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ASR Careers ASR seeks qualified community researchers who want to use data to create change and help build stronger communities. Given our commitment to equity, we particularly encourage those who may be from underrepresented communities to connect with us about employment opportunities. Currently open positions are listed below. ASR has no positions posted for employment at this time. However, candidates interested in employment at ASR are encouraged to send a cover letter and CV to services@appliedsurveyresearch.org . Y o ur information will be reviewed for upcoming job openings! Contact Us Today!

Sofia Stepanyan, PhD Senior Research Analyst Dr. Stepanyan is a developmental and research psychologist with expertise in behavioral research and data analysis. She has over 10 years of experience designing and implementing research projects, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. She also has extensive experience with community-based evaluations, surveys, needs assessments, and strategic planning efforts. Dr. Stepanyan also has over 10 years of experience in higher education. Prior to joining ASR, she was an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Gannon University, where her research focused on understanding the development of youth behavioral, emotional, and psychosocial problems. Her work has been published in leading journals such as Journal of Adolescence, The Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Children. Dr. Stepanyan received a BA degree in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles and MA and Ph.D degrees in Developmental Psychology from the University of California, Riverside. < Back Sofia@appliedsurveyresearch.org

Dominique Tunzi, PhD Research Analyst I Dr. Tunzi joined ASR in March 2024, bringing a decade of experience in educational and youth development research, evaluation, and technical assistance. She uses an interdisciplinary perspective in her work, bridging education, psychology, and sociology, to center equity and liberation to improve youth and community well-being. She is passionate about the critical application of data and quantitative methods to promote change within organizations and communities, acknowledging that quantitative methods have traditionally upheld the status quo. ​ She holds a PhD in Community Research and Action from Vanderbilt University, a MSc in Evidence Based Social Intervention from the University of Oxford, and a EdM in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education. ​ When not working, you can find Dominique in the mountains, doing crosswords, and drinking a good cup of coffee. < Back Dominique@appliedsurveyresearch.org

Christa Bixby, MA Senior Planning Analyst Christa joined ASR in 2024. She comes from a background in higher education, specifically focusing on the domains of TESOL and academic writing. She comes from a wealth of international experience, having lived in six countries throughout her tenure in education. Her educational journey has been marked by a dedication and commitment to fostering equitable education and engaging students with innovative instructional methods. Over time, Christa advanced into administrative positions where she gained experience in strategic planning, data-driven decision-making, evaluation planning, and project management. Christa is currently working on research related to the equitable use of AI in education, focusing on the integration of it in higher institutions of learning. In her free time, Christa enjoys woodworking, practicing yoga, throwing pottery, and learning every and anything new. She classifies herself as a life-long learner, one who is inspired by all that the world around her has to teach us. < Back Christa@appliedsurveyresearch.org

Javari Fairclough, PhD Senior Data Analyst Dr. Javari Fairclough earned his Ph.D. in human development and family Sciences at Texas Tech University (TTU). He was trained as an applied quantitative research methodologist and has his roots in Psychology. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in general experimental psychology from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Dr. Fairclough’s research interests center on positive youth development and the complex interplay between the family unit, peers, and problem behaviors (e.g., youth aggression, delinquency, and substance use) among at-risk youth. Through novel and comprehensive analytic methods, and the examination of various social, psychological, and environmental influences, he strived to pinpoint the dynamic factors that are associated with increases in the probability of engagement in negative behaviors during his time at TTU. He is passionate about protective factors (e.g., parental monitoring) that can mitigate risk and promote positive developmental outcomes for at-risk individuals. This includes an exploration of resilience factors, coping mechanisms, and supportive resources that can serve as influential buffers against problem behaviors. In his free time, he enjoys cooking Jamaican food, learning new programming tools and languages to solve complex statistical problems, trying new restaurants with my wife and lifting free weights at the gym. < Back Javari@appliedsurveyresearch.org

View Full Report Executive Summary Executive Summaries How do you tell your story? One of the most challenging and yet rewarding phases of applied research is helping our partners summarize the key takeaways and learnings and express those in a way that is compelling and actionable for the intended audiences. ASR has helped numerous partners communicate the difference that they make. ​ Project Highlight: First 5 Sacramento Reduction of African American Child Deaths View Full Report < Back Additional work samples First 5 Sacramento Annual Evaluation View Report Butte County LCCPC Strategic Plan View Report Birth and Beyond Annual Evaluation View Report First 5 Solano Policy Brief View Report

Elizabeth Mower (Martinez), MA Project Director Elizabeth Mower was born and raised in the Sacramento area. She received her Masters Degree in Sociology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Ms. Mower is a valuable asset to the ASR Sacramento team, with many years of experience working in research and program evaluation to support initiatives in early childhood development, child health and safety, school climate, student wellness, behavioral health, substance abuse prevention, mental health intervention, and community needs assessments. ​ With an advanced knowledge of statistical analysis and data visualization, her goal is to make data accessible for various audiences to help organizations obtain actionable insights. She is committed to supporting data-driven decisions to improve community outcomes. She has passion for the work, the analytics, the collaboration, and the process to create change and improve the lives of under-served and vulnerable populations. Her personal life is filled with family activities in the Region: going to local farmer’s markets, camping in Camptonville, snowboarding in Tahoe, boating at Lake Oroville, and kayaking at Lake Natoma. < Back Elizabeth@appliedsurveyresearch.org

Alyssa Mullins, PhD Project Manager Dr. Alyssa Mullins is an applied sociologist based in the Sacramento office. Since joining ASR in 2021, she has actively contributed to strategic plans, annual evaluation reports for First 5s, and a recurring evaluation of efforts to reduce disparities among African American infant and child deaths. She has also worked with partners to streamline and strengthen data collection to ensure accuracy, consistency, and reduce burden on data staff. Additionally, she prepares interactive data visualization tools, as well as an exploration of community-wide indicators of interest and disparity calculations. ​ She received her Master’s in Applied Sociology and PhD in Sociology from the University of Central Florida. Past research and published works include assessments of youth and family homelessness, personal impacts of intentional childlessness on work, relationships, and obtaining care from health providers, and exploring nursing workforce shortages as a public health crisis. She is passionate about data-driven interventions to support families and communities, as well as communicating data in easily digestible and understandable formats for audiences of all skill levels and expertise. ​ In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her partner and dogs, crafting, traveling, and exploring local markets, coffee shops, and music venues. She also creates media, moderates workshops, and provides technical support for a local music production/recording studio. < Back Alyssa@appliedsurveyresearch.org

View Full Report Executive Summary Results Based Accountability (RBA) Results Based Accountability is an approach created by Mark Friedman to help public and private agencies make better use of scarce resources. At the community level, partners define the indicator they seek to impact, the story behind the indicator, the partners with the role to play in making a difference, and what works to do better. Once efforts are selected, performance-level accountability is used to track how much service is offered, how well services were offered and whether any participants are better off. ASR can help structure your planning and evaluation efforts around RBA. ​ Highlight Project: RBA Training, Kids In Common < Back View PPT Additional work samples ASR's RBA Worksheet Turning The Curve, RBA Training Santa Cruz County Youth Violence Prevention View PPT View Worksheet Strategic Plan

Alex Werner Research Analyst II Alex Werner joined ASR in 2019 as a student intern and was pleased to continue with his work after graduation from the University of Oregon. Alex majored in Business Administration with a finance concentration and a minor in Latin American studies. He is applying these skills by supporting program evaluations, assessments and planning in several areas. His work includes survey, data collection, tabulation, analysis, and report development including work on the homeless census in several bay area counties. He is most passionate about equality and striving to make positive change. ​ Outside of work, Alex enjoys kayaking, playing video games and spending time with his family < Back Alex@appliedsurveyresearch.org

John Connery Senior Project Manager Before becoming a full-time employee, John Connery was involved with ASR for many years. He devoted much of his early time with ASR assisting with the homeless census and survey. Now he applies that experience by contributing a great deal of work and insights around homeless issues. John joined ASR after a career as a summer camp director. He brings to the team his years of valuable experience with children and young people. John attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he majored in sociology. When he is not working on ASR projects, John enjoys coaching high school football, playing in a recreational softball league, reading, and enjoying movies. < Back John@appliedsurveyresearch.org

Community Health Needs Assessments In 2012, ASR pioneered a methodology to help hospitals complete community health needs assessments (CHNA) in a way that met the requirements of the Affordable Care Act but also provided insights as to how to best direct community benefits funding. Since then, ASR has completed dozens of CHNAs across the Bay Area, as well as in other states. ​ Highlight Project: Oakland Medical Center Community Health Needs Assessment < Back View Assessment Kaiser Permanente San Jose 2022 View Assessment Dominican Hospital CHNA 2019 View Assessment Mark Twain Medical Center CHNA 2017 View Assessment Kaiser Permanente Richmond 2022 View Assessment