Dr. Denisse Avila

I am an educational researcher and program evaluation analyst. My educational background includes an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies as well as a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology- Research, Measurement, and Statistics. Currently, I work for a large urban school district evaluating school programs and provide data-based recommendations for several of the district's strategic initiatives. Prior to my current role, I worked in higher education for seven years, where I wrote and assessed curriculum for a course-based First-Year Experience program. Through my work in both K-12 and postsecondary education, I have gained experience working with administrators and program managers who are seeking to evaluate educational programs to support data-informed decisions. In addition to my analyst work, I also serve as an adjunct instructor at the University of North Texas where I teach graduate courses on Foundations of Research Methodology and Educational Statistics. My research interests are both quantitative and qualitative and include psychometrics, measurement invariance, regularized regression for DIF detection, and self-perceptions of marginalized pre-service teachers. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, doing Pilates/yoga, baking, and spending time with friends and family.