Date: Monday, March 31, 2025
By Karen T. Jackson, Ph.D.
Dear AEA Members,
While watching the American nature documentary, Life on Our Planet, which focuses on the evolutionary history of complex life on Earth, I was reminded of what some may call rules of life: adaptation can sustain life and the earth doesn’t remain stable for long. I believe these “rules of life” are applicable to the environment we’re working in as volunteer member leaders of the American Evaluation Association (AEA). We are tackling adaptive challenges, exploring creative ways to support association members and continue to build the field of evaluation while enduring extreme conditions, uncertainty, and instability in the environments we reside in daily.
The challenges we face as evaluators today are not unlike the ones we have always confronted historically and even in the recent past. Remember when many of us called for dismantling structures and breaking down silos? Now that those calls are being answered in unanticipated ways what will we do? When we’ve faced chaos in the past we took the opportunity to build capacity by getting together to ask questions, listen to one another and learn from each other. We shared our lessons learned and were transparent about our mistakes. We helped each other think and act. Some of us were like a caterpillar going through a metamorphosis, we got into our cocoon and in many cases broke out more beautiful and stronger than before.
While the current challenges are too complex for there to be one simple answer, the need to demonstrate the value of our work, even when the stakes are high, and the desire to advocate for a world where evaluation plays a central role in shaping equitable policies and effective programs is more relevant now than ever before. At AEA, we believe in the transformative power of high-quality, ethically defensible, and culturally responsive evaluation practices. These practices are not just about assessing programs and policies—they are about fostering accountability, improving systems, and ensuring that the voices of all communities are heard and valued. In a world where rapid change often leaves little room for reflection, evaluation offers a vital process of inquiry and feedback that helps us navigate the complexity and uncertainty of our times.
While many are facing job losses and fear for the future of evaluation as a field, AEA reaffirms its commitment to advancing the profession. The AEA board of directors met January 30-31 in Washington, DC and virtually on March 18th. We added a meeting on April 3rd to our planned schedule because of the emergent challenges facing our members, the field of evaluation and our world at large. The AEA board of directors and AEA staff have engaged in many collaborative conversations, activities and actions with topical interest groups (TIGS) working groups and task forces and our collaborative partners. At the recent Evaluation Leadership Roundtable on March 17th questions related to the legal implications of federal decisions were raised. I followed up with AEA’s attorney to get general responses.
Please Note: Comments from the AEA Attorney are in response to general questions and should not be considered legal advice.
Question 1: If your program has exclusion for participants based on sex/gender, is that legally problematic?
[AEA Attorney response] Programs that exclude participation based on gender/sex, such as women-only scholarships, could be problematic under the executive order titled "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity", as it aims to end illegal discrimination and preferences based on race and sex in federal policies and practices. While the current enforcement focus is primarily on race, it is advisable to consider being inclusive with respect to program eligibility. For example, if the purpose of a grant program is to empower mothers returning to the workforce, the call for proposals can describe the purpose of the grant and selection criteria, such as impact, experience, and originality, but should welcome all to apply.
Question 2: If a program includes targets intended to “balance” the number of program/service recipients, is that problematic?
[AEA Attorney response] Yes, any suggestion of "balancing" to achieve racial diversity is considered a high-risk activity under the recent executive orders and further government enforcement guidelines. The Department of Education's "Dear Colleague Letter" explicitly mentions "racial balancing" and notes that using a desired racial balance to increase racial diversity is not permissible. Therefore, setting targets for the number of program/service recipients based on race would be considered illegal as it suggests giving racial preference.
The evaluation leadership roundtable and collaboration with the AEA attorney are just examples of the thoughtful and strategic approach the AEA board and staff will continue to take in supporting our members during this period of change. We are in the midst of planning additional Evaluation Leadership Roundtables to address the emergent challenges we're facing in the present moment. So, look out for the announcements of these events and if you're interested in participating in the planning reach out to AEA staff. We are also continuing to design and build out the agenda for the EVAL25 conference in Kansas City, MO, November 10-15. The theme Engaging Communities and Sharing Leadership provides a tremendous opportunity for us as individual evaluation practitioners and researchers and as a collective group of professionals to interact with the evaluation ecosystem, to reflect upon our practice and to explore how we engage with our communities and share leadership so that communities can grow, learn and innovate and through co-creation empower communities to thrive as we walk into the future.
Engaging communities and sharing leadership can show up numerous ways in our evaluation practice:
Now, more than ever, evaluation is critical in ensuring that decisions made today lead to positive outcomes tomorrow. We know that evaluation is not neutral—it can either uphold the status quo or be a force for transformation. While our field is rooted in the principle of 'do no harm,' we must also recognize the ways in which evaluation has sometimes contributed to inequities. If that’s true, then we must also believe in our power to be part of the solution.
We know that the data and insights we provide help governments, organizations, and communities make informed choices that are grounded in evidence, not rhetoric. In a chaotic world, the ability to assess what is working and what isn’t is not only a tool for improvement—it is a safeguard for a better, more just future.
As an association, we continue to stand with our members and all evaluators who are working to ensure that our field remains strong, relevant, and impactful. We remain committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community of practice, supporting the professional development of evaluators, and advocating for policies that recognize the indispensable role of evaluation in a rapidly changing world.
We are in this together. I wonder what is possible if we choose believe in abundance over scarcity and if we choose to work together for the good of the collective as opposed to the good for the individual? It’s my hope that together, we will remain curious, creative and continue to engage the community of evaluators in shaping a future where informed decisions ultimately enhance the public good.
Karen T. Jackson, Ph.D. President, American Evaluation Association
The American Evaluation Association (AEA) has joined the call for stronger adherence to the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act (Evidence Act) by signing a letter to the White House. This letter urges the administration to prioritize evidence-driven decision-making in federal policies and programs, ensuring accountability, transparency, and effective governance.
We believe that evaluation and evidence should guide policy decisions at all levels of government. That’s why we are also encouraging our members to take action by reaching out to their Senators and Representatives, urging them to support the full implementation of the Evidence Act.
How You Can Help: 📢 Read the Letter ✍ Write to Your Legislators: reference our sample letter. 📣 Spread the Word: Share this effort with your networks to amplify the impact.
Your voice as an evaluator is critical in ensuring that public policy is rooted in data, research, and rigorous evaluation. Join us in advocating for the integrity of evidence-based policymaking!
Thank you for your dedication to advancing evaluation for the public good.
By Alisha Garcia Flores Affiliation: Mirror Group LLC, Senior Evaluation Consultant Degrees: BS, MUPP (Masters in Urban Planning & Policy) Years in the Evaluation Field: 14
Why do you belong to AEA?
AEA is where I’ve found ‘mi comunidad’ (my community) of fellow evaluators and advocates. Within the LaRED (Latinx Responsive Evaluation Discourse) TIG especially, I have a network of wonderful colleagues that are willing to dive into real discussions about evaluation challenges as well as innovative approaches and CRE applications working in Latine communities.
Why do you choose to work in the field of evaluation?
Honestly, I consider myself an ‘accidental’ evaluator in one sense because I kind of fell into evaluation as a nonprofit director managing grant reporting and data collection. I chose evaluation as a career path as I saw the power in evaluation for learning and advocacy within the communities I served in Chicago. With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit work I’ve seen how data and evaluation can be an overwhelming lift for staff capacity. I’ve also experienced evaluation practices that have been extractive and/or did not fully depict stories of impact. However, I’ve also seen the opposite where evaluation has uplifted community voice and has driven transformative changes. I’ve stayed in evaluation because I truly value inclusive, culturally responsive, and meaningful evaluative practices that uplift the community.
What's the most memorable or meaningful evaluation that you have been a part of?
I think I’d have to choose the work I’ve done within community schools for 13 years conducting 21st Century Community Learning Centers evaluations at Family Focus and Enlace Chicago. I loved the hands-on work I was able to do with community partners, school & nonprofit staff, parents, students, etc. as well as the journey of growth in evaluation practices each year. My passion is youth development and evaluation so linking the community school model, collaborative evaluation tools like YPQI, and systems-thinking approaches to evaluation really gets me excited!
What advice would you give to those new to the field?
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to be engaged in the Pathways Initiative in Chicago, cultivating new CRE evaluators of color. Through this initiative I have learned the importance of building your network and mentorship, so I would encourage new evaluators to get involved in AEA TIGs like LaRED and local evaluation chapters like the Chicagoland Evaluation Association. Finding a mentor/network of evaluation colleagues can be so helpful to explore career path options and learning opportunities. Schedule a cafecito date with someone!
Anything additional you would like to share with the AEA community?
I want to recognize the trying times we are facing in doing equity evaluation work right now. I’d love to encourage all of us to check in with colleagues, share new opportunities for employment or collaboration, and to uplift and advocate for the marginalized and vulnerable populations we serve. At Mirror Group, we are looking for opportunities to collaborate, advocate and uplift communities. Please reach out via solutions@mirrorgroupllc.com!
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 Thomas Schwandt and co-author Emily F. Gates for the publication of their book, Evaluating and Valuing in Social Research, published by Guilford.
By Nathan Varnell, Consultant for the Evaluation Policy Task Force
The federal evaluation ecosystem is facing a period of significant changes and challenges, and the AEA’s Evaluation Policy Task Force has been closely monitoring as the situation evolves. This month’s Policy Watch will broadly explore what is currently known, how evaluators are being affected, and what is expected in the near term.
Impacts to Federal Evaluation
Evaluators both within the federal government and outside of it are feeling the effects of rapidly issued administrative decisions within the executive branch, including large-scale reductions-in-force of federal personnel, terminations of evaluation contracts, and interruptions of grant funding. Beyond personnel cuts, evaluators have faced diminished access to critical data and resources hosted by the federal government, although many have been intermittently restored. Major changes include:
These changes are compounded by the ongoing responses of private and nonprofit evaluation firms, which are reporting business closures, mass layoffs, and suspended projects. Contraction of federal systems and the evaluation industry is likely to substantially affect the field’s ability to support high-quality research, statistics, and evidence over the coming years. These losses represent not just organizational disruption but a substantial reduction in sector-wide evaluation capacity.
Efforts are ongoing across many different organizations to document ongoing changes to federal activities and archive valuable resources, however there is currently no single, authoritative resource to track all impacts to federal programs and data, or evaluation firms.
Looking Ahead
Federal agencies submitted plans on March 13 for upcoming reductions-in-force and reorganizations following guidance from the White House Office of Management and Budget, with official notice of the reductions expected to be made in the next 30 to 60 days. Further reductions in federal personnel may continue to impact evaluation offices, contracts, and the implementation of key legislation that requires evaluation as an essential function of government, such as the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018.
At this time, the Evaluation Policy Task Force is continuing to monitor the situation for federal evaluators and is coordinating with the AEA Board on potential actions. As written in the February AEA Newsletter, the Task Force is beginning efforts to update AEA’s “Evaluation Roadmap for More Effective Government,” a strategic guide for AEA and its partners to support the role of evaluation at all levels of government. The goal is to produce a revised document to ensure its continued relevance to current discussions of evaluation policy, reflecting recent practices, new policy changes, and continuing to ensure AEA’s resources provide timely information based on the most up-to-date research from our field.
If you are aware of changes in the federal government and evaluation community that are impacting your work or the work of other evaluators, or have comments on the Evaluation Roadmap, consider providing information to the Evaluation Policy Task Force via evaluationpolicy@eval.org.
AEA Leadership is monitoring recent news and developments that may have or are already having an unfavorable impact on our profession and is committed to supporting our members through these changes.
We remain steadfast in our values and mission to support and elevate the field by providing you with the tools, resources, and professional development needed to help you navigate uncertainty with confidence. We encourage you to stay engaged with our vibrant community—whether through EvalTalk, professional learning activities, or Topical Interest Groups — to stay at the forefront of developments in our field. Reference our website to find community, education, and career support opportunities.
Learn More
AEA is offering all members free access to the Introduction to Independent Consulting estudy recording. If you are a program evaluator who is thinking about going out on your own, this eStudy will share the simple but essential design and start-up skills needed for success. Facilitated by Matt Feldmann, who has presented at multiple AEA events, the eStudy includes four (4) on-demand sessions, each 90 minutes in length.
To access this free eStudy, reference your email for the access code or reach out to info@eval.org for support. This is exclusively for AEA members, so we ask that you do not share this code with others. Thank you to Matt Feldmann for allowing us to offer this valuable learning opportunity to our members.
Access eStudy
On March 17, AEA hosted a roundtable discussion with AEA leadership on the evolving landscape of evaluation. During this roundtable, we discussed how to maintain professional integrity, support colleagues across sectors, and respond to our current conditions while continuing to center equity, justice, and the use of evaluation to inform effective action. If you were not able to attend, you can now access the roundtable recording.
Access Roundtable
The evaluation community is facing new challenges and opportunities as a result of recent legislation. To better understand its impact, the AEA will soon launch a brief but crucial survey—and we need every member’s input!
Your insights will help shape how we navigate these changes and advocate for the needs of our field. When you receive the survey, please take a few minutes to complete it. Stay tuned for more details, and thank you for being a vital part of this effort.
Help shape the future of AEA by submitting a nomination for the open positions of the AEA Board of Directors. You may self-nominate or recommend an AEA member for the positions. This year we will elect three Board Members-at-large, a Treasurer, and a President-Elect.
If you are interest in this opportunity and want to learn more about the nomination process and role of our Board, join us for an April Town Hall: AEA Town Hall: Pathways to AEA Leadership.
To ensure you are receiving all of AEA’s communications, we encourage you to update your profile to include your personal email address and ensure your mailing address is accurate. You can also make your personal email address your primary way to receive AEA communications.
Update Now
In case you missed it, AEA hosted a Town Hall led by AEA’s President Karen Jackson. The Town Hall reflected on how the recent political situation has affected the evaluation community and how AEA can support its members.
Access Recording
The George Julnes Endowed Social Betterment Conference Award is accepting applications through April 4. Designed to support students and early-career evaluators (within five years of entering the field), this award helps recipients attend and present at the AEA Evaluation Conference. This year, we anticipate issuing two awards to eligible applicants whose work aligns with George Julnes' commitment to evaluation as a tool for social betterment.
For more information about this award, including requirements and eligibility, visit the AEA website.
To support those wanting to secure their 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.
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.
Read More
We are recruiting a part-time Project Manager for the recently funded Inviting New Voices into Evaluation (INVitE-Pub) initiative. The INVitE-Pub initiative is a two-year pilot project led by AEA’s New Directions for Evaluation (NDE) journal and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The initiative aims to trial a set of innovative support structures designed to engage new and diverse voices in evaluation publishing. This project will provide tailored assistance to first-time authors, first-time guest editors, and individuals from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in evaluation, fostering their involvement in shaping the field through publishing.
More details about this position can be found here. Inquiries about the position should be directed to: nde@eval.org.
Please submit application materials via the online application form. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please apply by 5 p.m. (PDT) on April 4, 2025, for full consideration. Only those invited for a job interview will be contacted.
Many of the AEA TIGs will be hosting events in April and May. All members are welcome to attend these events and learn more about the host TIG activities and special initiatives. Visit the AEA community site for the full schedule. Learn More
Pathway to Leadership - Town Hall Thursday, April 17, 2025, 2 p.m. ET
Blue Marble Evaluation – eStudy Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 12:30 p.m.- 2 p.m. ET; May 7, 12:30 p.m.- 2 p.m. ET