Lisa Rau is a Senior Research Associate based in Eugene, Oregon. She has experience in policy research and evaluation in content areas such as early childhood, K-12 and postsecondary education, workforce development and training, and economic mobility and opportunity. She has evaluated programs and initiatives to inform strategic direction, monitor implementation, and measure outcomes and impact using mixed methods approaches. At MEF, Lisa works on projects related to early childhood programs, workforce support and development, and research translation into policy. Lisa’s recent work has included the co-design and piloting of toolkits and resources for human services practitioners. She is also coordinating MEF’s Equitable Evaluation Workgroup, which provides support to project teams in advancing equity throughout the lifecycle of a project and providing opportunities for MEF staff to develop their knowledge and practice of using equitable approaches in our work.
Prior to joining MEF, Lisa worked as an Associate at ECONorthwest, conducting economic and social policy research for local, tribal, and state governments. She also led grant evaluation system development as the Learning and Research Officer at a philanthropic start-up in Minnesota and supported local early care and education workforce system change as a Policy Fellow with Transforming Minnesota’s Early Childhood Workforce.
Lisa holds a Master of Public Policy and Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Policy from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Japanese Culture from the University of Oregon. When Lisa is not working, she enjoys trying new recipes and going on outdoor adventures with her family.