Dr. Janelle Clay
Senior Manager, Research & Evaluation
What brings me to this work?
I’m drawn to this work because I believe in the power of research and data to drive equitable outcomes for students. I’m energized by the opportunity to support Achieve Atlanta’s mission to increase postsecondary access and success for Atlanta students.
Janelle holds a PhD in Educational Policy Studies and an M.S. in Urban Policy Studies from Georgia State University. She received a B.A. in Political Science from Emory University. She has conducted research and evaluation studies focused on early childhood education, K–12 education, college and career readiness, and workforce development. She is particularly interested in using research evidence to expand access to high-quality supports and interventions, with expertise in mixed-methods research and critical quantitative approaches. As the Senior Manager, Research and Evaluation, Janelle conducts research, program evaluation, and statistical modeling to evaluate the effectiveness of programmatic interventions with Scholars and build evidence for Achieve Atlanta’s impact.
Prior to Achieve Atlanta, she served as a Senior Research Associate with the Education Development Center (EDC), where she supported the Regional Education Laboratory (REL) Northeast and Islands in building the capacity of educators and policymakers to use research to make evidence-based decisions.