Background:
Keya A. Elie is a senior analyst in the Policy and Evaluation practice area at Bellwether.
A New Jersey native, Keya has extensive expertise in evaluation methodologies and applications, with a background in academia, nonprofits, and government agencies. She has nearly a decade of experience in research, evaluation, and data management, with a skill set encompassing research methodologies, data analysis, and the comprehensive assessment of early childhood education and family programs.
Her prior roles include positions at RTI International as an analyst where she evaluated state-funded early childhood education programs, contributing to her proficiency as a mixed-methods researcher. Keya has experience in program management, offering technical guidance to various grant recipients while teaching across K-12 and university settings in the United States and abroad.
Keya completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology at North Carolina A&T State University before earning a master’s degree in clinical psychology at Columbia University. She is currently completing a doctorate in experimental psychology at the University of Cambridge.
Why I do this work:
As a first-generation college graduate and a former recipient of programs similar to the ones I now evaluate, education profoundly transformed my life. Experiencing firsthand the life-changing impact of education drives my commitment to ensuring that others have similar opportunities. Ultimately, what inspires me is a deep-seated passion for making a meaningful impact on educational outcomes, both nationally and internationally, by leveraging research, policy, and practical solutions.
