ferrin has been a part of the OCEP team since 2012. She is currently the resident scientist and program director of the Baxter Center for Science Education (BCSE), an OCEP program in partnership with Baxter International, Inc. and Lindblom Math and Science Academy (LMSA) in Chicago Public Schools. Ferrin helps create teacher professional development workshops and curriculum resources, making them available for middle and high school teachers in the Chicago area. She splits her time between Northwestern University's Evanston Campus and LMSA in Chicago. Ferrin earned a Bachelor of Science from Marlboro College and a PhD from Dartmouth College.
Lila K. S. Goldstein, M.P.P.
Research Data Analyst Lead
Goldstein, who has a passion for bringing education research, practice, and policy into alignment, joined OCEP in 2017. She is leading the work with Northwestern-Evanston Education Research Alliance (NEERA) as the university builds its data and research partnership with the local school districts. She brings with her over a decade of experience in research and education. Most recently, she facilitated
Mighel Jackson
Implementation Coordinator and Systems Integration Specialist
Jackson is an Implementation Coordinator and Systems Integration Specialist at OCEP's Digital Youth Network. In this role, Jackson translates complex systems into action on the ground by creating, facilitating and maintaining spaces that promote greater understanding of how
Jenny Grist
Program Assistant
Grist joined OCEP in 2017, as the program assistant for the NU/ETHS Partnership Office. Before coming to OCEP, she worked with a non-profit arts organization in a variety of roles. Grist has a bachelor's degree in English from Lewis University.
L. Shai Moore
Mentor
Moore is a mentor at OCEP's Digital Youth Network. Shai primarily focuses on the
Karina Morales, M.Ed.
Coordinator and Advisor
Morales joined the OCEP team in 2017 as a former CPS professional high school counselor. She is the coordinator and advisor for Northwestern Academy - Evanston, a college access and success program that works with highly motivated first-generation, under-represented students at Evanston Township High School (ETHS) apply to
Love Morgan, M.S.
Research Data Analyst Lead
Morgan serves a dual role for OCEP as administrator of the Northwestern University PreK-20+ Engagement Initiative and research/data coordinator for the Chicago Public School, Northwestern University partnership. Previously, Morgan was a statistician for NCI, INC where she performed in-depth evaluation and analysis of potential fraud cases and requests for information using claims information and other sources of data. Love helped in the development of complex cases that involved high dollar amounts, sensitive issues, recoupment of
Ashley Walter, M.S.
Program and Partnership Coordinator
Walter joined the OCEP team in 2014. She currently works for the Baxter Center for Science Education (BCSE), an OCEP program in partnership with Baxter International Inc. and Lindblom Math and Science Academy (LMSA) in Chicago Public Schools. Walter helps create professional development workshops and curriculum resources, making them available for middle and high school teachers in the Chicago area. She splits her time between Northwestern University's Evanston Campus and LMSA. Walter has both a master's and bachelor's degree from Purdue University.
Sachin Pradhan, B.S.
Software Developer
Pradhan, a software developer for the Baxter Center for Science Education (BCSE) and the Computational Thinking in STEM (CT-STEM) projects, began working at OCEP in 2013. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Washington in 2006.