Ana Maria Grigoras

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Owner

Dr. Grigoras is a child clinical psychologist and Fulbright scholar with impressive knowledge in program design and evaluation. Dr. Grigoras earned her MA in Educational Psychology from New York University in 2003 and, subsequently a PhD in Child Clinical Psychology from St. John’s University.  Dr. Grigoras has over 15 years of experience directing research and evaluation studies of youth development, after-school, and mental health programs for clients in the public and private sectors. She has directed all phases of research, including development of study designs employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, instrument design, multi-site data collection, data analysis, and reporting. Dr. Grigoras is especially proficient in blending quantitative and qualitative research methods to measure the implementation and impact of critical areas of education and youth development programming.Dr. Grigoras is also an expert grant writer and has been highly successful in writing grant proposals that incorporate effective program models and evaluation plans for a variety of youth development, after-school, and expended-learning time programs.

Danielle Lawrence-Campbell

Dr. Lawrence-Campbell has worked as an evaluation research consultant in New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia for more than ten years.  Her varied experience working with disenfranchised populations in large urban settings enabled her to develop best practices in applied quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. She offers expertise in designing program evaluations and research instruments (e.g. surveys, focus group discussion guides), conducting focus groups and administering surveys, managing a team of research assistants, developing and managing databases, performing advanced data analysis, as well as, writing reports and presenting findings for diverse audiences.  In addition, she is competent in providing technical assistance to clients regarding how best to organize, collect and present program and participant data. She serves as an adjunct professor at Montclair State University where she has taught such courses as health promotion, program planning, and social marketing. Dr. Lawrence-Campbell earned a MPH in Epidemiology from Yale University in 2002, and subsequently her DrPH in Community Health Sciences from Boston University.

Christina López

Director of Research and Evaluation

Dr. Christina López is a sociologist of education with over 18 years of experience in youth development and community partnerships. Her Lower East Side upbringing in the projects, Bronx roots, and Dominican identity have inspired her commitment to service throughout the various roles she’s held in her career. She has managed over 40 school-CBO partnerships as a former CBO supervisor in Brooklyn and DOE program manager in the Bronx. In addition, her scholarly work has examined the educational experiences of underrepresented minorities at predominantly white institutions and the social forces that shape systems of education. Dr. López earned both a MA and Ph.D. in Sociology of Education from New York University, and a BS in Science and Technology Studies and Psychology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Hayley Davis

Director of Development

Hayley Davis (she, her, hers) is a passionate professional with a robust background in nonprofit development and additional experience in public policy. Hayley graduated with her MPH in Public Health Nutrition from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy in 2021, and holds a BS in Community Health from SUNY Potsdam. Hayley earned her MPH while working full-time for nonprofits focused on food access, health equity, and positive youth development. Hayley also interned with Eric Adams supporting plant-based nutrition initiatives, and volunteered as a Policy Consultant, developing the Food Justice and Youth policy platforms for NYC Council District 11 Candidate. In 2021, Hayley was named one of the 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in NYC Food Policy. By leading fundraising and communications for nonprofit organizations, Hayley has leveraged millions of public and private dollars in support of community-based programming. She has worked directly with many constituencies across all five NYC boroughs, including those impacted by social inequities and leaders from various sectors. Earlier in her career, Hayley served as an AmeriCorps VISTA for a nonprofit university where she developed and launched a free early college program for high school students across Brooklyn. Hayley is also experienced in research and evaluation. Hayley currently serves on the Board of Directors of First Look Buffalo Theatre Company and as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Field & Fork Network, a New York State nonprofit which connects communities to affordable fresh food and farmers to new economic opportunities. Outside of work, Hayley enjoys yoga, reading, traveling, outdoor activities, and listening to live jazz with family and friends.

Katlin Brown

Associate Director of Research and Evaluation

Katlin Brown has 18 years of experience working with educational institutions and community-based organizations—as a youth worker in Minneapolis and Chicago, and an evaluator in Chicago and New York. She has taught university courses in child and adolescent development and has supported the strategic improvement of environments focused on adult learning. Katlin has extensive experience facilitating participatory evaluation practices and developing tools to help organizations better meet the needs of the people they support. She conducts qualitative research on the responsibilities of teachers and caregivers in school-based contexts for transformative social and emotional learning (SEL), or SEL that functions in service of equity. Katlin earned her MEd in Youth Development and a Graduate Certificate in the Foundations of College Instruction from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she is currently a PhD candidate in Educational Psychology. Katlin also holds a BA in Anthropology with a minor in Art History from the University of Minnesota. She enjoys cooking, reading, and being outdoors with her partner and child.

Alison Dorsi

Senior Evaluator and Operations Manager

Alison Dorsi earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics as well as a Master of Arts in Political Science from Boston University in 2015. She recently graduated with her Master of Public Administration from New York University concentrating in Management and Leadership. Her past work experiences include internships in the British Parliament and at the United Nations as well as a year of service through AmeriCorps at the NYCDOE Office of Community Schools. A fun fact about Alison is that she’s a volunteer at the Downtown Boathouse, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free public access to the harbor in New York City through public kayaking programs. See her there every summer at Pier 26 in Manhattan!

Margretta Willemin

Development Officer

Margretta Willemin is a grant writer and prospect researcher with a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Colgate University. Prior to joining the team at L&G, Margretta spent four years working in Strategic Gifts for The Fresh Air Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides summer enrichment programming and year-round educational programming to children from underserved communities in New York City. During her tenure, she managed the organization’s grant calendar and diversified The Fund’s portfolio of grants and prospects, including securing new funding for The Fund’s six camp libraries, bee education program, and the creation of a land management internship program. When not writing or researching, Margretta is an avid outdoorswoman. She enjoys spending her free time hiking with her fiance and their two dogs, and she recently summited her first mountain with an elevation over 14,000 ft. 

Hannah Kitchin

Evaluation Officer

Hannah (she, her, hers) received her Master of Arts in Applied Psychology from New York University Steinhardt with a focus on Human Development and Social Intervention. She also holds a BA in Psychology from Rollins College. She is passionate about improving the lives of children and families through high-quality programming that caters to their unique needs. Before joining L&G, Hannah supported continuous quality improvement efforts for child welfare programming at Children’s Aid. She also partnered with the NYCDOE to research the professional learning needs of early childhood educators and identify effective methods to increase art instruction in the classroom. Most recently, she coordinated the rollout of NYC early childhood initiatives to better serve preschool students with disabilities and educate families on the special education process. Hannah is a lover of all things music. In her free time she enjoys playing piano, watching Broadway musicals, and jamming out at karaoke night.

Cindy Lowe

Evaluator 

Cindy Lowe earned both a Master of Social Work and Master of Public Administration degree from Columbia University and also holds a BA in Sociology from Vassar College. With over ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Cindy is deeply committed to strengthening human service programs and improving outcomes for children, youth, and families. She has worked directly with youth in the foster care system and their foster families, as well as with survivors of domestic violence and their children. More recently, she has led continuous quality improvement work in child welfare and behavioral health programs at Children’s Aid and the Jewish Board. In her spare time, Cindy enjoys running, reading, singing in her local community choir, and traveling.

Pia Otero

Evaluator 

Pia has more than fifteen years of research and evaluation experience in academia, government institutions, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. Prior to joining the L&G team, she consulted for the University of Nebraska Medical Center and for the Perception Institute and served as the Associate Director of Research and Evaluation at iMentor and as Curriculum and Evaluation Manager at The Hispanic Committee for Children and Families in New York City. Earlier, she was a researcher and program evaluator at the Buenos Aires Ministry of Education. In this role she executed a portfolio of research and evaluation projects, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, and led the design and implementation of the evaluation of socio-emotional skills learning and development in k-12 public schools. Pia holds two master’s degrees–one in Sociology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, with a Fulbright Scholarship award, and the other in Educational Management and Policy from the Universidad de ‘San Andres’ in Argentina. She also has a graduate specialization in Applied Statistics for Social Sciences from the Institute of Economic and Social Development in Buenos Aires and completed the IPDET training – International Program for Development Evaluation Training.

Taylor Disco

Evaluation Manager

Taylor Disco received her MUP with a specialization in International Development from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. In 2019, Prior to studying Urban Planning, she obtained her BA in Psychology with a Certificate in Community Development from Siena College. Taylor has done consulting for various organizations including Albany Leadership Charter High School, the Fund for the City of New York, and the United Nations Capital Development Fund. Through her past work experiences, she has truly developed a passion for Community Based Participatory Research and methods. In her free time, Taylor enjoys drinking coffee, going to museums, and participating in all things outdoors.

Jackie Sifuentes

Evaluation Manager

Jackie Sifuentes earned both her Bachelor’s in Psychology and Masters in Sociology at SUNY University at Buffalo. During her studies, she has focused on using her quantitative and qualitative skills to help nonprofit organizations, CBOs, government, and local school districts raise awareness in their communities by engaging community based research. Interning at VIA Evaluation in Buffalo and the NYPD she has collaborated with these agencies to administer specialized reporting, unique data visualization, data management, and focus group facilitation. With experience conducting research in her community, she provides a unique approach in using research methods for advocacy and change. Some things to know about her is that she is a Bronx native, is Peruvian-American, and reads all things suspense/mystery.