Data and Tools Advisory Board Members

Dr. Catanzarite is President of Prismatic Research & Strategy, a California nonprofit delivering rigorous research, evaluation, and strategy development to drive impact—centering equity in advancing educational attainment, economic mobility, and community development. In her previous role as Vice President at UNITE-LA, Dr. Catanzarite built the Research & Evaluation department, overseeing research, evaluation, and strategic learning, and co-leading strategic planning and anti-racism efforts. Prior to moving into nonprofits, Dr. Catanzarite spent much of her career in academia at UCLA, UC San Diego, and Washington State University as a tenured professor and senior research sociologist. Published, peer-reviewed research centers on labor markets, education, gender, race/ethnicity, immigration, and poverty. Dr. Catanzarite completed a bachelor’s degree in history, master’s degrees in education and sociology, and a Ph.D. in sociology (Stanford University), as well as a post-doctoral fellowship in Sociology (UCLA). Recent professional service includes the Urban Institute’s Data to Action Campaign for Parenting Students Advisory Board; National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Advisory Group for Evaluation of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Compensation Data; Public Policy Institute of California Data Collaborative; and USC Neighborhood Data for Social Change Steering Committee.

Tina Cheuk is a tenured associate professor of elementary science education at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She brings over 20 years of experience in education, beginning as a public school teacher in New York City and later serving as a Peace Corps education volunteer in Ghana. Her career spans research on science and language learning, serving on state and national advisory boards, and leadership of federally funded initiatives to strengthen teacher preparation. She also advances research, policies, and practices aimed at improving outcomes for student parents in higher education. Cheuk earned her B.S. in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Chicago and her M.A. and Ph.D in Education Policy from Stanford University.

Diana Harlick leads preschool to third grade instructional improvement supports, data strategy and evaluation for The Big Lift (www.thebiglift.org) – an eight-district collective impact initiative to increase the percentage of children reading proficiently at third grade. Throughout the course of her career, Diana has led or co-led several multi-partner, multi-sector countywide early childhood initiatives and evaluation studies, combining partnership development, program development and data development seamlessly to scale high impact interventions for vulnerable and at-risk young children. She has built an integrated, longitudinal, multi-district preschool to third grade (P-3) data strategy that provides actionable data tools for a range of local stakeholders, and that fills the preschool to third grade data void that exists in most other places. She is a recognized thought leader at the intersection of early childhood programming, data and assessment, contributing to many statewide reports and conferences. Diana holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology & French.

Ritu Khanna is the Chief of Research, Planning, and Assessment at San Francisco Unified School District, where she has served for 30 years, including 25 years in her current role. She holds a doctorate in education with a focus on statistics and measurement and has led efforts to promote data literacy and data use among educators, board members, and the broader community. Over the course of her career, she has contributed to numerous research-practice partnerships, taught research and educational statistics at the graduate level, and served on review boards for educational research awards.

Renay Sehgal Mehta is Vice President of the Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce, where she leads regional strategies connecting education and industry through workforce and economic development. She has advanced K-16 initiatives by developing career pathways with schools and colleges, implementing Talent Pipeline Management frameworks, and expanding access to high-demand fields such as healthcare and green energy. Renay has secured and managed over $1.8 million in funding to strengthen equitable pipelines from education to employment, including second-chance and justice-involved programs. Renay holds an MBA, a bachelor’s degree from UC Riverside, and certifications in Talent Pipeline Management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Public Engagement from Pepperdine University, and Entrepreneurship Center Management. Her leadership has been recognized nationally, including honors as a Top 40 Under 40 Emerging Leader by ACCE and Woman of the Year by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez.

Daniel earned a PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine and was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Chicano Studies Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles prior to joining the LA City Youth Development Department. Daniel has over twelve years working on data and research projects that center youth, including undocumented students in California and, more recently, youth in the City of Los Angeles. As a researcher and data analyst, Daniel incorporates community voices and lived experiences to design and carry out projects – this includes mentoring Youth Development Department research fellows.

Helen Norris recently retired from Chapman University, where she served as CIO for 11 years. She previously served in leadership roles at California State University, Sacramento and UC Berkeley. She is recognized as a national leader in Cybersecurity and testified before the US Senate in 2022 on the state of Cybersecurity in Higher Education. Helen was recently awarded the EDUCAUSE Leadership Award (2025 Leadership Award Recipient | EDUCAUSE).

Myrtha Ortiz Villar is a leader in data strategy, educational support, and advocacy, with over a decade of experience serving underrepresented communities. Currently, they are the Senior Manager of Data Strategy and Insights at Students Rising Above, where she combines deep knowledge of the education landscape with hands-on expertise in program management, data collection, and impact evaluation. Myrtha has worked at multiple institutions, from K-12 to higher education, to develop and implement data-drive initiatives that effectively support students from first-generation and low-income backgrounds. Rooted in her upbringing in California’s immigrant rights movement and with a strong commitment to social justice and equity, Myrtha leverages research, data analysis, and program development skills to advocate for systemic change in education. She holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley in Geography and a Master’s in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship from the Harvard School of Education.

Diana Phuong is the Executive Director of Braven in the Bay Area, which she joined at San Josè State as Site Director in January 2020 and in her first year, adapted the core Accelerator Course to an entirely virtual context to much success. Prior to Braven, Diana engaged counties, districts, and schools in integrated STEAM education by leveraging hands-on learning as a Partnership Director for a local nonprofit, RAFT. She launched a RAFT STEAM Summer Program through joint funding as a 4.0 Schools Tiny Fellow. Prior to that, Diana spent a decade in teaching and high school administration. Her teaching began as a Teach For America Fellow in Memphis, TN, where she taught 3rd-5th grade English as a Second Language. Diana earned her Bachelor’s in English from the University of California-Irvine and a Master’s in Education from Christian Brothers University.

Lauren Reed is the Director of Impact & Evaluation at Oakland Promise, a cradle-to-career non-profit organization that promotes postsecondary completion and economic mobility for underrepresented students from Oakland, CA. Dr. Reed is a researcher, evaluator, and educator with 16 years experience in community-based research with youth. She has a Joint PhD in Social Work and Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan, trained as both a social work practitioner and researcher with expertise in positive youth development, youth participatory action research, school-based dating abuse prevention, and technology-based abuse. Previously, Dr. Reed was faculty at the Arizona State University School of Social work before transitioning to the nonprofit sector to lead evaluation research at Oakland Promise.

Oliver Schak is a Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist for Santa Clara County’s Behavioral Health Services Department, where he creates data tools and analyses that benchmark the performance of mental health and substance use treatment programs. Additionally, Oliver is a nationally recognized expert on higher education affordability and finance, and he has an extensive repertoire of working with education data for decision-makers, and shepherding data tools for consumers. He previously served as Research Director at The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS) and Associate Director of Higher Education Research and Analytics at The Education Trust. One of his crowning achievements was helping to launch the College Scorecard, while he served at the U.S. Department of Education. A native of Minneapolis, Oliver graduated from Carleton College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and completed his Master of Public Policy degree at the University of California — Berkeley.

Cameron Schmidt-Temple is a leader in strategic data initiatives, college access, and social justice-driven research. As a Project Policy Analyst at UC Berkeley’s Center for Educational Partnerships, he develops and implements department-wide strategic data initiatives to support first-generation, low-income students of color in accessing and succeeding in higher education. With expertise in data strategy, program assessment, and cross-functional collaboration, Cameron works to ensure that educational organizations effectively serve marginalized communities. Rooted in his experience as a first-generation college graduate from Oakland, CA, he is committed to disrupting and dismantling systemic inequities in education and leveraging data as a tool for advocacy and institutional change. Cameron holds a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA and an M.Ed. in Higher Education Policy and Administration from UC Riverside.

Iulia Tarasova has served on many statewide committees and work groups. In her role as an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Analyst with the City of Roseville, she specializes in optimizing enterprise operations through the strategic implementation and management of advanced ERP systems. With a keen eye for detail and data, Ms. Tarasova excels in aligning cutting-edge ERP solutions with organizational needs to drive efficiency, growth, and informed decision-making. Her commitment to excellence extends beyond ERP systems to her dedication to student success; believing that meaningful internship experiences are foundational to building future leaders of California, Iulia draws on her extensive background, including her own impactful internships, to enhance career development initiatives. Through a strategic partnership with RJUHSD, Ms Tarasova has facilitated access to invaluable career opportunities for high school students, adeptly overseeing their placement into roles that offer practical experience aligned with their academic goals. By meticulously tracking and evaluating each placement, she ensures not only the immediate success of these internships but also their long-term influence on students' professional development and leadership potential.

Viviana Unda serves as the Director of Institutional Research & Planning at El Camino Community College District. As a higher education leader and research strategist with over 15 years of experience, she specializes in advancing institutional effectiveness through data-informed and equity-driven decision-making. She has driven strategy, led accreditation efforts, and built student-centered solutions that empower diverse populations across California’s K-12, community college, and university systems, as well as other U.S. institutions, and international contexts. She holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from UCLA, a Master’s and dual Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics, Spanish Literature, and Secondary Education from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and she is a Fulbright Fellow and recipient of multiple fellowships.

John Watson, Ph.D., is Director of the Data and Impact Center of Excellence at the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), guiding data systems and data science projects that support improving student outcomes. John's roles over the last 20 years include Data Scientist at SDCOE, Senior Director of IT and Analytics at Institute for Evidence-Based Change, a community college research organization operating the Cal-PASS program; Associate Professor of software engineering for National University; and a technical member of the executive team for two internet startup companies. John completed a bachelor’s degree at University of California San Diego in economics, a master’s degree focusing on human and artificial cognition at San Diego State University, and a joint Ph.D. in education from Claremont Graduate University and San Diego State University culminating in the California State Graduate Research Award for his work in detecting metacognitive awareness in elementary school students.

Winnie Yee is a PhD student in the School of Education at the University of California, Irvine. Her fields of research are postsecondary education policy and social mobility. Previously, she was a Research Associate at the Federal Reserve Bank at San Francisco, where she wrote about the overoptimism in Federal Open Market Committee forecasts and adjusting the unemployment rate during the COVID-19 pandemic in FRBSF Economic Letters. During her time at the Brookings Institution with the Hamilton Project, she worked on pieces related to COVID-19’s impact on the labor force participation rate for women and school enrollment for young adults. She completed her Masters in Public Policy with a Certificate in Research Methods at the University of Chicago in 2021.