OCCRL--Office of Community College Research and Leadership


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OCCRL Staff

FACULTY


		Debra D. Bragg Professor of Higher Education, EOL, and Director of the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) Debra D. Bragg is a Professor of the Department of Educational Organization and Leadership in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is also responsible for coordinating the College of Education's Higher Education and Community College Executive Leadership programs. Dr. Bragg is the site director and a principal investigator for the National Centers for Career and Technical Education, funded by the US Department of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and she is the principal investigator for grants and contracts with the Illinois Community College Board, the Lumina Foundation for Education. She served in a key leadership capacity including Executive Director of the National Council on Student Development (NCSD), an affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges from 2002 to 2007. Her research focuses on P-16 policy issues, with a special interest in high school-to-college transition and various policies and practices focused on addressing the educational needs of underserved students. For numerous years she has directed national and state level research and evaluation studies examining the participation of diverse students in various high school-to-college transition initiatives including studies of the impact of career pathways, tech prep and dual credit. Her recent investigations have broadened to examine the implementation and impact of career pathways for low skill, low income adults.
		Research Interests \| Curriculum Vitae

RESEARCHERS


		Catherine Kirby Assistant Director Catherine Kirby joined the Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) in the fall of 2004 as a visiting information specialist. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) with an emphasis on Community College Leadership, she currently serves as Assistant Director of OCCRL. In this role, she provides leadership in research and development projects related to Adult Career Pathways, Tech Prep, and Dual Credit. In addition, she serves as Managing Editor of Update, the semi-annual online newsletter produced by the Office. In addition to her work for OCCRL, Ms. Kirby is an adjunct instructor at Eastern Illinois University in the department of Career and Organizational Studies, School of Technology. She is also experienced as an educational consultant and trainer in the healthcare industry, designing and delivering educational modules in management, career development, and leadership.

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS


Collin Ruud Collin Ruud is a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Higher Education. He received his Master's of Education in Higher Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and has also studied at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. Collin's research interests include college student development, student affairs, high school to postsecondary transitions, and technology in higher education. He previously has worked as a research assistant in the Office of the Vice President for Technology and Economic Development and has worked for two years as an administrator in residence halls. Prior to his Master's work, Collin received his Bachelor's of Music at Butler University.

Natasha Jankowski Natasha Jankowski is a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Higher Education. She currently is conducting research for the OCCRL funded by Illinois Community College Board and Illinois State Board of Education grants. Natasha has a Master's degree in Higher Education from Kent State University and a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Illinois State University. She previously worked for GEAR UP Learning Centers at Western Michigan University as evaluation coordinator. Her main research interests include assessment/evaluation, accreditation/strategic planning, and student success as system dynamics.

Ivanete Maciente

Ivanete Maciente is a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the Educational Psychology Department. She currently serves as a Graduate Research Assistant performing research associated with the OCCRL, including the data mapping project and the Tech Prep trends analysis. Ivanete has a Master degree in Statistics (Federal University of Brasilia - Brazil) and a bachelor's degree in Statistics and Pedagogy (State of Sao Paulo University - Brazil). Her main research interests include evaluation and measurement in education.

Ivanete Maciente

Jason Taylor

Jason Taylor is a Master’s degree student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Higher Education. He received his B.S. in music business from Illinois State University where he also served as an Acting Academic Advisor. Prior to graduate school, he was the Registrar at Chaparral College in Tucson, Arizona. He is conducting research on programs of study for the OCCRL.

Jason Taylor

SUPPORTING STAFF


		Linda Iliff, Secretary Linda Iliff is the administration assistant and office manager for all of Dr. Debra Bragg's research projects at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She holds an Associate Degree in Desktop Publishing and Graphic Design from Parkland College. Linda has been employed at the University of Illinois for 17 years and has 25 years of administrative and secretarial experience.

Contact the OCCRL at:

	Office of Community College Research and Leadership University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 51 Gerty Drive, 129 CRC Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: 217-244-9390 Fax: 217-244-0851 E-mail: occrl@uiuc.edu

	Office of Community College Research and Leadership \| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 51 Gerty Drive, 129 CRC \| Champaign, IL 61820 phone: 217-244-9390 \| fax: 217-244-0851 \| e-mail: occrl@uiuc.edu