Jamela Clark
Jamela Clark is a trauma-informed, equity-focused evaluator and social scientist with a decade of experience in participatory research and policy evaluation. Specializing in mixed-methods and community-based participatory research, Jamela integrates in-depth qualitative insights with quantitative data to address complex social challenges, particularly in the areas of community development, violence prevention, youth services, and program sustainability. Jamela has collaborated on numerous impactful projects, including evaluations for the Cooperative Agreements to Benefit Homeless Individuals, TANF, and the Peacekeepers Program. In her work, Jamela constantly seeks to champion approaches that elevate marginalized voices in policy decision-making. She has experienced the privilege of working at the Social IMPACT Research Center, the Institute for Public Policy Research at Northwestern University, and Social Insights Research.
In 2024, Jamela founded Virtuous Spiral Research Solutions, and works with organizations to promote sustainable, ethical, and equity-centered research practices. In addition to her consulting work, she serves as a mentor to emerging researchers and actively contributes to initiatives that build organizational capacity for inclusive and evidence-based policy development.
Jamela holds a deep commitment to creating lasting change by working collaboratively with diverse communities, advocacy leaders, and stakeholders, striving to bridge the gap between research and real-world application.
Education
Jamela holds a Master of Science in International Public Service from DePaul University. A proud Illini, she completed her dual Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and French Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Jamela also completed certification course work in Public Policy and Data Analytics from the Irving B. Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.
