Kelsey Young

About Kelsey Young

With over 15 years of research experience, I currently serve as Associate Director of Research Insights & Analytics at Curriculum Associates, where I lead a national thought leadership research team. My work includes designing and executing high-impact studies, many of which have been featured in prominent outlets such as The New York Times and ABC News. I specialize in translating complex data into actionable insights through diverse dissemination strategies, including presentations, blog posts, and media collaborations. Skilled in research marketing and data storytelling, I empower cross-functional teams by elevating findings that drive strategic decision-making. My goal is to build a strong research brand while fostering innovative approaches to education improvement. By leveraging advanced research methodologies and fostering collaboration, I am committed to shaping meaningful narratives that enhance the educational landscape.

Experience

1. Associate Director

   Curriculum Associates

   Jun 2023 — Present

   Designed and executed 12 published national research reports in 2 years with multiple receiving national attention through New York Times, Wall Street Journal, ABC News, Washington Post, and education-specific outlets (Hechinger Report, Chalkbeat, K-12 Dive, The74)- Established and lead national, thought leadership research team, identifying studies for research brand building. Support team of researchers in design, execution, publication, and translation of findings- Elevate research and findings through varied dissemination avenues, including interviews with reporters at national news outlets, internal and external research presentations, blog posts, and guest speaker on podcasts- Collaborate with cross-functional team members, including sales, marketing, communications, and university academic partners to support use and exposure of research- Design research briefs, presentations, talking points, press releases, social media posts, and FAQs, incorporating actionable messaging and accessible language for all stakeholders- Identify research narratives to aid translation and use of results, explaining complex research methodology and findings in engaging and easily understood manner to varied audiences- Create thoughtful, captivating, and accessible visuals/graphics to best represent and translate research findings- Support team of researchers in building reproducible and efficient research processes for replicated reports through use of analytic and coding tools (R, R Markdown, Quarto, GitHub)- Completed over 40 small scale state assessment studies, evaluating use of product and associated outcomes on state assessments- Clean, merge, and analyze large volume data across internal and external (state assessment, National Center for Education Statistics) data sources- Participated in week-long, in-person leadership training to build and refine coaching and mentoring skills to encourage professional development of direct reports.

Education

• University of Minnesota

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Child Psychology

  2009 — 2011

• University of Minnesota

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Educational Psychology

  2013 — 2020

• University of Minnesota

  Master of Arts - MA, Educational Psychology

  2013 — 2015