Dr. Angelica Thompson is a research analyst and analytical strategist committed to fostering equity based on race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, and sexual orientation. She works side by side with decision-makers to define and implement strategies that are based on data analysis and modeling to solve a variety of organizational challenges. As Director of Evaluation at Per Scholas, Dr. Thompson analyzes data to convey key insights and research opportunities that support leadership in implementing actionable recommendations to meet organizational goals. In her work as CEO and Director of Research and Evaluation at Data Works, LLC, she aids community-based organizations and government agencies, training on the use of data collection tools to back data innovation and continuous improvement processes. She’s recognized for her ability to identify the best and most reasonable evaluation methods, data collection processes, and causal identification strategies—formulating and applying models, interpreting data, and presenting recommendations to drive meaningful change.Earlier in her career, Dr. Thompson was a Senior Education Researcher for CSEdResearch.org, a Research Advisor for Shelby County Schools, and a Child and Adolescent Therapist at Lakeside Behavioral Health Systems. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the Memphis College of Art, the University of Phoenix, the University of Memphis, and Christian Brothers University. Course instruction has spanned Introduction to and Essentials of Psychology, Lifespan Development, Learning Processes and Assessment, and Educational Psychology.Dr. Thompson is the co-founder and co-host of the A Queer Understanding podcast, providing a safe space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to come together to share stories, perspectives, and resources. And she is a member of the board for Communities in Schools Memphis. Dr. Thompson holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and an M.S. in Psychology from the University of Memphis. Dr. Thompson also holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and is a member of the American Evaluators Association (AEA), the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Stand for Children, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), and the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce.