Vision and Mission
Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) is based on the fundamental belief that increasing diversity in the field of research and evaluation improves our knowledge base and makes for better science and social innovation. Our mission is to increase the diversity of the field by developing the pipeline of leaders from communities that are underrepresented in the field and who are committed to culturally responsive and equitable evaluation. LEEAD is a program of Expanding the Bench®, a race and ethnicity equity and inclusion initiative led by the Research, Evaluation, Evidence and Data (REED) Unit of The Annie E. Casey Foundation. LEEAD supports talented researchers in their pursuits of careers in evaluation that will influence the life outcomes of children, families and communities.
Core Values
Equity: We seek to create a fair and just society through scholars who will conduct culturally responsive evaluations that raise the voices of underserved communities.
Diversity: We value diverse perspectives, experiences and backgrounds to strengthen our knowledge base.
Leadership: We strive to develop leaders who will advance inclusion and influence others to join in equitable research and evaluation.
Excellence: We believe that increased diversity and equitable evaluation will raise the standard of excellence in practice and policy.
Who Should Apply
The program welcomes the applications of accomplished, mid-career scholars from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups who aspire to become leaders in the field of evaluation. Applicants must be able to commit to a rigorous twelve-month training program to develop their evaluation competencies through intensive online instruction and professional mentoring.