Session 3: Agencies

Dr. Jessica Bradshaw is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of South Carolina and a Board Member of the International Congress of Infant Studies. Dr. Bradshaw’s research focuses on early identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the first years of life. Specifically, she is interested in developing novel techniques to evaluate social behavior, visual attention, and motor skills in newborns and infants in order to map atypical pathways and developmental cascades that lead to the emergence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

Dr. Callie Womble Edwards is an award-winning research methodologist and innovative leader with demonstrated expertise in building and leading effective, equity-centered research teams and partnerships. For over a decade, she has used mixed research methods (qualitative and quantitative) as tools to study, partner with, and advocate for historically underrepresented and underserved populations in university, community-based, and state government environments. Dr. Edwards currently serves as the Director of the Program Evaluation and Education Research Group at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation. In this role, she leads all aspects of a 20+ member, soft-money funded team including ten full-time researchers, graduate research assistants, undergraduate interns, and consultants. She also teaches doctoral research methods classes in NC State’s College of Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Research and Policy Analysis with a specialization in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University, and a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Health Behavior from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jenni Owen is the Director of the North Carolina Office of Strategic Partnerships. In this role, she identifies and launches strategic partnerships between and among state government, universities/colleges, philanthropy, and other entities. This includes increasing and expanding state government connections with external research experts and increasing agency capacity to conduct and use evidence to improve policy and practice. Jenni was previously Policy Director for Governor Roy Cooper and Director of Policy Engagement and on the faculty of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. A 2007 Eisenhower Fellow to South Africa, her civic roles have included: NC Indigent Defense Services (commissioner); “El Futuro” and Durham Children’s Initiative (board member); Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management (policy council member); and National Conference of State Legislatures Evidence Informed Policymaking work group (member). She is currently a member of the Duke-NCCU (North Carolina Central University) Clinical Translational Science Institute Regional Community and Stakeholder Advisory Committee, associate editor of the Society for Research in Child Development Social Policy Report, and on the advisory group of the Transforming Evidence Network.

Dr. Paul Strande is a White House Leadership Development Program Fellow currently serving as the Senior Advisor for Research Partnerships for the Office of Management and Budget’s Evidence Team. In this role, Mr. Strande is working to execute new processes to facilitate connections between academic researchers and federal agencies as well as support the implementation of the first ever President’s Management Agenda (PMA) Learning Agenda. At his home agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, Paul is a proven strategic leader of aviation innovation with over 15 years of experience managing and leading research & engineering programs to deliver results that benefit the FAA, industry, and the public. Mr. Strande holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and is Project Management Professional certified.

Dr. Rose Wesche is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science at Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on relationships and health in adolescence and emerging adulthood. She uses interdisciplinary perspectives to examine how interpersonal relationships, including friendships, romantic relationships, and casual sexual relationships, are associated with well-being. Rose is also the chair of SRA's Social Policy Committee.

Lindsay Turner Trammell is the Director for Policy at SRCD. In this role, she works closely with SRCD’s Executive Director, Society leadership, and membership of the Society to support SRCD’s core mission. Lindsay is a policy professional with over a decade of nonprofit leadership, policy analysis and strategic planning. She has been the executive director of a K-5 education nonprofit in Alabama, consulted with Scottish Parliament on gender disparities for elected officials, and was the Director of the Social Mobility Commission for the UK government. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Cambridge. She holds dual citizenship in the US and the UK.