College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

John LaVelle

  • Assistant Professor

Areas of interest

Evaluation theory and practice
Research on evaluation
Teaching of evaluation
Psychology of evaluators and applied professionals
Evaluator values
Curricular design
Higher education –> Career readiness

Degrees

Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University, psychology, emphasis in evaluation and applied research methods
M.S., University of Wisconsin-Stout, applied psychology, emphasis in applied health psychology
B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls, psychology and modern languages: Spanish

Biography

Profile

My empirical work has focused on the formal development of the evaluation profession, with a specialization on understanding international job markets and university systems that are set up to meet those needs. I have explored topics such as analyzing the international job market for evaluators, the university systems across the world that prepare evaluators, and methods for reaching out to potential applied researchers and evaluators.

Courses taught

OLPD 5501 – Principles and Methods of Evaluation
OLPD 5502 – Comparative Evaluation Theory for Practice
OLPD 8502 – Advanced Evaluation Theory and Theorycrafting
OLPD 8595 – Current Issues: Research on Evaluation
OLPD 8596 – Evaluation Internship

Awards

  • Marcia Guttentag Award for Promising New Evaluator. American Evaluation Association, 2019.
  • Editor Choice Publication, Evaluation and Program Planning, for Gullickson, A. M., King, J. A., LaVelle, J. M., & Clinton, J. (2019). The current state of educating evaluators: A situation analysis. 2019.
  • Evaluation Mentorship Fellow, University of Melbourne, 2019.
  • SAGE Early Career Teaching Award, American Evaluation Association, 2018.

Professional affiliations

Publications

(*denotes student co-author)

LaVelle, J.M., Johnson, D. (2021) Crosswalk between AEA Competencies and ES Programs. Self-published PDF. 

LaVelle, J. M., Yang, Z.* (accepted, 2020).  What will they remember?  Student key learning experiences in an introductory evaluation course.  Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation. Submission ID: 69601.R1.

LaVelle, J. M., & Donaldson, S. I. (accepted, 2020).  Opportunities and challenges ahead for university-based evaluator education programs, faculty, and students.  American Journal of Evaluation. 

LaVelle, J. M. (2020).  Using a program evaluation course to foster service and humanize students, faculty, and community partners. In E. Sengupta, P. Blessinger, and M. Makhanya (Eds.), International perspectives on integrating community service into the curriculum: Humanizing higher education.  Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, V. 25, 129-146.  Doi:10.1108/S2055-3641202000000025009.  Emerald Group Publishing.

Johnson, D., Thurlow, M., Wu, Y. C., LaVelle, J. M., & Davenport, E. (Accepted 2020).  IEP/Transition planning participation among students with the most significant cognitive disabilities: Findings from NLTS 2010.  Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals.  https://doi.org/10.1177/2165143420952050

Qian, X., Johnson, D., Wu, Y., LaVelle, J, Thurlow, M., & Davenport, E. (Accepted, 2020). Parents’ Postsecondary Education Expectations for Students with Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Multiple Disabilities: Findings from NLTS 2012.  Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities.  Manuscript ID: RPSD-19-12-121.

McAdaragh, M.*, LaVelle, J. M., & Zhang, L.* (accepted, 2020). Evaluation and supporting inquiry courses in MSW programs.  Research on Social Work Practice.  https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731520921243

LaVelle, J.M., & Dighe, S. (2020). A transdisciplinary model of program outcomes for enhanced evaluation practice. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 35(1).

LaVelle, J. M., Lovato, C., & Stephenson, C. L. (2020).  Towards a pedagogy for the teaching of evaluation.  Evaluation and Program Planning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2020.101786

Kim, S., Park, S., Lavelle, J. M., Kim, M., & Chaudhuri, S. (2020). Revisiting trainee reactions: A multilevel analysis of the nomological network. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 31(2), 173-191.

LaVelle, J. M. (in-press, 2020).  Educating evaluators 1976-2017: An expanded analysis of university-based evaluation education programs.  American Journal of Evaluation. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1098214019860914

LaVelle, J. M. (2020).  Anticipating and addressing stakeholders’ stereotypes of evaluation.  Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation.  https://doi.org/10.3138/cjpe.61723

LaVelle, J. M., Sabarre, N.*, & Umans, H.* (2020).  An empirical examination of evaluation’s presence in the undergraduate curriculum in the United States.  American Journal of Evaluation. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1098214019860912

Gullickson, A. M., King, J. A., LaVelle, J. M., & Clinton, J. M. (2019). The current state of educating evaluators: A situation analysis. Evaluation and program planning, 75, 20-30.

LaVelle, J. M. (2018) 2018 Directory of Evaluator Education Programs in the United States.  University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing.  https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/200790

LaVelle, J. M., & Donaldson, S. I. (2015). The state of preparing evaluators. In J. W. Altschuld & M. Engle (Eds.), Accreditation, certification, and credentialing: Relevant concerns for U.S. evaluators. New Directions for Evaluation (pp. 145, 39-52).

LaVelle, J. M. (2011). Planning for evaluation’s future: Undergraduate students’ knowledge of and interest in program evaluation.  American Journal of Evaluation, 32(3), 362-375.

LaVelle, J. M., & Donaldson, S. I. (2010). University-based evaluation training programs 1980-2008: An empirical review. American Journal of Evaluation, 31(1), 9-23.

Presentations

(*indicates student co-presenter)

LaVelle, J. M. (fall 2019).  Evaluator education: What’s taught, sought, and is absolutely critical?  Talk submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  AEA Presidential Strand.

LaVelle, J. M. (fall, 2019).  Applying pedagogy to designing evaluation courses.  Paper submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Minneapolis, MN.

Yang, Z.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (fall, 2019).  What will they remember?  Student key learning experiences in evaluation courses.  Paper submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Minneapolis, MN.

LaVelle, J. M., & Chouinard, J. A. (Fall, 2019).  Teaching of evaluation: Practice notes from the field.  Think Tank submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Minneapolis, MN.

Varshney, N.*, Sarode, T. *, Thompson, C. *, & LaVelle, J. M. (Fall, 2019).  Positionality in evaluation.  Demonstration Session submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Minneapolis, MN.

Yang, Z. *, & LaVelle, J. M. (fall, 2019).  Identifying the evaluative in English and Chinese slang: Insights from a cross-cultural perspective.  Paper submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Minneapolis, MN.

Ayoo, S. *, LaVelle, J. M., Tucker, S., & King, J. A. (Fall, 2019).  Professionalization of evaluation in North America.  Think Tank submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Minneapolis, MN

Sabarre, N. R.*, LaVelle, J. M., & Umans, H. E.* (Fall, 2019).  Building the future of evaluation: How to foster intentional evaluators through an academic pipeline.  Think Tank submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Minneapolis, MN.

LaVelle, J. M. (Summer, 2019).  Measuring impact: Evaluating the University Museum.  Talk submitted to the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries.  Minneapolis, MN. 

LaVelle, J. M. (Fall, 2018).  Evaluator competencies and university-based evaluation education in 2018: Global perspectives and implications for professionalism.  Talk submitted to the European Evaluation Association.  Thessaloniki, Greece.

LaVelle, J. M. (fall 2018).  It starts with us: Evaluator competencies and education systems.  Talk submitted to the Hellenic Evaluation Society.  Presidential Invitation: Policy Strand.

Ayoo, S.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (fall 2018).  The role of professional autonomy in speaking truth to funders, governments, and program managers.  Talk submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cleveland, OH.  AEA Presidential Strand.

Selameab, T.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (fall 2018).  Truth be told, who sets the threshold for “what works”?  Talk submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cleveland, OH.  AEA Presidential Strand.

Matthias, C.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (fall 2018).  Evaluation at the intersection of identity and cultural values.  Talk submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cleveland, OH.  AEA Presidential Strand.

Dighe, S.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (fall 2018).  Evaluator in the global south: Shifting the focus from accountability onto learning.  Talk submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cleveland, OH.  AEA Presidential Strand.

LaVelle, J. M., Jones, N. D.*, Donaldson, S. I.* (fall 2018).  Grounding the impostor phenomenon in scholarly literature.  Talk submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cleveland, OH.  AEA Presidential Strand.

Donaldson, S. I.*, Jones, N. D.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (fall 2018).  The role of individual and contextual activators in the impostor phenomenon.  Talk submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cleveland, OH.  AEA Presidential Strand.

Jones, N. D.*, Donaldson, S. I.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (fall 2018).  Confronting the impostor phenomenon: Speaking your truth.  Talk submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cleveland, OH.  AEA Presidential Strand.

LaVelle, J. M., Miller, R. L., Barela, E., Symonette, H. L., Galport, N.* (fall 2018).  Presenting the AEA evaluator competencies.  Talk submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cleveland, OH.  AEA-Sponsored Session.

LaVelle, J. M. (Fall, 2018).  Reinforcing the link between learning and action: Engaging students in grounded learning about evaluator competencies and evaluation practice.  Talk submitted to the European Evaluation Association.  Thessaloniki, Greece.

LaVelle, J. M., Sabarre, N.*, & Umans, H.* (Fall, 2018).  Empirically exploring if, where, and how undergraduate students are exposed to evaluation: Implications for creating global pipelines into the profession.  Talk submitted to the European Evaluation Association.  Thessaloniki, Greece

LaVelle, J. M., Jones, N.*, & Donaldson, S.* (Fall, 2018). The impostor phenomenon in evaluation practice: Scholarly analysis and practical solutions.  Talk submitted to the European Evaluation Association.  Thessaloniki, Greece.

LaVelle, J. M., Gullickson, A., King, J. A., & Skolits, G. A. (Fall, 2018).  The future of evaluator education and training: An ongoing discussion.  Roundtable organized for the American Evaluation Association.  Cincinnati, OH.

Thompson, C.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (Fall, 2018).  The role of implicit and explicit biases in evaluation practice.  Paper submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cincinnati, OH.

Varshney, N.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (Fall, 2018).  Institutional positionality in evaluation practice.  Paper submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cincinnati, OH.

Sarode, T.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (Fall, 2018).  Cultural positionality in evaluation practice.  Paper submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cincinnati, OH.

Sharma, R.*, Thompson, C.*, Machtmes, R.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (Fall, 2018).  Evaluator, know thyself: Individual positionality in evaluation practice.  Paper submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cincinnati, OH.

Umans, H. E.*, Sabarre, N. R.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (Fall, 2018).  Methods for understanding how evaluation is taught in higher education.  Paper submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cincinnati, OH.

Sabarre, N. R.*, Umans, H. E.*, & LaVelle, J. M. (Fall, 2018).  Where and how are undergraduate students exposed to evaluation?  Paper submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cincinnati, OH.

LaVelle, J. M., Sabarre, N. R.*, & Umans, H. E.* (Fall, 2018).  Graduate education in evaluation in modern times.  Paper submitted to the American Evaluation Association.  Cincinnati, OH.

LaVelle, J. M., Sabarre, N.*, & Umans, H.* (Spring, 2018).  Early exposure to evaluation: Evaluation’s presence in the undergraduate curriculum.  Paper given at The Future of Evaluation Education and Training: A Working Conference.  Minneapolis, MN.