Colleen Graber
About
Ms. Graber is a skilled facilitator, researcher, and manager. She excels at leading projects requiring complex coordination and the development of unique products.
Her interests include the intersection of education and workforce development, innovation in the public sector, and equity in student and adult outcomes. She specializes in qualitative research, with an emphasis on engaging diverse voices.
Ms. Graber has led research, evaluation, and strategic planning projects for clients in the education (early childhood through higher education), workforce development, and housing sectors. Her work has included conducting rigorous evaluations of state-level initiatives, providing support to public-private partnerships, and creating research-based guides. She came to PPA in 2002 and has held various roles within the organization. Prior to joining PPA, Ms. Graber taught at the secondary level and served as an adjunct community college faculty member.
Clients value her ability to move a project forward smoothly and to synthesize information into actionable insights.
Education
Ms. Graber earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in U.S. history from the University of Michigan and University at Albany – State University of New York. She received her teacher education training at Michigan State University.
Also notable
Ms. Graber has presented to practitioners in a variety of fields at state and national conferences. She is a member of the American Evaluation Association, Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management (APPAM), and the Michigan Association for Evaluation (MAE). She served on the board of the MAE from 2014 to 2018.
