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How has the AEA GEDI program impacted your career?
I was introduced to AEA as a second-year graduate student and as a member of the Graduate Education Diversity Intern (GEDI) program in 2003. My GEDI experience has impacted my career by connecting me to individuals and a community of practice that embedded evaluation thinking in the needs of people and communities of color. The internship gave me the opportunity to consider the role of evaluation in social change, social justice, and issues of access, opportunity, and power—all through the lens of culture and context. It was essential in helping me to shape, inform, and articulate my ideological commitment and practice as an evaluator.
Would you recommend this program for other young evaluators, and why?
Yes, I highly recommend the GEDI program for young evaluators. I believe that a significant challenge facing young evaluators is how to approach the evaluation of organizations given the current complexities and circumstances we face with the harsh racial and ethnic inequities that have been further exacerbated with the pandemic and the calls for racial justice. Now more than ever GEDI is needed to help seed evaluative thinking and practice on the needs of communities and persons of color through the lens of culture and context. Moreover, the internship is an avenue that can assist young evaluator with using evaluation as a tool that illuminates the historical and structural disadvantages of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color and be used to bring about social changes through equitable distribution of power and cultural assets, using culturally responsive evaluation.
Do you still lean on your GEDI cohorts or host for advice in your career?
Dr. Rodney Hopson, Professor, Educational Psychology, has been an excellent mentor, colleague, and friend. He has played a significant role in the development of my evaluation knowledge and skills and has helped me to build social capital in the field of evaluation. I’ve been a site supervisor for three interns, the most recent being 2019-2020. I have drawn upon the experience that Dr. Hopson provided me as a mentee to guide how I’m approaching my role with GEDI.
Anything else you would like to share about the GEDI program?
I can confidently say that without my GEDI experience I would not be as involved in AEA. I have had several leadership opportunities that have contributed to my professional development. I have the utmost respect for AEA and an unwavering commitment to AEA’s success, I attribute this to my GEDI experience.
Learn more about the AEA Graduate Education Diversity Internship Program.