Poverty Center Staff Biographies
Tsui Chan, B.S. in Computer Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, is a Programmer/Analyst at the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development. Ms. Chan’s responsibilities include developing and designing databases, analyzing data using SAS and other software packages, conducting spatial analysis and mapping, and managing the Center’s computer network. She is also responsible for the design and maintenance of the Center’s online database system (NEO CANDO), and the development of computer programs and GIS applications that are used in various research projects in the Center. Email Tsui
Marci Blue, M.S.S.A. and M.N.O. from Case Western Reserve University, joined the Center in 2012 as a Research Assistant. In this role, she provides support to various research projects through data collection, maintenance and processing, conducting descriptive and statistical analyses, providing technical assistance to community partners, developing materials for public presentations of research results and other tasks as needed. Prior to joining the Center as staff, she worked for three years as a graduate assistant on the center’s evaluation of Cuyahoga County’s Invest in Children program. Email Marci
April Hirsh, M.S.S.A from Case Western Reserve University, joined the Center to work as a Research Assistant in 2008. She works to assist Dr. Mark Joseph in qualitative research on mixed-income developments, and with Dr. Claudia Coulton and Michael Schramm on foreclosure and property issues in Cleveland. She is very concise. Email April
Eamon Johnson, B.S. Computer Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is an Analyst/Programmer at the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development. He uses his deep background in software, networking, and databases to guide the design, build, and maintenance of the Center’s web-based data services. Eamon pursues his research interests in internet applications and network protocols at the Case School of Engineering, where he is a graduate student. Email Eamon
Nina Lalich, M.S.P.H. in Biostatistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is an Analyst/Programmer at the Center. She provides data management and statistical analysis in support of the Center’s research and evaluation efforts. She is currently involved in the evaluation study of Cuyahoga County’s Invest in Children program. She has also participated in studies of welfare recipients and welfare leavers. Prior to joining the Center, Nina was a Public Health Service officer with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Email Nina
Curtis O’Neal, B.A. in Anthropology, University of Chicago, serves as Department Administrator for the Center. Curtis joined the Poverty Center’s team after working for a financial planning agency dealing with sports celebrities and “high net worth” clients. His dealings with various philanthropist clients and their foundations, community trusts, as well as religious, political and charitable contributions, inspired him to work professionally in a center promoting social change. Email Curtis
Jess Rudolph, B.A. in English from Case Western Reserve University, assists in the daily operations of the Poverty Center. He works closely with the Invest In Children Evaluation Staff on administrative and computer upkeep for the Center. Jess also assists with web content including the Center’s blog and NEO CANDO Facebook page; he also sometimes assists the Director of Marketing and Communications at MSASS. Jess has worked on the layout and design of recent Center publications including the Briefly Stated reports and Data Briefs. Prior to joining the staff at the Center he worked as an undergraduate assistant at the Center for four years. Email Jess
Michael Schramm, M.A. in Geography from Syracuse University, is a Research Associate and Analyst/Programmer at the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development in the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He is extensively involved in the development and maintenance of the Center’s neighborhood information system, NEO CANDO (Northeast Ohio Community and Neighborhood Data for Organizing). He also assists the community on a continuing basis with data and GIS mapping and conducts regular training sessions on how to use the NEO CANDO as a tool for social change. Michael’s research interests include: lending and foreclosure patterns, vacant properties and neighborhood revitalization. Michael’s expertise on foreclosure, subprime mortgages, and other real property data have been extensively utilized by the Neighborhood Stabilization Team sponsored by Neighborhood Progress, Inc, the Cuyahoga County Foreclosure Prevention Program as well as the newly established Cuyahoga County Land Bank. He is also active in the local foreclosure and vacant property dialogue through VAPAC (Vacant and Abandoned Property Action Council) and has presented at numerous national meeting and conferences on these topics. Beginning in July 2010, Michael took on an additional role as the Director of IT and Research at the Cuyahoga Land Bank, but will continue to be associated with Case and NEO CANDO in an advisory role. Email Michael