Dr. Aditi Das is a seasoned researcher with 12 years of professional experience. Aditi is passionate about applying her cross-cultural research experience, diverse methodological expertise, and strong analytical and communication skills to address issues of equity, access, and inclusion in social service delivery. At RDA, Aditi provides key analytic and facilitation support to a variety of projects across the human services spectrum. Prior to RDA, Aditi worked as a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare, where her research focused on strengthening upstream human service delivery for vulnerable children, youth, and families while assessing sustainability of reform efforts within complex human service organizations.

Select Projects

• Project Manager: California Department of Social Services – Child Welfare Citizen Review Panels Facilitation
• Project Manager: California Department of Social Services – CalWORKs Home Visiting Program Evaluation
• Project Manager: Santa Clara County Department of Employment and Bureau Services – Cal-OAR/Cal-SIP Organizational Development Training

Education

• PhD: Social Service Administration – University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• MSW: Social Work – Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India
• BA: Psychology – Lady Shriram College for Women, New Delhi, India

Getting to Know Me

• Family: I live in San Francisco with my husband and son.
• Fun fact: I enjoy hikes around the Bay Area with my family and relish food (both eating and cooking!) from around the world.

Alison Farringer is a skilled researcher with over ten years of experience providing a myriad of evaluation, research, and technical assistance services supporting behavioral health and corrections-related projects and initiatives at the local, state, and federal levels. As an applied and mixed-methods researcher with a humanities background, Alison is passionate about supporting program and policy development through the evaluation of implementation processes, fidelity, and outcomes within behavioral health and corrections. She is also passionate about communicating accessibly and working collaboratively to bridge divisions between research and practice. At RDA, Alison supports a variety of community health and justice projects including the Contra Costa Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program evaluation, the Santa Clara County Prop 47 program evaluation, and the Merced County Restart program evaluation. Prior to joining RDA, Alison  worked in the areas of criminal justice, corrections, behavioral health, forensic psychology, and pediatric health. She has previously worked as a researcher, practitioner, and evaluator in a variety of clinical and correctional contexts, including court-ordered residential and outpatient drug treatment programs and halfway houses, as well as children’s and forensic psychiatric hospitals.

Select Projects

• Project Manager: Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services – Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Program Evaluation
• Project Manager: Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services Department – Proposition (Prop) 47 Evaluation
• Project Manager: Merced County Behavioral & Health Recovery Services – Restart (MHSA Innovation) Program Evaluation

Education

• PhD: Criminal Justice – University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
• MA: Forensic Psychology – Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
• BS: Psychology – University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Getting to Know Me

• Favorite Quote: “Discomfort is the price of admission to a meaningful life.” – Dr. Susan David
• Bucket List: Live in New York City
• Karaoke: “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains of Wayne
• Fun Fact: I played the trumpet for over a decade

Christy Spees is a dedicated public health advocate with over eight years of experience in program management, coordination, and research. She is skilled in research design, data collection, project management, and data analysis, and has a passion for using information to advance meaningful systems change. At RDA, Christy provides support to a variety of projects that span the social services sector. Christy has a background in education, training, coalition building, and crisis counseling, and she brings a collaborative spirit and thoughtful approach to her work.

Select Projects

• Consultant: San Mateo County BHRS Innovation Tech Suite Evaluation
• Consultant: Contra Costa County Behavioral Health Services in partnership with the Office of Education Mental Health Student Services Act – Wellness in Schools Program Evaluation
• Consultant: Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services Evaluation of the Continuum of Care Transitional Placement Model

Education

• MPH: Public Health – University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
• BA: English, Education – Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL

Getting to Know Me

• Bucket list: Ride my bike from Oakland to LA
• Go-to karaoke song and artist: Mr. Roboto by Styx
• Volunteerism: Crisis Counselor for Crisis Support Services of Alameda County

Courtney Chapple is a dedicated public health leader, strategist, and community health planner with over 13 years of experience supporting both state and local health departments. Her experience includes department administration, accreditation coordination, contract management, and serving in roles inclusive of Deputy Health Officer, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and Public Information Officer for a county public health department and as Pandemic Response Director for a state health department with the CDC Foundation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Courtney is passionate about supporting local and state public health systems and infrastructure to build resilient, equitable, and healthy communities. At RDA, Courtney provides support to a variety of projects working to improve the health and wellbeing of communities through coordination of health assessment, resource coordination, relationship building and community engagement, project management, strategic planning, and the establishment of policies and processes that lead to equitable access to services and resources for all community members to succeed.

Select Projects

• Project Manager: City of Davis, Social Services and Housing – Homeless Strategic Plan Development
• Project Manager: City of San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) – Children and Youth Services, Master Plan
• Project Manager: San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development – HUD Equity Plan

Education

• J.D. Candidate: Health Law – Mitchell Hamline School of Law, St. Paul, MN (2027)
• MPH: Public Health – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
• BA: Social Theory and Practice – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Getting to Know Me

• Pets: Two spoiled golden retrievers – Coulson May & Archie
• Favorite quote: “Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
• Bucket list: Travel to France and spend a day in a traditional French bakery making baguettes and croissants.

Fabián Rivera Reyes is a data expert with two years of professional experience working for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco performing analysis on economic projects that involved large datasets He specializes in communicating clear trends in data, designing research to measure meaningful impacts, and presenting results in a visual and transparent way. As a quantitative researcher, Fabian is passionate about causal inference and development economics, and his skills include analyzing GIS mapping data and performing comprehensive economic impact analysis. At RDA, he supports human services projects as a lead quantitative analyst, including several evaluation projects. Prior to joining RDA, in addition to his work with the Federal Reserve, Fabian was an educator teaching economics, calculus, and statistics, and he holds a Master of Arts in Economics.

Select Projects

• Lead Quantitative Analyst: Berkeley Unified School District – Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) Needs Assessment
• Lead Quantitative Analyst: California Board of State & Community Corrections – CalVIP Data Collections Management Capacity Building
• Lead Quantitative Analyst: City of Berkeley Mental Health -Specialized Care Unit (SCU) Evaluation

Education

• MA: Economics – University of Puerto Rico R´ıo Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
• BA: Economics and French – Amherst College, Amherst, MA

Getting to Know Me

• Favorite quote: “Commitment. That is what is necessary. You mean it or you don’t.” – James Baldwin (inspired by McGhee and Hollowell’s book titled “You mean it or you don’t- James Baldwin’s Radical Challenge”)
• Bucket list: Surfing in France! Swimming with whales!

Felicia van Schie is a skilled researcher and data analyst with three years of professional experience working for the United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. Felicia is passionate about using evidence-based practices to meet community needs, and she enjoys encouraging expression of all voices as a means of overcoming adversity. At RDA, Felicia uses her background in education, research, and data science to support RDA’s mission to help public and social sectors improve access, equity, and opportunity through a wide variety of planning, evaluation, and research projects. With a Bachelor of Science Degree in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Felicia brings a novel approach to solving problems and offers diverse perspectives to her work.

Select Projects

• Project Support Assistant: Berkeley Unified School District – Mental Health Student Services Act (MHSSA) Needs Assessment
• Project Support Assistant: California Board of State & Community Corrections – CalVIP Data Collections Management Capacity Building
• Project Support Assistant: Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services Department – allcove Evaluation

Education

• BS: Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience – University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
• AAT: Psychology – Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, CA

Getting to Know Me

• Pet: I have a Cockapoo puppy named Beersie
• Favorite quote: “Strive not to be a success, but rather of value.” ~ Albert Einstein
• Bucket list: Organize and lead an expressive, communicative educational retreat for youth living with lower economic opportunity in other countries

Jamon Franklin has over 16 years of professional experience and is a skilled researcher and critical thinker with a focus on health equity and social justice. Jamon is passionate about the co-creation of equitable, healthy, and just communities and committed to working in partnership with community members to address the social and structural determinants of health through policy and place-based interventions. At RDA, Jamon supports a variety of evaluation and research projects across the community health, human services, and justice sectors. Jamon’s prior experience includes over 10 years in nonprofit fiscal management and oversight.

Select Projects

• Project Manager: Contra Costa County Adult Education Consortium – Management and Facilitation
• Project Manager: Alameda County Health Care Services Agency – Care First Jails Last Facilitation and Planning Support
• Quantitative Analyst and Facilitator: San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (SF MOHCD) – Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice/Equity Plan

Education

• MCP: Housing & Community – University of California, Berkeley, CA
• MPH: Health & Social Behavior – University of California, Berkeley, CA
• BA: Cultural Anthropology – University of California, Santa Cruz, CA

Getting to Know Me

• Volunteerism: I am on the board of International Accountability Project, an amazing organization that works to put people and communities first in international development projects and I also volunteer for the SF Urban Film Fest
• Pet peeve: People who are rude to service workers
• Fun fact: I once spent a few months in Northern Patagonia tracking Huemul deer

Dr. Jennifer Lux is a social scientist with nearly 14 years of academic and applied research experience focusing on criminal justice. Jennifer is passionate about finding ways to bridge the divide between research, policy, and practice. She is adept at program and policy design and evaluation, planning, and conducting qualitative and quantitative research, and statistical analysis. She is an accomplished writer, speaker, and certified assessor and trainer in evidence-based correctional programs. At RDA, she contributes her expertise to a variety of projects across the Justice Practice. Prior to joining RDA, Jennifer worked on large and medium-scale federally-funded research studies with Texas Christian University and University of Cincinnati. Jennifer holds a PhD in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati.

Select Projects

• Training Materials Developer: Contra Costa County Probation Department – Technical Assistance
• Data Analyst: Yolo County Probation Department – Ohio Youth Assessment System Detention Tool (OYAS-DET) Validation Study
• Senior Consultant: San Mateo County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services – Parent Project & Mental Health First Aid Evaluation

Education

• PhD: Criminal Justice – University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
• MS: Criminal Justice – University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
• BS: Criminology – Butler University, Indianapolis, IN

Getting to Know Me

• Pet: Dog named Olive

Julia Owens is a seasoned professional with ten years of experience that includes significant roles in emergency medical services, psychiatric emergency services, crisis counseling, forensic assertive community treatment, and legal advocacy for adults with severe mental illness and justice system involvement. Julia is passionate about enhancing mental health outcomes for first responders, underserved adults, and formerly incarcerated individuals. At RDA, she supports a variety of planning, evaluation, and research projects across the community health, human services, and justice sectors. Prior to joining RDA Consulting, Julia conducted research on violence reduction at Napa State Psychiatric Hospital. Additionally, Julia has extensive experience developing and delivering accessible and skill-focused behavioral health and crisis de-escalation training specifically designed for frontline workers and first responders. Julia’s experience providing support in high-need communities, along with her graduate training in Clinical Psychology, provides a unique perspective on community-based mental health care and public health policy. Julia is dedicated to community service and currently serves on the Bay Area Rapid Transit Security Advisory Committee, and previously served on the Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) Advisory Board.

Select Projects

• Facilitator & Researcher: California Department of Social Services – Child Welfare Citizen Review Panels Facilitation
• Analyst: City of Davis – 3-Year Homeless Strategic Plan
• Analyst: Santa Cruz Behavioral Health Department – Crisis Now MHSA Innovation Evaluation

Education

• MA: Clinical Psychology – Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY
• BA: Psychology, International Relations – University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA

Getting to Know Me

• Pets: I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Cleo.
• Favorite quote: “Aut inveniam viam aut faciam” or “I shall either find a way or make one.” ~ Hannibal of Carthage, circa 218 BC
• Bucket list: Backpack around Europe, visit as many museums and cafes as possible!
• Karaoke: “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus

Paulina Hatfield has three years of professional experience and is a skilled quantitative researcher and cross-systems strategic planner with a focus on data analysis, program planning, and evaluation in public health. Paulina is passionate about communicating data and information both effectively and equitably to make data-informed decisions. At RDA, she supports a variety of planning, evaluation, and research projects across the community health and human services sectors. Her prior experience includes working with a research team based in Argentina where she assisted in the creation of literature reviews and project proposals aimed to reduce global maternal and infant mortality, and volunteer service as a Program Director for a nonprofit partnering with underserved communities to make measurable and sustainable improvements in their health and well-being.

Select Projects

• Qualitative Analyst: Livingston Community Health — COVID-19 Financial Hardship Program Evaluation
• Quantitative Analyst: San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services — Parent Project & Mental Health First Aid Evaluation
• Associate: Lake County Behavioral Health Services — Whole Person Care (WPC) Evaluation

Education

• MPH(c): Global Public Health — University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC
• BS: Nutrition-Nutrition Science — California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA

Getting to Know Me

• Favorite Quote: “You may live in the world as it is, but you can still work to create the world as it should be.” -Michelle Obama
• Volunteerism: I’m on the Young Professionals Board for Curamericas Global, a global non-profit organization based in Raleigh, NC (I joined while in graduate school!)
• Fun fact: I love coffee and I have a large (and growing) collection of coffee mugs

Penelope Fergison is a data expert with over two years of professional experience in the public and non-profits sectors specializing in translating data into clear findings and recommendations that deliver innovative and meaningful results. As a mixed-methods researcher with a humanities background, Penelope is passionate about blending spatial data with quantitative and qualitative data to communicate difficult concepts effectively through storytelling. As a master’s student, she used these principles to construct a social vulnerability index for the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, incorporating spatial statistics to identify where the city’s most digitally vulnerable residents live and direct future digital policy. At RDA, she supports a variety of criminal justice projects as a lead quantitative analyst. Prior to joining RDA, Penelope worked for the Los Angeles County Department of Workforce Development, Aging, and Community Services, where she managed and analyzed all program data for LA County’s nationally recognized worker safety intervention, PPE Unite.

Select Projects

• Lead Quantitative Analyst: Los Angeles County DHS – ORD Youth Diversion & Development (YDD) Evaluation
• Lead Quantitative Analyst: Napa County HHSA – Whole Person Care (WPC) Evaluation
• Lead Quantitative Analyst: Sonoma County Probation Department Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) Expansion Evaluation

Education

• MPP: Public Policy — University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
• BA: History of Public Policy and Political Science — University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA

Getting to Know Me

• Pets: I have two cats named Thalia and Iris
• Bucket list: Visit Japan, for at least a month!
• Go-to karaoke song and artist: Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
• Fun fact: I love to read mysteries and make key lime pie!

Sarah Ferrell brings to RDA prior experience from the education sector, non-profit social services, national and state public health insurance, and community organizing. Sarah enjoys facilitating groups, bringing together passionate and opinionated people who collaborate to solve complex problems together. Sarah is passionate about amplifying people’s stories to inform organizational strategy and action. She is a strategic and tactical thinker with a critical eye for how intersecting service systems implicate our most vulnerable community members. At RDA, Sarah supports a variety of projects that span the community health and human services sectors.

Select Projects

• Project Manager: Yolo County Health & Human Services Agency – Plan to Address Homelessness Action Planning
• Project Manager: Berkeley Health, Housing, and Community Services – Specialized Care Unit, Non-Police Crisis Needs Assessment and Planning
• Project Manager: Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Community Engagement Division – Technical Assistance and Evaluation for the James Cary Smith Community Grant Program

Education

• BA: Hearing & Speech Sciences – University of Maryland, College Park, MD
• MPH: Health & Social Behavior – University of California, Berkeley, CA
• MSW: Strengthening Organizations & Communities – University of California, Berkeley, CA

Getting to Know Me

• Pets: Unpopular opinion: plants are better than pets!!!
• Pet peeves: when people leave the faucet running and walk away…
• Fun fact: bakes the flakiest, layer’iest, most delicious buttermilk biscuits you’ve ever had!

Stephanie Duriez is a skilled researcher with nine years of experience specializing in improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system at the local and state level. She is also an experienced and dynamic presenter with extensive experience in training practitioners, conducting working group sessions, and testifying to executive and legislative bodies. Stephanie is particularly skilled in mixed-methods research; forging community partnerships; and advocating for administrative and legislative policy change to improve outcomes for communities and individuals, reduce costs for local and state governments, and elevate cross-sector service delivery. At RDA, Stephanie leads and supports a variety of criminal justice projects. Prior to RDA, she provided expert technical assistance focusing on high-level policy and data analysis to identify policy recommendations and provide implementation assistance to multiple states through the Council of State Governments Justice Center. She also previously served as Project Manager for the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute’s Evidence-Based Correctional Program Checklist Project.

Select Projects

• Project Manager: Los Angeles County Division of Youth Diversion and Development – Evaluation of Diversion Services
• Project Manager: Contra Costa County Behavioral Health Services in partnership with the Office of Education Mental Health Student Services Act – Wellness in Schools Program Evaluation
• Project Sponsor: Fresno County Probation Department – AB 109 Adult Re-entry Planning Program Evaluation

Education

• PhD: Criminal Justice – University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
• MS: Criminology – University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
• BA: Political Science – Seattle University, Seattle, WA

Getting to Know Me

• Favorite quote: “I am burning. If anyone lacks tinder, let him set his rubbish ablaze with my fire.” ~Rumi
• Fun fact: I moved 5 times in 9 years – all in the same city. I am still a terrible packer!

Tyeisha Fordham is a skilled mixed-methods researcher specializing in community development, engagement, data analysis, alternative reentry support, juvenile justice, racial and social justice, program planning, and restorative justice. At RDA, Tyeisha supports a variety of criminal justice planning, evaluation, and research projects. Tyeisha is passionate about making research practical and accessible for policymakers, practitioners, educators, community members, funders, and researchers. Her background in criminology and criminal justice, combined with hands-on experience with community partners, provides a unique perspective on evidence- and community-based social services and criminal justice policy. Prior to joining RDA, Tyeisha served on the leadership team of Helping Offenders Prosper through Employment (HOPE) Mentoring, an initiative pairing incarcerated juveniles in Indiana with college mentors to support reentry and reduce recidivism.

Select Projects

• Quantitative & Qualitative Analyst: Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services Department – Proposition (Prop) 47 Evaluation
• Quantitative & Qualitative Analyst: Fresno County Probation Department – Justice Assistance Grant Local Evaluation Plan and Report
• Quantitative Analyst: Contra Costa County Probation Department – Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) Youthful Offender Block Grant (YOBG) Technical Assistance

Education

• PhD (Candidate): Criminal Justice – Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• MA: Criminal Justice – Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• BA: Criminal Justice & Psychology – Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Getting to Know Me

• Favorite quote: “Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.” – Viktor Frankl
• Bucket list: Hike El Camino de Santiago with my partner
• Karoake: Where is the Love? – Black Eyed Peas
• Volunteerism: I am the Reentry Liaison for Helping Offenders Prosper through Employment (HOPE) Mentoring
• Fun fact: I was once “Governor” of a fake state.

Vanessa Guerrero is a skilled public health researcher and analyst who is passionate about using her research to enhance the quality of life among populations disproportionately affected by the social determinants of health. At RDA, Vanessa brings her expertise as an evaluator and analyst to a variety of projects in the Community Health and Human Services practices. Prior to joining RDA, she was a Research Analyst with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Nutrition and Physical Activity program researching and evaluating several aspects of the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) and CalFresh Healthy Living program. This work included the implementation of policy, systems, and environmental change strategies for produce distribution, food insecurity screenings, and referrals within Los Angeles County.

Select Projects

• Project Manager: InterFaith Shelter Network – Adult Reentry Grant Rental Assistance Program (ARG RAP) Evaluation
• Project Manager: San Mateo County Behavioral Health Services – Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Pacific Islanders Organizing, Nurturing and Empowering Everyone to Rise and Serve (PIONEERS) Evaluation
• Analyst: San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services – Mental Health Services Act Social Enterprise Café (Kapwa Kultural Center) Evaluation

Education

• MPH: Community Health Sciences – University of California, Los Angeles, CA
• BS: Public Health – Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, HI

Getting to Know Me

• Pets: Weezer the cat (like the band)
• Favorite quote: “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein
• Bucket list: To go skydiving in Hawaii