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QDRL profiles

Leadership team

Kristen Miller, PhD

CCQDER Director

Dr. Miller, Senior Methodologist, directs the Collaborative Center for Questionnaire Design and Evaluation Research (CCQDER) within the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), CDC. Her writings have focused on question comparability, including question design and equivalence for lower SES respondents and the improvement of evaluation methods for cross-cultural and cross-national testing studies. She is a co-editor of two survey methodology books: Cognitive Interviewing Methodologyexternal icon (2014) and Question Evaluation Methodsexternal icon (2011). Throughout her tenure at NCHS, she has led collaborative international testing projects with statistical agencies and organizations including the European Social Survey, the World Bank, the World Health Organization and the United Nations. Dr. Miller holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Delaware.

Meredith Massey, PhD

Senior Survey Methodologist / Operations Team Lead

Dr. Massey joined CCQDER in 2012. She is the Team Lead for the CCQDER Operations Team which oversees all aspects of CCQDER operations such as recruiting, data storage and ERB/OMB clearances. Additionally, she facilitates the full planning and execution of question design and survey evaluation studies to test, develop, and improve survey questions. Prior to joining CCQDER, Dr. Massey worked on several large-scale health communication studies related to long-term care, patient-provider communication and HIV linkage to care outreach. Previously, Dr. Massey was a professor at Prince George's Community College for 12 years. She received her Ph.D. in Public Health, from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

Paul Scanlon, PhD

Senior Survey Methodologist / Team Lead

Dr. Scanlon joined CCQDER in 2012. He is responsible for leading survey and questionnaire evaluation projects. Additionally, he directs NCHS' Research and Development Survey (RANDS), an NCHS survey system that uses commercial survey panels to conduct methodological research and fast-response surveys. Dr. Scanlon's research interests include mixed method survey evaluation, the development of web probing methodology, and using novel methods to uncover cross-cultural response patterns and sources of error. Prior to coming to NCHS, Dr. Scanlon was a Presidential Management Fellow and worked at both the Census Bureau's American Community Survey Office and the Office of Management and Budget's office of Statistical and Science Policy. He received his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Georgia, where his dissertation research focused on cognitive anthropology and food studies.

Stephanie Willson, PhD

Senior Survey Methodologist / Team Lead

After teaching for several years at Tri-County Technical College in South Carolina, Dr. Willson joined NCHS in 2001 as a Survey Statistician on the National Survey of Family Growth. In 2004 she joined CCQDER and is currently a Senior Survey Methodologist. Her research interests include advancing cognitive interviewing methodology, especially in the areas of construct validity and question design principles. Dr. Willson is co-editor of Cognitive Interviewing Methodologyexternal icon (2014). She received her Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Delaware.

Research staff

Kristen Cibelli Hibben, PhD

Senior Service Fellow

Dr. Cibelli Hibben joined CCQDER in 2020 and contributes to question evaluation and measurement projects through cognitive interviewing, data analysis, report writing, and scholarly publication. Her research interests include the use of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis to improve survey question design and evaluation, the assessment of and techniques to improve survey response quality, and the improvement of evaluation methods and best practices for achieving cross-cultural and cross-national comparability.

Previously, Dr. Cibelli Hibben worked in the International Unit within the Survey Research Center at the Institute for Social Research throughout her Ph.D. studies, and as a Senior Research Associate upon completing her Ph.D. She has authored and co-authored numerous invited book chapters and journal articles, and has contributed extensively to the Cross-Cultural Survey Guidelinesexternal icon, an online resource for the design and implementation of international, multinational, multiregional, and multicultural surveys (3MC), conducted an external quality assessment for a large 3MC survey, and coordinated the AAPOR/WAPOR Task Force on the quality of comparative surveys. Prior to her work in survey methodology, she worked in the area of international human rights with the Human Rights Data Analysis Groups. Dr. Cibelli Hibben received her Ph.D. in Survey Methodology from the University of Michigan.

Annie MacFadyen, PhD

Associate Service Fellow

Dr. MacFadyen joined CCQDER as a public health analyst in 2019. She contributes to question evaluation projects through cognitive interviewing, data analysis, and report writing. Her research interests include cross-cultural perceptions and patterns of behavior and how question sensitivity affects survey response. Prior to joining the CCQDER, Dr. MacFadyen worked as a qualitative analyst, researcher, and interviewer with a USAID development project evaluation company. She contributed to the evaluation of projects which focused on a wide range of subjects including improving education and safety in El Salvador and increasing energy access in Ghana. Dr. MacFadyen received a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Georgia. Her dissertation research focused on rural livelihoods and development in Vietnam.

Amanda Wilmot BSc (Hons), PGCE

Associate Service Fellow

Wilmot joined CCQDER in 2019. She is responsible for the design and implementation of qualitative research projects, including cognitive interview evaluation studies of survey questions. Her interest is in survey methodology and in particular survey pretesting methods. During her career she has managed large-scale government surveys covering a range of social policy issues and specialized in the development and evaluation of survey instruments. In previous work, she was a Principal Methodologist and head of Data Collection Methodology for Social Surveys branch at the U.K. Office for National Statistics. Here she specialized in combining qualitative and quantitative pretesting methods to evaluate survey questions. As a Principal Researcher at the University of Leicester, she worked on the development of the European Health and Social Integration Survey questionnaire. This survey measured disability from the perspective of the barriers to social integration as reported by the respondent. Wilmot chaired the 2016 international conference on Questionnaire Design, Development, Evaluation and Testing (QDET2external icon), and is co-editor of the 2019 Wiley publication, Advances in Questionnaire Design, Development, Evaluation and Testingexternal icon. Wilmot holds an honors degree in Geography from King's College, University of London, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the Institute of Education, University of London.

Valerie Ryan, PhD

Behavioral Scientist

Dr. Ryan joined CCQDER in 2020. Her research interests include applying mixed method approaches to survey question evaluation. She is also interested in creating effective and accessible data visualizations, an interest stemming from graduate school work in feminist data visualization and universal design principles. Dr. Ryan received her Ph.D. and M.A. in Behavioral Science, as well as an M.S. in Statistics, from the University of Rhode Island. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and European History at Suffolk University, where she completed an honors thesis on the history of modern intelligence testing. Her doctoral dissertation was a mixed methods study of men who are involved in primary prevention of intimate partner violence.

Zachary Smith, MA, MSc

Behavioral Scientist

Smith joined CCQDER in 2020. He conducts cognitive interviews, analyzes cognitive interview findings, authors reports based on cognitive interviewing data, and conducts analysis of open-ended web-probing data from the Division of Research and Methodology's Research and Development Survey (RANDS). He has a particular interest in qualitative methods research including the quality of qualitative research. Smith holds an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.A. in Israeli Studies and M.Sc. in Middle East Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, where he held a Marshall Scholarship. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania, where his research on political institutional development uses interviewing, archival, and other qualitative methods.

Lauren Creamer, BA, MPH

Behavioral Scientist

Creamer joined CCQDER in 2011 and served in numerous roles including video database indexer, recruiter, and cognitive interviewer. In 2015, she began working as a Behavioral Scientist and serves as a principal investigator for question design and evaluation projects. Her research interests include mixed-method approaches and measuring emergent topics. Creamer earned a B.A. in Sociology and a Masters of Public Health (M.P.H.), both from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Operations Team

Amanda Titus, BS

Behavioral Scientist
Titus joined CCQDER in 2015. She is a member of the CCQDER Operations Team and specializes in recruiting hard-to-reach populations for qualitative question evaluation projects. Such projects have included recruiting adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and women who used controlled substances while pregnant. In addition, Titus aides in the development of study protocols and is the CCQDER coordinator for clearance submissions to the Center's Research Ethics Review Board and OMB. She also oversees the CCQDER respondent database and collaborates internally and externally in developing programs to facilitate and optimize the recruitment process. Titus earned a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy Management with a minor in Geology from Towson University.

Kristian Billings, BA, MPH

Behavioral Science Technician

Billings joined the CCQDER Operations Team in 2020. In her role, she screens and schedules qualified respondents to participate in the testing of various question evaluation projects. She also performs duties as a Q-Bank administrator including publishing reports onto the Q-Bank website and ensuring 508 compliance. Prior to joining CCQDER, Billings received on-the-job training in public health at the state health department in West Virginia as part of CDC PHAP program where her focus was in HIV/STD prevention. Billings earned her M.P.H. from National University, and a B.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University.

Kristian Gregory-Lee, BS

Behavioral Science Technician

Gregory-Lee joined CCQDER in 2017. She is a member of the CCQDER Operation's Team where she cultivates and implements creative strategies to recruit respondents for NCHS qualitative studies. She has a particular interest in the recruitment of children and young people. For example, she led a successful recruitment of youth and young adults who used illegal substances. In addition, Gregory-Lee is data storage and retention steward for the Operation's team, as well as the supporting Contracting Officer Representative for the center. Gregory-Lee earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Salisbury University.

Natasha Seam, BA

Behavioral Science Technician

Seam joined the CCQDER Operations Team in 2020. She recruits respondents for qualitative studies and works with her team to strategize recruitment approaches. Additionally, she is responsible for establishing projects within Q-Notes and checking for personally identifiable information. Prior to joining CCQDER, Seam worked for several non-profit organizations providing outreach services to under-represented minority populations. Seam earned a B.A. in Health Administration and Policy Program with a minor in Sociology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).

Support staff (contractors)

Lee Burch

Project Manager

Burch started working at NCHS in 2002. He is the President of Swan Solutions and serves as a Project Manager and Security Steward in the Division of Research Methodology (DRM) for CCQDER. In his role as Project Manager, he has overseen the design, development, testing, implementation, and documentation of Q-Bank, Q-Video, Q-Notes, and Q-Notes Plus software applications. He and his staff have provided all system Certification (SS&A), CDC Enterprise Life Cycle (EPLC), Enterprise Systems Catalog (ESC), and Section 508 compliance processes as well as IT support services, video support services, video data base, and supplemental staffing for CCQDER.

Burch has worked throughout his career in health care and health-related industries, including hospitals, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the World Health Organization, the World Food Organization, and the World Bank and IMF. Additionally, he has been responsible for various non-health related projects such as managing the development and providing support for the security and access control systems for the White House including the design and construction of redundant secure IT data centers for the Secret Service. Also oversaw the data centers operation, support, and maintenance.

Previously, Burch has held positions including VP of international operations, vice president, group general manager, and director of professional services for major consulting and technology firms. Burch holds a B.S. in Business and Finance from the University of Baltimore.

Kirit Joshi, MBA.

IT Process Consultant

Joshi joined NCHS in 2010 as an IT Process Consultant for CCQDER and RDC IT Applications. In this capacity, he manages System Assessment and Authorization (SA&A), Enterprise Project Life Cycle (EPLC), and 508 Compliance processes, as well as conducting application testing and providing user documentation for systems developed by Swan Solutions. Over his 30-year career Joshi has gained extensive experience providing IT services and trainings to various industries (health care, financial services, entertainment, telecom, and pharmaceuticals) as well as to the public sector (federal, state, and local governments and universities). Joshi received an M.B.A. in Finance and IT from Rutgers University, and a B.S. in Physics and Math from Bombay University.

Justin Mezetin

Lead Systems Developer

Mezetin joined CCQDER in 2007 as a software developer. He was responsible for the completion of the initial Q-Bank and Q-Bank Admin development and now at work on its continuing enhancement. He is also the original developer of Q-Notes and Q-Notes Plus web-based analysis software. Mezetin is experienced in developing systems that conform to CDC's System Assessment and Authorization (SA&A) and 508 requirements. He also serves as a technical liaison with CCQDER, reviewing new and emerging technologies, analyzing CDC constraints and policies, assessing other data systems and programs for collaboration opportunities, and determining alternative methods for enhancements to Q-Bank and Q-Notes to support the CCQDER mission. Mezetin earned a B.S. in Computer Science and an A.S. in Engineering from Washington Adventist University.

Sri Maheedhara, BE

Junior Programmer

Maheedhara joined CCQDER in 2021 and provides support for Q-Bank and Q-Notes development. She has previous work experiences as a software developer and Peoplesoft consultant involving maintenance and support of HR systems. Maheedhara earned a BE in Mechanical Engineering from Andhra University, India and holds an Associates Degree in Mobile and Web apps programming from Anne Arundel Community College, Maryland.

Sean Murphy

IT Support and System Administrator

Murphy began working for CCQDER in 2008. His responsibilities include maintaining, installing, and backing up software and hardware for the CCQDER video system and resolving any PC user issues for the CCQDER team. Murphy's is also responsible for researching new IT and audio/video solutions to support future projects. He recently supervised the hardware and software overhaul for Q-Video, which included new Digital Content Management software and new Windows servers. Murphy attended Coleman University for their Computer Information Systems Program.