ADVANCE at WSU Research Team

The ADVANCE Research program provides:

dissemination and evaluation of ADVANCE at WSU Social Science Research Grants
collection of National Science Foundation indicator data
development and dissemination of ADVANCE grant-related social science research (e.g., Collaborative on the Academic Careers in Higher Education [COACHE] survey dissemination, data collection and analysis, and results dissemination; WSU chair’s interviews)
evaluation of the ADVANCE at WSU programs and dissemination of those research results

Lena Le

Director, Department of Social and Economic Sciences Research Center

With a Ph.D. in Natural Resources, an MS in Statistics, and an MBA, Dr. Lena Le is well suited for a leadership role as SESRC’s Director. Dr. Le has over 15 years’ experience applying quantitative and qualitative methods to social science research related to tourism, recreation, public land management and other fields. Dr. Le was appointed Director in May of 2014, having previously served as Director of the Park Studies Unit at the University of Idaho, overseeing survey projects for the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and other land management agencies. Dr. Le serves one of SESRC’s principal investigators, oversees the management of all projects, and is responsible for ensuring that clients’ goals are met within budget and on schedule.

In Memoriam: Kelly Ward

Department Chair & Professor, Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling Psychology

Dr. Ward was an active member of the ADVANCE at WSU Research Team. In her work with the Department Chair Project, Dr. Ward explored gender-equity initiatives at WSU. She also conducted research into the ways female faculty manage the demands of work and family life. Her other research interests included career development among junior faculty and campus and community engagement. Dr. Ward’s research will have a lasting impact on ADVANCE at WSU initiatives.

Research Associates

Dr. Courtney P. Benjamin

Courtney P. Benjamin received her PhD in Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education program at Washington State University. She is Managing Editor for The Western Journal of Black Studies, and a member of the research team for ADVANCE at WSU. Her work illuminates how gender intersects with race and social class, and she is particularly interested in the critical inquiry and discourse analyses of STEM participation at both the K‐12 and higher education level.

Joshua J. Underwood

Undergraduate student in the Psychology Program

Joshua J Underwood is an undergraduate student in the psychology program at Washington State University, working closely with Courtney Benjamin and Masha Gartstein as a research associate with the ADVANCE program at WSU. He works as a research assistant in multiple labs in the psychology and human development departments at WSU, with a research focus in child and adolescent development. He developed a Python code to help make data management and analysis easier and is currently applying this code to Courtney Benjamin’s data.

ADVANCE at WSU Lighty Building, Room 190F P.O. Box 641061 Pullman, WA 99164-1061

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