Our Team
Jesse Senechal, Ph.D.
Executive Director, ICRE
senechaljt@vcu.edu
Dr. Senechal is Executive Director of the Institute for Collaborative Research and Evaluation (ICRE) at the VCU School of Education. He leads interdisciplinary teams in designing and implementing collaborative research and evaluation projects that aim to improve outcomes for individuals, organizations, and communities. His work supports strategic partnerships with K-12 school divisions, higher education institutions, state agencies, and community-based organizations. Dr. Senechal brings over a decade of experience directing research-practice partnerships and currently co-leads developmental and participatory evaluations of state-wide and local initiatives, including projects with Commonwealth Savers, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and the English Empowerment Center. He also supports professional learning and faculty development through cross-unit collaborations at VCU, and contributes regularly to national conversations about equity-focused, community-engaged research. Before his career in research and evaluation, Dr. Senechal taught in public high schools in Chicago and Richmond for 14 years. He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Research and Evaluation from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Paula Ogston-Nobile, Ph.D.
Associate Director, ICRE
ogstonpl@vcu.edu
Dr. Ogston-Nobile is Associate Director of the Institute for Collaborative Research and Evaluation (ICRE) at the VCU School of Education. She serves as ICRE’s operational lead, helping to shape the institute’s strategic direction and ensure the effective coordination of its research and evaluation activities. Dr. Ogston-Nobile works closely with state agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and community organizations to develop practical, evidence-informed insights that guide decision-making and improvement. Her recent work has focused on strengthening early childhood systems, enhancing family–school partnerships, supporting students with disabilities and their families, and expanding opportunities for students exploring STEM pathways. Guided by a practical and collaborative approach, Paula aims to ensure that research and evaluation efforts yield actionable insights that partners can apply to strengthen programs and systems. Dr. Ogston-Nobile earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts in both Psychology and Studio Art from Michigan State University. Before joining ICRE, she worked with the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC), the Partnership for People with Disabilities, and the VCU Literacy Institute – all centers within the VCU School of Education.
David Naff, Ph.D.
Director, MERC
naffdb@vcu.edu
Dr. Naff is Director of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC), a longstanding research-practice partnership between the VCU School of Education and school divisions in metropolitan Richmond, Virginia. In addition to leading MERC, he helps to lead various research and evaluation projects through ICRE, including with PK-12, higher education, and state agency partners. Dr. Naff also helps to develop online data dashboards for partners to interact with data. He earned his BS in Psychology from Appalachian State University, his MA in Counseling from Wake Forest University, and his PhD in Education with a focus in Educational Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. His research interests include research-practice partnerships as well as research use and dissemination. Prior to working with MERC and ICRE, Dr. Naff was a high school counselor.
Amy Corning, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate
acorning@vcu.edu
Dr. Corning is the Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Collaborative Research and Evaluation (ICRE) at the VCU School of Education. She leads and co-leads collaborative research and evaluation projects, often with state partners, including the Virginia Department of Education, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and Commonwealth Savers. Her work focuses on expanding educational opportunity for secondary and post-secondary students, with particular attention to how institutional and systemic contexts shape access and outcomes. She is also interested in the conditions that foster meaningful collaboration and the use of research in practice and policy. Her current and recent projects include developmental evaluations for a state-wide college access partnership and a work-based learning initiative; research on comprehensive school-based mental health systems in Virginia; and research on specialized high school computer science opportunities and experiences. Prior to joining ICRE, Dr. Corning worked with the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) at VCU, and at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, where she worked on collective memory. She is the co-author, with Howard Schuman, of Generations and Collective Memory. Dr. Corning earned her Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of Michigan, and her A.M. and A.B. at Harvard University.
Meleah Ellison, Ed.D.
Research and Evaluation Associate
ellisonmr2@vcu.edu
Dr. Ellison is a Research and Evaluation Associate with ICRE. She leads and supports ICRE research and evaluation projects for various school divisions, higher education institutions, community organizations, and state agencies. She has experience across multiple settings, including public and charter PK-12 education, mental health, higher education, and philanthropic initiatives with a focus on education, college access, cross-sector collaboration, strategic planning, and community-engaged practices. In addition to her role at ICRE, she leads and supports various research and evaluation projects within the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC), a venerable research-practice partnership known for its longstanding commitment to collaborative evidence-based practices in the Richmond area. Dr. Ellison is a first-generation college student who earned her BS in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, her MA in Counseling from Wake Forest University, and her EdD in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University.
Jamelle Simmons, PhD.
Research and Evaluation Associate
simmonsj5@vcu.edu
Dr. Simmons supports a diverse research and evaluation portfolio related to educational programs across various institutions and organizations. With a background in bioengineering, he brings experience in research, teaching, coaching, and mentoring from multiple settings. His areas of interest include student development, student success, workforce development, policy for science, and equity and inclusion. Having served in diverse roles in higher education, including student support, programming, and administration, Dr. Simmons brings additional experience to the Institute for Collaborative Evaluation and Research (ICRE) team. Before joining ICRE, he worked as the Louis Sullivan Science Policy Fellow for Research!America, focusing on projects aimed at broadening STEM participation, building strategic partnerships, and increasing support for science and innovation. Dr. Simmons earned his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Albion Sumrell, Ph.D., has worked with numerous schools, colleges, and non-profits as an administrator, teacher, and counselor. Most recently, he has been involved in supporting educational organizations with program development and evaluation through consulting projects. Due to his various roles in education, Dr. Sumrell understands the complex challenges that educators encounter in supporting their students. His research interests include college and career readiness and building effective pipelines between secondary and postsecondary institutions. He received his Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of New Orleans.