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Bethany Welch, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate |
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Expertise
Organizational development, strategic planning and coalition facilitation, program evaluation, needs assessments and asset development
Dr. Welch, Senior Research Associate, has experience in organizational development, nonprofit governance and board support, facilitating community coalitions, and strategic planning. Prior to joining CGR in 2008, she explored issues of neighborhood change in inner cities, coordinated regional research on hunger and food security, and participated in a range of public policy research projects for human service organizations. Many of her research studies involved multi-racial, multi-lingual participants in economically marginalized communities in New York, Delaware and Pennsylvania. In June 2008 she presented a paper at the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives National Conference. She has also presented at international conferences on nonprofit issues related to mission, governance and program operation.
Current Projects
- Program evaluation of a regional national service program that places AmeriCorps members in local non-profits to tutor struggling students and promote civic engagement.
- Organizational and operational review of a county health and human services division to identify and recommend improvement opportunities to save the county money and increase effectiveness of service delivery
- Survey design to capture needs and gaps in services for 35 independent living centers across NYS with survey delivery accommodating special needs of persons with disabilities.
- Support for a qualitative research study on veteran reintegration in upstate NY
Completed Projects
- Assistance with a project that analyzed high-tech occupations and industries in the Capital Region of NY to inform curricula and programs for high school students enrolled in cooperative educational services
- Design of a process and impact evaluation involving graduate students conducting interdisciplinary research through a National Science Foundation sponsored fellowship program
- Analysis of survey findings that will serve as a catalyst to spur program improvements in a federally funded program designed to increase the number of students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
- Creation of community and quality of life indicators for a variety of clients
- Analysis of best practices in mediating the effects of neighborhood change and displacement
Education
B.S. in Communication/Graphic Design from Roberts Wesleyan College, M.S. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Rochester, and Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware
Background
Dr. Welch joined CGR in March 2008. She has worked as a private consultant for faith-based institutions, community-based organizations and universities, including three years of program evaluation funded by the National Science Foundation conducted for the University of Pennsylvania. As a research consultant for Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, she examined community capacity and asset development. Her Ph.D. dissertation research explored repurposing or adapting vacant church property to create low-income housing in inner city neighborhoods. She has also served as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with the Cardinal Bevilacqua Community Center in Philadelphia and was one of 16 individuals nationwide to be honored with the 2006 Spirit of Service Award from the National Corporation of Community Service. She has taught capacity building, leadership development, and technical assistance courses for youth and adults and a graduate seminar in urban social policy.
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