Kelly Robertson

Photo of Kelly Robertson
Kelly Robertson
Principal Research Associate
Office: 
(269) 387-5916
Location: 
4526 Ellsworth Hall, Mail Stop 5237
Mailing address: 
The Evaluation Center
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5237 USA
Education: 
  • Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Evaluation, Western Michigan University, 2015
  • M.A., International Development Administration, Western Michigan University, 2008
  • B.A., Psychology, University of Michigan, 2005
Certification: 
  • Certified Nonprofit Professional, Western Michigan University, 2009
Bio: 

Kelly Robertson works as a Principal Research Associate at The Evaluation Center at Western Michigan University. She obtained her Ph.D. in interdisciplinary evaluation at Western Michigan University and has 12+ years of experience in the field of program evaluation. Her professional and research experience so far has focused on adult education, career and technical education, communities of practice, criminal justice, domestic and sexual violence, energy-efficiency, evaluation capacity development, equity- and equality-focused evaluation, institutional/systemic racism, international development, metaevaluation, and economic empowerment. Dr. Robertson also holds a Master’s Degree in International Development Administration with an emphasis on monitoring and evaluation from Western Michigan University. She also has a certificate in nonprofit leadership administration and a bachelor’s degree in psychology with honors from the University of Michigan.

Recent Projects:

2019 – 2023   Development of Online Evaluation Training Program for Practitioners
2017 – 2020   City of Grand Rapids Seeking Safety Modification Project Evaluation
2017 – 2019   Grand Rapids Urban League Sowing Opportunities Now (SON) Program Evaluation
2016 – 2023   EvaluATE: Evaluation Learning and Resource Hub for Advanced Technical Education Program
2016 – 2021   Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan Life Guide Program Evaluation Capacity Development
2016 – 2018   Evaluation of the Use of Restorative Justice Practices to Reduce School Truancy and Suspension
2015 - 2018   Evaluation of Urban Core Collective
2015               Create Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the YWCA of Kalamazoo
                       
Recent Publications:

  • Robertson, K. (2016). Considering the social determinants of equity in international development evaluation guidance documents. In J. Chouinard & R. Hopson (Eds.), Decolonizing international development evaluation. [Special issue]. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 30(3), 344-373. doi:10.3138/cjpe.30.3.07 
  • Robertson, K. & Schröter, D. (2014). Leveraging appraisal findings to improve evaluation quality (i-eval Think Piece, 4). International Labour Organization website: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_mas/---eval/documents/publication/wcms_237914.pdf
  • Schröter, D., Coryn, C., Cullen, A., Robertson, K., & Alyami, M. (2011). Using concept mapping for planning and evaluation of a statewide energy efficiency initiative. Energy Efficiency. doi: 10.1007/s12053-011-9141-7 
  • Evergreen, S. & Robertson, K. (2010). How do evaluators communicate cultural competence? Indications of cultural competence through an examination of the American Evaluation Association’s career center.  Journal of Multidisciplinary Evaluation, 6(14), 58-67. Available at http://journals.sfu.ca/jmde/index.php/jmde_1/article/view/272

Selected Webinars: