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Our Staff Rockman et al staff are dedicated, well-educated, versatile, and personable individuals who together pursue the company goal of helping people do what they do better. Their diverse credentials and experiences allow them to evaluate and consult on a wide range of projects, frequently using their creativity and ingenuity to help clients solve key problems and engage in meaningful organizational improvement. The group brings a rare combination of expertise and experience that yields fresh perspectives in each situation. Rockman et alStaff BiosSaul Rockman, President Kristin M. Bass, Ph.D. InternsAdjunct StaffJuliane Blazevski, Ph.D.
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Saul Rockman has spent more than 35 years as an evaluator, studying the use and impact of media and technology for learning as well as broadly educational projects in formal and informal settings. He is president of Rockman et al, an independent evaluation, research, and consulting firm headquartered in San Francisco. The company, now in its 20th year, works with preschool, K-12, postsecondary and adult education institutions, as well as with informal education projects having a wide community or consumer audience. In addition to core education initiatives, such as research on school reform and teacher professional development, Rockman conducts research and evaluation on public television and radio series, museum programs, mobile media and websites, and edutainment products. The company interests include school improvement, education and technology policy, after school programs, audience and consumer impact, and the effects of telecommunications and media.
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Kristin has over ten years of experience managing federally and privately funded education projects. Her areas of expertise include instrument selection and design, assessment development and validation, quantitative analysis, and statistical modeling. At Rockman, Kristin directs evaluation projects primarily related to STEM education and is senior staff in charge of proposal and grant writing and statistical modeling. In 2009 Kristin completed the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) Research Training Institute funded by Department of Education where she received advanced training in experimental research design and statistical analysis, including power analysis and Hierarchical Linear Modeling. Currently, Kristin is the Principal Investigator for the Advanced Digital Pathways program at the Bay Area Video Coalition, the Genome Science for Health project at the University of Utah’s Genetic Science Learning Center (GSLC); and the Mississippi Academy for Science Teaching (Project MAST).
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Jennifer joined the team at Rockman et al in 1998 and specializes in the evaluation of new media projects and programs and museum-based evaluation. At Rockman et al, Jennifer has managed evaluations for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS KIDS, the Microsoft Partners in Learning Program, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Jennifer has also led numerous workshops at regional and national conferences on evaluation techniques, including innovative uses of new technology to facilitate evaluation efforts. Jennifer holds undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Telecommunications and did her graduate studies in the Mass Communications program at Indiana University. Her graduate research focused on educational technology, physiological responses to media stimuli, and human-computer interface design. Jennifer also facilitated research and training on distance learning and web-based educational resources at the Center for Excellence in Education at Indiana University and served as the newsletter editor for the Educator's Technology Center at IUPUI.
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Scott has a formal background in adult education, instructional systems design, health services research, and qualitative research and evaluation. During his tenure at Rockman, Scott has managed research and evaluation projects in informal science in science centers with museums such as the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco and the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose. Scott’s other projects have included evaluation of nutrition and diet intervention in the Oakland (CA) public schools, the role of organizational partnerships and relationships for the KQED/Quest science series, and the impact of professional learning communities for elementary and middle school science teachers. Before coming to Rockman, Scott served as Director of Research and Development at the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Senior Life Sciences Analyst with Digital4Sight in Canada. Scott serves as a panel reviewer for the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Scott has an M.A. in Literature (Poetry) from Georgetown University and a Master’s in Library Science (MLS) from the University of Maryland. Scott enjoys tennis, independent film, fiction, and modern art. Joshua Halterman, M.A. Josh is a research assistant in the Bloomington Office. He holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Queens College, and Bachelors Degrees in History and Art History from Indiana University. Josh has a wide range of experience in education after working as a teacher for 7 years in public schools. His interests include classical and contemporary history, the history of education, and educational technology. Prior to working in public schools Josh gained qualitative and quantitative research experience as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar and New York City Teaching Fellow studying applied behavioral analysis and the impact of computer technology on student motivation and engagement. Julia Hazer, B.S. Julia has wide-ranging experience conducting research and evaluation, specifically of informal and formal learning, website, and museum projects. Julia is currently managing projects for clients including the California Academy of Sciences, the California State University Monterey Bay, and Youth Radio (a youth media education organization), as well as leading a dissertation rubric study for a university client. She recently conducted a website evaluation for an educational foundation and a market research project for an educational technology company. Since joining Rockman in 2005, she has worked with a variety of clients and has worked on federal grant projects with the United States Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and National Institutes of Health, including several Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects. She is certified in Web design and programming and has expertise in quantitative data analysis, conducting observations and interviews, and online survey development. Before coming to Rockman, Julia worked as a development assistant and research coordinator at WestEd and as a development coordinator for a grant writing and consulting firm. In 2002 through Teach for America, she taught music to over 600 students in 4th and 5th grades in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Julia has a B.S. in Psychology from Indiana University, Bloomington and a Computer Programming: Java Certificate from City College of San Francisco. In her spare time, Julia enjoys playing soccer, riding her bike, and playing the piano. Nisaa Kirtman, M.A. Areas of Expertise:
Nisaa Kirtman has over ten years experience conducting research and evaluation in formal and informal settings. Her areas of expertise include qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods, statistical analysis, case study methodology, analysis and evaluation of community-based services, program evaluation, report writing and grant narratives, survey design, and database management. As a Research Associate at Rockman, Nisaa manages evaluation projects related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. Her projects include the Mississippi Academy for Science Teaching at Jackson State University (Project MAST), funded by the National Science Foundation, and the University of California, Berkeley Museum of Paleontology (UCMP) Understanding Evolution project. Before coming to Rockman, Nisaa was a researcher at two non-profit research institutes: the Edgewood Center for Children and Families in San Francisco (the Institute for the Study of Community-Based Services) and the East Bay Community Recovery Project (EBCRP) in Oakland. She also served as Senior Analyst and owner of her own research consulting business in Santa Rosa. Nisaa's academic interests are in the areas of social psychology and the behavioral sciences. Nisaa has a Master's degree in social psychology from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor's degree from Scripps College (the women's college). During her time at SFSU she studied "stereotype threat," and understanding contextual factors that cause stereotyped groups to underperform in certain domains (women in math/science domains; Black Americans in academic settings). In her free time she enjoys sculpting, exercising, reading, and parenting.
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Adam has 15 years of combined experience in education research, evaluation, and teaching. Adam recently joined Rockman where he conducts research and evaluation for a design thinking project, dissemination of successful education initiatives, and online instructional modules. He has broad interests in learning and instruction for both youth and adults, and particular interests in motivation, cognition, metacognition, and self-regulated learning. Prior to joining Rockman, Adam was an Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, where he directed evaluations for a wide range of interdisciplinary education programs for health care students, faculty, and practitioners. Adam also has worked at the Center for Advanced Studies in Education at the City University of New York, conducting multiple intervention studies designed to help underprepared secondary and post-secondary level students from diverse backgrounds succeed in STEM and other disciplines through innovations in instruction, assessment, and teacher training. He is experienced in managing mixed methods evaluations of educational projects in K-12 classrooms and in out-of-school learning programs, and also has classroom experience as a special education teacher. Adam received his Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Educational Psychology from the City University of New York, with specialization in learning, development, and instruction, as well as a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Outside of the office, Adam enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and dining out and cooking. Ruchita Patel, M.A. Ruchita has an M.A. in Developmental Psychology and is interested in how education programs and interventions can be structured and manipulated to maximize comprehension. While completing her Master’s, Ruchita was able to solidify her qualitative and quantitative analysis skills by conducting a study to assess the efficacy of concrete models in fraction learning. Ruchita also has experience in developing mental health interventions over the internet. Her interests include mathematical cognition, survey development, instructional design, and technology. Outside of work, Ruchita enjoys exploring new cuisines, traveling, and reading.
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Molly has over fifteen years of practical and research experience in the field of informal education. Working in the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Learning Technologies Center, she was responsible for developing and running after school programs and technology-based classes for school groups and the public. She did graduate work in Science Education at King’s College London with the Center for Informal Learning and Schools (CILS) where her research examined social interaction at and around technologically-rich science center exhibits. Two of her academic interests include how social interaction can be fostered in learning environments and how the bridge between research and practice can be narrowed. At Rockman, Molly's work has focused on evaluation projects in science education, at science centers, in other informal learning environments, and in public media. Specific projects have included the evaluation of Science in Action at the California Academy of Sciences; the Environment Student Learning Initiative (ESLI), a partnership between SFUSD, Global Exchange, and CES; SoundVision Productions radio program, The Really Big Questions, and The Tech Museum Tech Awards Gallery. Bringing her experience as a practitioner together with her research training, she has the ability to bridge these two worlds, understanding what is relevant to our clients. Molly’s non-academic interests include playing pinball, cooking and eating, and exploring new places.
Justin has wide-ranging experience in project administration, museum education, and website support. In the Bloomington office, Justin oversees the coordination and management of data collection as well as managing all administrative duties. Justin is also responsible for online survey and website development. Since joining Rockman in 2002, Justin has been an instrumental component of over forty multi-year evaluation projects, including National History Day, PBS: KIDS GO!, New Visions for Public Schools: Hunter College Evaluation, as well as the PBS television programs The Music Instinct and Earth the Operators' Manual. Previously, Justin researched, designed and implemented exhibits for the Indiana Historical Society while also writing and producing a bi-monthly radio show that explored unique aspects of Indiana history throughout the 20th century. He earned his bachelor’s degree in anthropology, communication and culture from Indiana University. Justin is also an experienced performer who acts with local theatre troupes and performs with The Indiana Shakespeare Company.
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Camellia has extensive experience conducting research and evaluation within informal settings such as museums, homes, and the web. She frequently works with museum partners to articulate project outcomes, identify tools to collect meaningful data, and to make design decisions based on the analysis of visitor data. At Rockman, Camellia leads several museum and media-related projects including evaluations of the Sackler Lab educational programming at the American Museum of Natural History, Earth: The Operators' Manual, which has television program, website, and museum outreach components, and Comcast Digital Connectors, a community-based technology skills and leadership development program. She also helps evaluate formal education initiatives, including New Visions for New Schools and Hunter College's teacher residency and On the Cutting Edge's professional development workshops and website. Camellia is active in several educational research organizations, including the Conference Planning Committee of the Visitor Studies Association and the Informal Learning Educational Research Special Interest Group within the American Educational Research Association, where she serves as Communications Chair. Before coming to Rockman, Camellia worked for UPCLOSE (University of Pittsburgh Center for Learning in Out-of-School Environments), and as a Research Fellow at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. While there, she taught several courses to pre-service teachers on how to utilize field trips, educational programs, and other museum resources in the classroom. Camellia has also written several articles on family learning in informal environments, exploring how measures such as time spent, visitor engagement, and content conversations are used in these settings. Camellia has a B.A in Psychology and a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She also holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. In her spare time, Camellia enjoys playing board games, increasing her knowledge of pop culture, and kayaking.
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Kay has over 25 years of experience evaluating a wide range of initiatives in education and school reform, technology, the arts, and children’s media. She currently manages Rockman’s studies of federally-funded initiatives designed to improve teaching, leadership, and learning in high-need urban schools, in partnership with the New York-based New Leaders for New Schools, New Visions for Public Schools, and Hunter College. Kay’s expertise is in qualitative research methods, and she has developed rubrics, case studies, and research briefs for a variety of clients and conducted numerous assessments of student writing, including those conducted as part of the recently completed multi-state evaluation of National History Day. Kay’s other work in the arts and humanities includes the summative study of the NSF-funded Music Instinct and nationwide evaluations of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Big Read; and Poetry Out Loud, sponsored by the NEA in partnership with the Poetry Foundation. Rockman has a longstanding interest in the impact of technology on teaching and learning, in both K-12 and higher ed, and Kay has worked on projects ranging from studies of virtual learning in rural schools to an evaluation of the Wide Web for Women, an NSF-funded effort to increase women’s participation in computer science courses and careers. Before joining Rockman, Kay worked in children’s media, as an evaluator for PBS and the Agency for Instructional Television in Bloomington, Indiana, where she authored a book on the development of a nationally distributed children’s television series. Kay has taught in public schools and at the university level. She did her doctoral work in English and Comparative Literature at Indiana University, Bloomington, and still spends much of her free time reading. She enjoys music, walks with the dog, and travel with her husband and children. Code Violet Code manages daily accounting, benefits administration, acquisitions, tech support and office logistics in San Francisco. Aside from office matters, Code provides project support in the form of instrument translation, online survey development, and print production. As a crafty and resourceful techie, Code has a lust for troubleshooting and utilizes knowledge of multiple computing and software platforms to assist with staff needs. Prior to joining Rockman et al, Code worked in small business settings handling public relations, tech support, mass product distribution, and Web analytics. Away from the office, Code zooms around on a menacing moto, sees films religiously, studies foreign languages and loves to travel.
At Rockman, Katie has been working with teams on the evaluation of National History Day, EPIC New Leaders leadership development and teacher incentive program, the American Museum of National History’s Sackler Lab course evaluation, and the NSF funded evaluation of the PBS program Earth the Operators’ Manual. She has also worked on projects from clients such as Archie MD, Sylvan Learning Centers, New Visions for New Schools, and George Lucas Foundation, as well as other NSF funded projects for example The Music Instinct project and Wide Web for Women. Katie has a background in sociology with a focus on Women and Children’s issues in conflict areas of Northern Ireland. She taught 4th graders for two years in Phoenix, Arizona through Teach for America. During that time, she also earned a Master’s degree in Education from Arizona State University. She studied the role of collaborative learning in helping students reach higher cognitive levels. In her free time, Katie enjoys cooking, reading, exercising, and spending time outdoors.
David is the Director of Operations at Rockman et al, handling many of the financial and logistical functions of the business. He is part of the senior management team, working on policy development, certifications and compliance, managerial accounting, and technology implementations. David also works with clients on contract issues and with REA staff on budgeting, proposal development and general administration. David has a B.A. in Philosophy from Swarthmore College and has worked as a business administrator since graduating in 1992. Outside of Rockman et al, David enjoys woodworking and meditation, but mostly spending time with his wife, Sara, and daughter, Lucy. Interns
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