Evaluation Center People

Ghazal Jawed graduated from Transylvania University in 2017 with a BA in Neuroscience (psychology emphasis) and a music minor, with French horn being her instrument. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree concentrating in Epidemiology at UK, expected to graduate in May 2026. She worked at Stanford University’s Cancer Center for 4 years (2020-2024), first as a medical scribe, then as a research coordinator for Sarcoma Oncology. Her drive to study public health comes from losing her father, who was both a physician and a cancer patient, to COVID-19 in 2020. Ghazal recently completed a summer internship with Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) in the Public Health Preparedness Branch with the Bluegrass Healthcare Coalition. This is her first year working as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Evaluation Center and she is looking forward to applying skills learned from her public health courses to this position.  Following graduation, she is considering pursuing a doctorate degree and ultimately hopes to work either in infectious disease epidemiology or cancer epidemiology, potentially in a state position. 

Annie Machowski is a Master of Public Health student at the University, concentrating in epidemiology. She has experience in both government and nonprofit settings, supporting health education, policy advocacy, program evaluation, and community outreach. Her work has included grant writing, coalition building, and using data to guide public health interventions. Annie’s passionate about healthy equity, and advancing it through practical, evidence-based solutions. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active with golf, skiing, and hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

Philip Meersman is a doctoral student in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation and is interested in studying the teaching and learning processes in higher education, with emphasis on student experiences. He is especially passionate about ensuring that every student feels like they can learn and grow within any given academic environment. Philip has prior degrees in math and economics from UK (BS) and in economics from Vanderbilt University (MA), where he taught his own course in economics.

Anne-Marie Tortolano Wilson is a second-year Master’s student in Higher Education at the University of Kentucky and a Research Assistant in the Evaluation Center. She holds a BA in Community Development from the University of Glasgow, a BA in Childhood Practice, and an HND in Sports Therapy. With over 15 years of nonprofit experience, she is passionate about advocating for children in poverty and has proudly led the creation of an early childhood center with her team. She believes every child deserves the chance to thrive, no matter their circumstances, and draws inspiration daily from her 6-year-old son.

Nan Li was a doctoral student in Quantitative and psychometric methods. She received a B.A. in Media Production from Harbin Normal University, a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Louisville, a M.S. in Accounting from the University of Kentucky, and a graduated certificate in Research Methods in Education (RMinE) from the University of Kentucky.

Yuyan Xia is a doctoral student in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation at the University of Kentucky. She received her Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education here at UK in December 2018. She has experience working in K-12 education both in China and United States.

Odunayo Omotilewa is a doctoral student in the Educational Policy studies and Evaluation Department at the University of Kentucky. She received her master’s degree in Research Methods in Education, University of Kentucky in 2022 and she earned her bachelor’s in psychology at Madonna University, Nigeria. Her research interests focus on improving learning among students and research on international students.

Nuren D. Dihan is a doctoral student in Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. She also pursued her MA in Communication Studies from the West Virginia University. Her research focus is in diversity in higher education as well as policy in higher education.

Jaylene Patterson is a Ph.D. candidate in Educational Psychology at the University of Kentucky. Jaylene is a Research Assistant in the Evaluation Center at the University of Kentucky, following four years of teaching at the secondary and undergraduate levels. Through her current research position, she has the opportunity to work with large datasets pertaining to various areas of evaluation. She has spent much of her time in this position examining in-service teachers' level of self-efficacy regarding culturally responsive teaching, specifically looking at their ability to support English Language Learners. She has also been heavily involved in the equity research question for the Full-Service Community Schools grant. Jaylene conducts research focusing on robust measurement, statistical approaches, and survey design to gauge teacher education candidates' perceptions. Jaylene's research emphasizes the influence of whiteness in educational settings on teachers and students. She hopes that by educating teachers and students about the presence of whiteness, one can aid in developing critical awareness, cultural competence, and truly inclusive spaces for all students.

Christopher Robershaw is a doctoral student in Higher Education with an interest in philosophical and cultural inquiry. He holds degrees from Southeastern University (BS), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (MA in English), Sunderland University (PGCE), and Asbury Seminary (Mdiv and ThM). His academic journey reflects a passion for exploring the intersection of education, philosophy, and culture.

Fan Zhang is a doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Promotion. He earned his master’s degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Kinesiology) and Shanghai University of Sport (PE & Sports Training). His research focuses on promoting health and cultivating youth through physical activity and sports.

Levone Lee is a current doctoral student in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky. He has a master’s degree in Social Work. Levone has been a member of the Sport Social Work Research Lab and an intern at the University of Kentucky Evaluation Center. Levone has contributed to five published manuscripts, as well as serving as an Ad Hoc reviewer for six journals. Levone’s research interests include psychometrics, college athletes aggressive and violent behavior, experiential learning, and statistic analysis. Levone is a certified lifeguard and is currently a member of a local Master’s Swimming team. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, camping, and snowboarding.

Ehimwenma S. Orobator is a doctoral student in the department of STEM Education. She received her Master of Science in Biochemistry from University of Benin, Nigeria. In addition to her academic work, she has professional experience in science education and teacher development. Her research is centered on the experiences of veteran science teachers in integrating interactive computer simulations and the development of self-efficacy. She is particularly interested in educational technology integration, teacher professional growth, and the design of effective learning environments in science classrooms.