Former Staff Directory

Founder and Former Director

Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson, founder of the Wei LAB and former Director and Chief Research Scientist. Dr. Jackson founded the Wei LAB in 2010 and left in 2022 as he accepted a new position as the Dean of Michigan State University’s College of Education.

Former Staff

Dr. LaVar J. Charleston, former Assistant Director and Senior Research Associate, is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Diversity, Engagement and Success at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-W).

Hilary Gehinformer Research and Technical Writer, is a Science Writer at PPD in Middleton, Wisconsin.

Lane Hanson, former Wei LAB Special Projects Manager and Research Assistant, is the Child Advocacy Project Coordinator for the Center for Patient Partnerships.

Vanessa McDowell, former LAB Administrator, is the Interim Chief Executive Officer at YWCA Madison.

Dr. Elizabeth M. O’Callaghan, former Senior Research Associate, is the editor for the Wisconsin Collaborative Education Research Network and a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Lesley-Anne Pittard, former Wei LAB Chief Liaison for External and Strategic Partnerships, is the Assistant Vice President for Campus and Community Engagement for the University of Oregon.

Rebecca Polar, former Research and Technical Writer, is a Senior Grants Specialist at Ellucian in Madison, Wisconsin.

Samuel Rebenstorf, former LAB Manager, is a Legislative Analyst at the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau.

Dr. Shawn A. Robinson, former Senior Research Associate, is on faculty at Madison College and serves the Wei LAB as a Research Affiliate.

Samantha Garlock, former LAB Manager, is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Christopher T. Moss, former Translational, Commercialization Specialist.

Former Research Associates and Graduate Alumni

Ryan Adserias, former Research Associate, is Chief of Staff to the Vice Chancellor of DEI at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dr. Mauriell Amechi, former Research Associate, is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jonathan Berhanu, former Research Associate, is a Posse Mentor for DC3 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Ibrahim Bicak, former Research Associate, is a Teaching Assistant and Graduate Researcher at the University of Texas at Austin.

Gioconda Coello, former editorial assistant, is a PhD candidate in UW-Madison’s department of Curriculum and Instruction, with a research focus on ideas in education and their relation to the politics of being, Indigenous, Brown and Black lives, and environmental education and religion in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Dr. Denise Dortch, former Research Associate, is a Visiting Assistant Professor for the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University.

Kayla Gross, former Special Projects Manager and Research Assistant, is the Inclusion Manager in the Department of Computer Sciences at UW-Madison.

Jihye Kam, former Postdoctoral Research Associate.

Na Lor, former Research Associate, a PhD student in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.

Yanzhuo Niu, former Research Associate, a PhD in Human Development, field of study focuses on adolescents and young adults’ use of digital technologies.

Walter P. Parrish III, former Research Associate, is the Director of Multicultural Affairs for the Prtizker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago

Dr. Tiaira Porter-Beall, former Research Associate, is a Research Scientist at the NORC at the University of Chicago.

Dr. Benjamin Toff, former Editorial Associate, is an Assistant Professor for the Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Hyunwoo Yang, former Research Associate.

Former Undergraduate Research Assistants and Alumni

Madeline Roamer, former Undergraduate Research Assistant

Danielle Nemschoff, former Undergraduate Research Assistant

Zina Hodgeformer Undergraduate Research Assistant, is the Assistant Director of the Office of Urban Outreach Initiatives at Boston College Lynch School.

Nicole Langformer Undergraduate Research Assistant, is a Research Associate for Institutional Effectiveness at Columbia College Chicago.

Tyler Mullerformer Undergraduate Research Assistant, is Co-Chief & Senior Medical Scribe at ScribeAmerica.

Gabriel Parkerformer Undergraduate Research Assistant, is an Independent Marketing Representative and has worked with companies such as StubHub and Oculus.

Jerrod Walkerformer Undergraduate Research Assistant, is the National director for Staff DE&I Engagement for Teach for America.

Anthony Williamsformer Undergraduate Research Assistant, is Associate Director for Partner Relations at Year Up in Los Angeles.

Former Undergraduate Office Staff and Alumni

Amani Breanna Alexander, former Communications Specialist, is a TV/Film Production Professional working in the Greater Atlanta Area.

Talia Bergerson, former Communications and Digital Media Marketing Intern.

Elliana Bogost, Undergraduate Office Assistant

Michelle Boone, former Undergraduate Office Assistant, is a Senior Account Executive at Gartner.

Jasmine Bounds, former Communications Specialist

Casey Donartformer Communications Specialist, works in Public Relations and Social Media for Hiebing.

Leah Foecke, former Undergraduate Office Manager, is an Analyst for Keybridge.

Leora Goldblatt, former Communications Specialist, is the Area Director for AIPAC.

Toni Houston, former Multimedia Assistant, is a law student at the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Destiny Jackson, Undergraduate Office Assistant

Kennedy Stumpf, former Office Assistant, is a student ambassador at CUNA  mutual group and UW general business course facilitator.

Houa Lee, former Communications Specialist, is a graduate student at the University of Washington.

Ava Lessin, former Office Assistant, is an undergraduate student at UW-Madison majoring in communications.

Jo’Niece Monk, former Communications Specialist, is the Artistic Director for ONFYAH in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Mia Sato, former Communications Specialist, is the Engagement Editor for Better Government Association.

Abbey Schneider, former Communications Specialist

Siri Schroeder, Undergraduate Office Assistant

Jamie Sheskey, former Communications Specialist

 Eric Smith, former Technology Development Specialist, is a General Writer for Express Writers.

Jonathan Williams, former Communications Specialist, is a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Florida.

Carl “CJ” Zabat, former Communications Specialist