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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. They have been communications experts, interactive media specialists, technical advisors, teachers, school administrators, a professor, a lawyer, and a school board member. This uniquely qualified group has research skills ranging from conducting interviews and focus groups, to developing customized print and on-line surveys, to carrying out sophisticated quantitative data analyses. Rockman staff gives serious consideration to every research opportunity and takes on those for which they feel they can make a meaningful contribution.

Short biographical sketches are provided below along with email links for contacting individuals directly.

Rockman et al
Staff Bios

Saul Rockman, President

Elizabeth Bandy, Ph.D.
Kristin M. Bass, Ph.D.
Jennifer Borland, M.A.
Scott Burg , M.A., M.L.S.
Monnette Fung, Ed.M.
Julia Hazer, B.S.
Michelle Honeyford, M.Ed.
Colleen Kuusinen, B.A.
Frances Montell, Ph.D.
Sarah Mushlin, M.A.
Maura Pereira-Leon, M.S., Ed.S.
Molly Reisman
Justin Robertson, B.A.
Camellia Sanford, Ph.D.
Brianna Scott, Ph.D.
Kay Sloan, M.A.
Code Violet
Michelle Weissman, Ph.D.
Katie White, M.A.
David Wilmore, B.A.

Adjunct Staff

Cynthia Char, Ed.D.
Mitra FathollahPour, M.A.
Candy Miller, Ed.M.
Cassidy Puckett, M.A.
Nate Titterton, Ph.D.
Elise Trumbull, Ed.D.

Saul Rockman
President
San Francisco Office

Saul established Rockman et al in 1990 after leaving the education marketing group of Apple Computer where he was manager of education research. While at Apple, Saul disseminated research findings on the impact of computers for learning and managed a large-scale effects study. He helped Apple establish partnerships with educational organizations for national technology policy development. Prior to joining Apple, Saul was director of technology programs at WestEd in San Francisco, California. There he conducted research on teacher training programs in technology, analyzed technology resources in social studies, developed distance education projects for rural schools, served as executive producer of award-winning videos on child care, and conducted technology policy research. Before moving to San Francisco, Saul was director of research at the Agency for Instructional Technology (AIT) in Bloomington, Indiana. At AIT, he conducted research on numerous instructional television programs for a consortium of state and provincial educational agencies and developed and managed a computer and video project on problem solving. Saul did his doctoral work in Mass Communications at Indiana University, Bloomington. Saul’s professional interests are wide-ranging, and he is always looking for interesting challenges. In the meantime, he enjoys reading and resting on tropical beaches (and snorkeling off them), or reading and resting in the mountains (but not snorkeling there).

Elizabeth Bandy , Ph.D.
San Francisco Office

Elizabeth has over ten years of experience with research and teaching in youth and media. Currently, Elizabeth conducts research and evaluation projects related to technology and digital media education as an independent research consultant. At Rockman et al, Elizabeth conducts evaluations of KQED Public Media’s QUEST science and technology programming and education initiatives, the Advanced Digital Pathways program at the Bay Area Video Coalition, and A Wide Web of Women (WWW.2), an initiative that encourages girls and young women to pursue technology careers. Elizabeth also teaches media courses at San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco. Elizabeth has a B.S. in Communication from Miami University, an M.A. in Communication Technology and Policy from UT Austin, and a Ph.D. in Children, Adolescents and Media from Stanford University. When not indulging in sci-fi/fantasy television fandom, Elizabeth can usually be found with her feet in the grass enjoying the sunshine.

Kristin M. Bass, Ph.D.
San Francisco Office

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).

Prior to joining Rockman, Kristin was a postdoctoral fellow at the Learning Research and Development Center at the University of Pittsburgh, and the Berkeley Evaluation and Assessment Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Her papers have been published in peer-reviewed journals and books, including commissioned papers for the National Academy of Science and Technical Reports for the National Center for Research on Evaluation. Kristin has a B.A. in Psychology from Yale University and a Ph.D. in education and psychology from the University of Michigan. She is a fan of children's literature, cute animals (especially cats), and very bad puns.

Jennifer Borland, M.A.
Bloomington Office

Jennifer has an M.A. from the Mass Communications program at Indiana University, where her research focused on educational technology, physiological responses to media stimuli, and human-computer interface design, and she worked for the Center for Excellence in Education. Since coming to Rockman et al in 1998, Jennifer has managed the evaluation of several federally funded grants as well as school-based and district-wide technology initiatives. Jennifer also specializes in the evaluation of museum-based and media-related projects and programs. She has managed evaluations for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS KIDS, DragonflyTV, 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 workshop at regional and national conferences on evaluation techniques, including the evaluation of web-based programs and products.

Scott Burg , M.A., M.L.S.
San Francisco Office

Scott has a formal background in adult education, instructional systems design, health/education technology product development and evaluation, and qualitative research. Since coming to Rockman, Scott has managed multiple/concurrent qualitative evaluation projects in informal science (exhibits, media, teacher professional development, youth development) 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, and the role of organizational partnerships and relationships for the KQED/Quest science series and other informal science programs. Scott works closely with staff from Bay Area private foundations on design and development of program evaluation initiatives. 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 from the University of Maryland. Scott enjoys tennis, independent film, fiction, and modern art.

Monnette Fung, Ed.M.
San Francisco Office

Monnette is an experienced Web developer and has worked on many aspects of the Web, including usability, design, and data analysis. Monnette recently received her Ed.M. in Technology in Education from Harvard University. While at Harvard, she was involved in the evaluation of several Web-based projects, including WGBH Interactive’s FFFBI (Fin, Fur, and Feather Bureau of Investigation) site for kids and the Milwaukee Public Schools Professional Support Portal. In addition to her online work, Monnette is also interested in language development and has taught in a K-8 bilingual after-school program. Monnette spends most of her free time rushing from work to volleyball. When she's not working or playing volleyball, she also enjoys traveling, macro photography, and playing group games.

Julia Hazer, B.S.
San Francisco Office

Julia has wide-ranging experience in research and evaluation, specifically in educational settings. Since coming to Rockman in 2005, Julia has managed various education projects, including projects involving the California Academy of Science, the University of Kansas, California State University Monterey Bay, and a market research project for a confidential educational technology client. She has also worked on projects for clients such as the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, the George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF), Girls InnovaTE3, Twin Cities Public Television & Red Hill Studios (Exploring Time), KQED, PBS, and on federal grants with the United States Department of Education and the National Science Foundation. She is certified in Web design and programming and has expertise in creating and administering online surveys, in addition to experience conducting interviews with diverse populations. Prior to Rockman, Julia worked as a development assistant and research coordinator at WestEd (a nonprofit research, development, and service agency) and as a coordinator for a grant writing and consulting firm called Forward Progress. 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 bicycle, and playing the piano.

Michelle Honeyford, M.Ed.
Bloomington Office

Michelle has worked on a wide array of projects as a Research Associate with Rockman et al. For the past eight years, she has conducted research on inquiry- and community-based learning initiatives that utilize interactive videoconferencing technology. She has also worked on evaluations of a state-wide, technology-based professional development program for school administrators, an innovative distance learning program for teachers of English Language Learners, and a middle-school laptop and problem-based learning initiative. Michelle is especially interested in literacy and has been involved in several studies focusing on writing, reading, digital literacy, and English Language Learners. Before joining Rockman, Michelle was a high school English teacher. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in English Education at Indiana University, Bloomington, where she teaches courses in writing instruction at the School of Education. Michelle enjoys water and snow sports, reading, and spending time with her family.

Colleen Kuusinen, B.A.
San Francisco Office

Colleen has extensive experience in public, private, and after-school education for K-12 students and research work. While at Rockman et al, she has worked on numerous projects including the George Lucas Educational Foundation's Edutopia projects, SRI’s InnovaTE3 program, the Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) Spanish Media project, the Science and Technology Program at Youth Radio, and a higher education dissertation study. She has experience in quantitative and qualitative analyses, data collection, and report writing. Prior to joining REA, Colleen worked as a public school educator focusing on the literacy and language needs of English Language Learners (ELLs). Along with her colleagues, she developed curricular materials that were later adapted and produced for national distribution by an educational resource development organization specializing in ELL curriculum. Colleen received her B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley. After work, you’ll find Colleen cooking, writing, practicing yoga, or hiking through the redwoods.

Frances Montell, Ph.D.
San Francisco Office

Frances conducts educational research and program evaluation, specializing in science, mathematics, and technology projects. She has expertise in many aspects of research and evaluation design, including development of program logic models, design and implementation of various data collection strategies, and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. While at Rockman, Frances has managed projects relating to educational technology for clients such as CTAP IV, OpenWorld Learning, and the Lawrence Hall of Science ESITA project (an NSF ITEST grant). She has also managed arts education and teacher professional development projects for the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts and conducted an evaluation of a salad bar implementation in Oakland Unified School District. She is currently managing several science and environmental education projects, both in-school and after-school, for clients such as San Francisco’s Environmental Service Learning Initiative (ESLI), Girls InnovaTE3 (an ITEST grant, partnership between SRI and Girls Inc. of Alameda County), a pilot project of KQED Quest public media, East Bay Regional Park District and the Encyclopedia of Life, and a teacher professional development program of the California Academy of Sciences. Before joining Rockman, Frances was a researcher at WestEd, and prior to that she was a researcher and project manager at the Stanford Learning Lab at Stanford University. Frances has a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She played Ultimate Frisbee with UCSB's Burning Skirts and the Santa Barbara Condors and enjoys teaching people how to throw and catch a disc.

Sarah Mushlin, M.A.
San Francisco Office

Sarah has ten years of experience in the field of education evaluation and educational assessment. While at Rockman, Sarah has managed evaluation projects related to both formal and informal education, including the Mississippi Academy for Science Teaching (Project MAST), the Spanish Language Media Project (both funded through the National Science Foundation), and numerous projects for the George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF). Sarah specializes in strategic planning and qualitative methods, including program theory, usability testing, case analysis, focus groups, and cognitive interviews. Sarah comes to Rockman with a B.A. from Brandeis University in Anthropology and an M.A in International Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Maura Pereira-Leon, M.S., Ed.S.
Bloomington Office

Maura has a long-time productive career in education and research. For the past six years at Rockman, she has worked on a broad spectrum of impact and effectiveness research studies including the statewide West Virginia Virtual Program for middle school students, the multi-state Star Schools online reading and math programs, the Cultural Competency Training study for California Teachers, the field study of Quality Teaching for English Language Learners professional development for teachers of New York City, and the effectiveness of a commercial Spanish language Web-based training solution. Maura has also participated in several collaborative evaluation studies including the Lawrence Hall of Science: Science and Math in Spanish-Media Project, the California State Polytechnic University Library grant implementation, the New Leaders for Schools: Effective Practices, and the PBS Raising Readers online Kids Island. Prior to joining Rockman, Maura provided technical assistance to high schools in Indianapolis Public Schools on diversity and multicultural education. At Indiana University, she conducted research on teachers’ technology integration, teachers’ professional development, and technology-enhanced language learning instruction. Additionally, Maura was a faculty member at a national public university in Venezuela and academic director of the Simon Rodriguez Virtual University. Maura holds a B.S. in Education, a M.S. in Adult Education, an Ed.S. in Instructional Technology, and a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Technology and Inquiry Methodology from Indiana University.

Molly Reisman
San Francisco Office

Molly has over ten years of 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. Currently, she is working on a Ph.D. in Science Education at King’s College London with the Center for Informal Learning and Schools (CILS) where her research examines 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 centers and informal learning environments. 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 Mead Robertson, B.A.
Bloomington Office

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!, The Big Read, and Poetry Out Loud. 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.

Camellia Sanford, Ph.D.
Bloomington Office

Camellia has extensive experience conducting research and evaluation within informal settings such as museums, homes, and the Web. Camellia’s recent projects at Rockman include assessments of educational mobile phone applications for PBS' Raising Readers program and The Wildlab. Camellia has also helped develop survey and interview instruments for the NSF-funded summative evaluation of the Music Instinct program, and the Passport to Knowledge initiative, Earth: The Owner’s Manual. 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. 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 hiking.

Kay Sloan, M.A.
Managing Research Director
Bloomington Office

Kay has over 25 years of experience evaluating a wide range of initiatives in education, technology, the arts, and children’s media. She currently manages 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. She has also conducted research on technology projects ranging from virtual learning in rural schools, to the impact of technology on students’ writing, to the Wide Web for Women, an NSF-funded effort to increase the participation of women in computer science classes and careers. Kay directs much of Rockman’s work in the arts and humanities, including evaluations of National History Day; The Music Instinct, funded in part by the National Science Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts’ Big Read; and Poetry Out Loud, sponsored by the NEA in partnership with the Poetry Foundation. Before joining Rockman, Kay worked as an evaluator for PBS and the Agency for Instructional Television in Bloomington, Indiana, where she authored a book on a nationally distributed children’s television series. Kay has also 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 her free time reading, just about anything from new fiction to old favorites like Jane Austen. She’s a crossword and acrostic fan, and enjoys travel with her husband and college-age kids and walks with their dog.

Brianna Scott
San Francisco Office

Brianna holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University’s School of Education with an emphasis in Learning Sciences and Psychology. Currently, she manages a variety of projects ranging from a quasi-experimental pilot evaluation of the Time to Know program to large-scale development surveys, interviews and data analysis for the George Lucas Foundation to studying the use of dissertation rubrics in higher education through a reliability and validity study. In addition to these projects, Brianna expertise in research design and quantitative analysis leads her to consult on several other REA projects and grant proposals. Her main research interests include how students learn and how to bolster that learning through teacher practices, critical thinking, and use of technology in and out of the classroom. Prior to joining the REA team, Brianna worked for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) managing a wide range of research projects and performing high-level statistical modeling of college student-athletes’ academic performance in order to inform national policies. Brianna has published several peer-reviewed journal articles and has presented research findings at the American Educational Research Association on multiple occasions. Outside of research, Brianna enjoys spending time with her husband and two small children, playing golf, writing poetry and watching classic Cary Grant movies.

Code Violet
San Francisco Office

Code is the go-to-guy for the day-to-day accounting and office management in San Francisco. Aside from money matters, Code provides project support in the form of Spanish 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 a small business setting handling public relations, tech support, promotional product fulfillment, and generating Web traffic reports. Away from the office, Code zooms around on a menacing moto, sees films religiously, writes, draws, and is an avid gamer.

Michelle D. Weissman, Ph.D.
San Francisco Office

Michelle's background is in cognitive development and cognitive science applied to education—including language development, cognitive disabilities, and cross-cultural influences on development. She is especially interested in how students learn, the tools they use for learning, and the socio-cultural influence on thinking and learning. While at Rockman et al, Michelle has led research and evaluation projects of professional development programs, online learning programs, and educational technology resources. She has strong research and design skills, with an emphasis on quantitative analyses. Before joining Rockman et al, Michelle taught at both the preschool and university levels. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys baking and traveling to new places.

Katie White, M.A.
Bloomington Office

At Rockman, Katie has been working with teams on the evaluation of National History Day, EPIC New Leaders leadership development and teacher incentive program, and the NSF funded summative evaluation for the Music Instinct program. 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, working out, and spending time outdoors.

David Wilmore, B.A.
Director of Operations
San Francisco Office

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.

Cynthia Char, Ed.D.
East Coast Region (Boston, New York)

Cynthia has over twenty years of experience in the research and development of educational media and curricula designed for children and families. She worked as a senior researcher and designer at Bank Street College's Center for Children and Technology, and at Education Development Center (EDC). Now the head of Char Associates, an educational consulting firm, she has worked on numerous projects with Rockman et al. Her areas of expertise include interactive media, mathematics and science curricula, and collaborative partnerships between educational organizations. Cynthia received her Ed.D. in Human Development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Mitra FathollahPour, M.A.
San Francisco Office

Mitra is a Master's student at Stanford University, working towards her second Master's in Learning, Design and Technology. She has a strong background in education with a previous Master's degree in Educational Psychology and a B.A. in Clinical Psychology. She worked on a project called FarsiTeachNet(FTN) as a research fellow at Stanford University. FTN is an online community of practice for Farsi speaking teachers in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Iran. She is the co-founder of Manzoumeh Kherad Institute that has been established by 58 teachers. This private educational institute, in addition to a successful K-12 girls' school in Iran, is active in fields of research and consultancy. Mitra worked as a manager of the research department at the institute. She spends most of her free time hiking, swimming, and skiing.

Candy Miller, Ed.M.
East Coast Region (Boston, New York)

Candy has over four years of experience in educational research and data analysis. Prior to consulting with Rockman et al, she spent four years working with one of the world's leading non-profit education research organizations, the Education Development Center. While at the EDC, she evaluated the effects of preschool classroom environments, teacher-child interaction, and specific features of programs and families on children's language, literacy and social development. She specializes in the use of statistical methods, specifically Hierarchical Linear Modeling, to analyze data for various education research and improvement projects. Candy received her master's degree in Human Development and Psychology with an emphasis in research methods and statistics from Harvard University.

Cassidy Puckett, M.A.
Chicago Region

Cassidy is involved in research and evaluation projects primarily pertaining to K-12, including formal and informal learning, educational technology, teacher professional development programs, language and culture, history, art, and others. Her specialty is the use of qualitative research methods. Cassidy has taught Arts & Robotics at Urban Promise Academy Middle School, one of Oakland Unified School District’s small schools and mentored a Big Picture/MetWest High School student. Prior to joining Rockman, Cassidy worked full-time at Urban Promise as an instructor, technology planner and grant writer. Cassidy holds an M.A. in Learning, Design and Technology from Stanford and is currently working on a Ph.D. in Sociology at Northwestern. In her spare time, Cassidy likes to run, read fiction, draw, and play vicious games of backgammon.

Nate Titterton, Ph.D.
San Francisco Region

Nate is currently a researcher and lecturer at the University of California at Berkeley and a consultant for Rockman et al. His current research is on Web-based curriculum and tools to support lab-based courses, and he has worked on e-learning design and infrastructure, statistical misconceptions, and instructional technology design. Nate has expertise in statistical analyses and research methods and Web-based tools to support educational processes. He received a Ph.D. in Education and an M.A. in statistics from U. C. Berkeley.

Elise Trumbull, Ed.D.
San Francisco Region

Elise is an educational consultant specializing in sociocultural influences on learning and schooling. A former teacher, Trumbull completed her doctorate in education in the area of applied psycholinguistics at Boston University in 1984. She has studied five languages other than English and has conducted applied research in cultural settings ranging from California and Arizona to Micronesia. As a senior research associate at WestEd, a federally-funded educational laboratory based in San Francisco, Trumbull directed a teacher collaborative action research project called “Bridging Cultures” from 1996-2004. Trumbull has co-authored numerous articles and book chapters, as well as six books. Among them are Assessment Alternatives for Diverse Classrooms (with Beverly Farr; Christopher-Gordon, 1997), Bridging Cultures between Home and School: A Guide for Teachers (with Carrie Rothstein-Fisch, Patricia M. Greenfield, & Blanca Quiroz; Lawrence Erlbaum, 2001), and Grading and Reporting in an Age of Standards (with Beverly Farr; Christopher-Gordon, 2000).

Our Staff

Rockman et al Staff Bios

Adjunct Staff

Rockman et al
Staff Bios