JULIA MERLIN
Silver Spring
Summary
Dynamic education professional with extensive experience at federal and state departments of education, specializing in strategic communications and project management. Proven ability to translate complex data into actionable insights, fostering stakeholder engagement and collaboration. Skilled in technical writing for diverse audiences and performance tracking. Passionate about using data storytelling to drive impactful initiatives in K-12 education and early childhood development.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Study Director (Statistician); GS-1530-13-05
Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Washington
07.2020 - Current
- Leading numerous communications activities (e.g., fact sheets, press releases, briefings, media calls, messaging or talking points) for three national U.S
- K-12 education surveys to disseminate findings for diverse audiences (e.g., state, district, and federal policymakers, researchers, K-12 educators) based on internal and external partners' priorities
- Facilitating dissemination and outreach activities (e.g., publication of analytical reports and blogs, data visualization dashboards, research/conference presentations) designed to highlight the utility of NCES data on key education topics to a wide range of audiences
- Serving as the strategic partnerships representative for the Cross-Sectional Surveys Branch (CSB), tasked with developing and leading all aspects of CSB strategic communications activities with key education sector professionals and leaders in Federal, State, District, and education workforce affiliation offices and necessitates coordination and engagement with colleagues across NCES, The U.S
- Department of Education, and with external policymakers in district and state education governments to identify and align key education data priorities
- Using knowledge of education sciences, education policy and practice, project management, and survey methodology to manage all life cycle stages of data collection and data processing activities for two nationally representative large-scale sample-based surveys of public and private school K-12 teachers and principals
- Certified Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) Level II (contract management)
- Tracked performance metrics across multiple studies to ensure timely completion according to timelines set forth by sponsors or CROs.
Consultant, English Language Arts Curriculum Designer and Tanzania Production Review
Opportunity Education
10.2016 - 05.2021
Education Research Analyst (Project Manager)
Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Division of Early Learning (DEL)
06.2019 - 07.2020
- Provided a range of education policy and practice subject matter expertise, as well as administrative, methodology, operational and data analysis supports as project manager of the Preschool Development Grant, Birth through Five (PDG B-5), helped oversee $10.6 million dollars in funding for early care and education (ECE) initiatives (e.g., mandated federal reporting; created projects' scope, schedule, and budget; conducted risk management analyses and data monitoring; oversaw grants and contracts; collaborated with internal and external stakeholders)
- Led grant writing efforts for the $10 million PDG B-5 grant on behalf of the District of Columbia
- Monitored and managed communications activities about federal/state reopening and recovery policies for child care during the COVID-19 global health emergency, provided interpretations and assessments of actions taken and drafting policy recommendations for District government
Junior Research Assistant
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Global Mental Health (Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health)
Cambridge
08.2016 - 05.2017
Senior Research Assistant
Harvard Kennedy School, Student Social Support (S3) Education R&D Lab
Cambridge
08.2016 - 05.2017
Research Intern, Assessment: Content and Test Development (English Language Arts Team)
American Institutes of Research (AIR)
Washington
05.2016 - 08.2016
Associate, Curriculum and District of Columbia Common Core State Standards (CSS) Education Compliance
Education Compliance Associates
Washington
08.2015 - 05.2016
Secondary School English Teacher
Peace Corps Volunteer, Education Sector
United Republic of Tanzania
07.2013 - 08.2015
- Applied for and administered a federal 'Feed the Future' grant, including overseeing federal reporting, the budget and the management of high-level and daily tasks for a poultry farming income generating project for 100+ participants from five villages during the course of two years
- Taught English as a Second Language and Computer Science to Secondary School students, in both English and Swahili
- Represented Peace Corps as an education practice and curriculum expert and liaison trainer with the Ministry of Education in Tanzania and the U.S
- State Department (RELO) by developing communications and training materials for host country national teachers based on RELO, Peace Corps, and Ministry priorities and by leading teacher trainings for host country national English teachers
Clinical Researcher, Grady Trauma Project
Grady Hospital and Emory University School of Medicine
Decatur
08.2011 - 05.2013
Education
MASTER'S OF EDUCATION - Mind, Brain & Education, Neuroscience of Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Cambridge05.2017
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Psychology, neuropsychology, Creative Writing & English
Emory University
01.2013
Skills
- Advanced project management skills
- Communications materials development
- Technical knowledge of US K-12 education
- Ability to translate technical statistics and research
- Oral communication skills
- Written communication skills
- Cross cutting collaboration
- Contract management
- Grant writing
- Delivering and producing materials under tight deadlines
- Critical thinking
- Problem solving
- Growth mindset for active learning
- Data management
- Coding
- Data visualization
- Statistical analysis with STATA
- Survey methodology
- Statistical software
- Data analysis
- Project management
- Performance tracking
- Communication strategy
- Stakeholder engagement
- Grant management
- Presentation skills
- Risk assessment
- Team collaboration
- Study design
- Training and mentoring
- Time management
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Relationship building
Publications
- Using Federal Education Data to Inform Policymaking (blog series)
- Spiegelman, M., Zotti, A., & Merlin, J. (2024). Supplementing a Paper Questionnaire with Web and Two-way Short Message Service (SMS) Surveys. Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology.
- Teacher Training to Meet Diverse Student Needs Before Entering the Classroom: Teacher Preparation in 2017-18
- Teacher Requirements to Help Students Outside Regular School Hours in 2017-18
- Principals' Perceptions of Influence Over Decisions at Their Schools in 2017-18
- Parental Involvement in U.S. Public Schools in 2017-18
- Women's Equality Day: The Gender Wage Gap Continues
- U.S. Public School Teacher Reports of Stress Related to Student Loan Debt in the 2020-21 School Year (forthcoming)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Study Director (Statistician); GS-1530-13-05
Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
07.2020 - Current
Education Research Analyst (Project Manager)
Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), Division of Early Learning (DEL)
06.2019 - 07.2020
Consultant, English Language Arts Curriculum Designer and Tanzania Production Review
Opportunity Education
10.2016 - 05.2021
Junior Research Assistant
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Global Mental Health (Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health)
08.2016 - 05.2017
Senior Research Assistant
Harvard Kennedy School, Student Social Support (S3) Education R&D Lab
08.2016 - 05.2017
Research Intern, Assessment: Content and Test Development (English Language Arts Team)
American Institutes of Research (AIR)
05.2016 - 08.2016
Associate, Curriculum and District of Columbia Common Core State Standards (CSS) Education Compliance
Education Compliance Associates
08.2015 - 05.2016
Secondary School English Teacher
Peace Corps Volunteer, Education Sector
07.2013 - 08.2015
Clinical Researcher, Grady Trauma Project
Grady Hospital and Emory University School of Medicine
08.2011 - 05.2013
MASTER'S OF EDUCATION - Mind, Brain & Education, Neuroscience of Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
BACHELOR OF ARTS - Psychology, neuropsychology, Creative Writing & English
Emory University
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