Carter Carter
Research Assistant
CARTER CARTER
Research Assistant
As a member of the Research Team, Carter utilizes his expertise in data analysis to uncover meaningful insights that best characterize clients’ desired needs and goals. He works collaboratively with other Research Team members to ensure high-quality data collection, survey design, and statistical analysis, helping to inform key decision-making processes. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods, Carter translates complex datasets into actionable findings for research projects and client reports.
Prior to joining Art & Science Group, Carter worked as a Data Analyst at the University of Maryland, where he focused on public health interventions. He has experience cleaning and managing large datasets, conducting exploratory and statistical analyses, and developing research manuscripts on topics including PrEP adherence among Black transgender women, tobacco prevention messaging for LGBTQ+ youth, and youth health behaviors using survey data. His work has contributed to multiple academic publications and public health initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes in underserved communities. He is an author on a published scoping review examining tobacco prevention and cessation messaging strategies for Black and/or Latine LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. Carter was awarded the Andrew Billingsley Scholarship at the University of Maryland—an honor recognizing research on ethnic minority families—for his work studying Black incarcerated fathers in Maryland. He completed his M.P.H. thesis on gender-affirming medical care and suicidality within transgender populations, further deepening his expertise at the intersection of data, health equity, and community outcomes.
Beyond the Work
Carter grew up moving internationally living in places like Kuwait, the Philippines, Mauritius, and Norway, shaping his global perspectives. Outside of research, he is passionate about community engagement, having volunteered in HIV testing initiatives and harm reduction efforts in Washington, DC. When he’s not working with data, Carter enjoys cooking foods from his many backgrounds, going to the gym, playing recreational soccer with friends, making fragrances, and spending time with his two cats Fig and Fry.
Education
B.S. Family Science, University of Maryland, College Park
B.S. Public Health Science, University of Maryland, College Park
M.P.H. Biostatistics, University of Maryland, College Park
Lara Fields
Research Associate
LARA FIELDS
Research Associate
Lara Fields leads the firm’s qualitative research efforts. With almost a decade of experience supporting research and operations for education and nonprofit organizations, she plays a key role in qualitative research design, data gathering, project management, and analysis and reporting for client projects. Lara understands the important role qualitative data plays in providing context for issues facing higher education and K-12 schools and uses her expertise in qualitative methodologies to illuminate the market-informed strategies that best align with client needs.
Having previously supported A&S as a Research Assistant and then as an Affiliate Consultant, Lara has worked with a wide range of clients including colleges and universities such as Augsburg University, Bates College, Berea College, Bryn Mawr College, Case Western Reserve University, College of Saint Mary, Denison University, Grinnell College, Loyola Marymount University, Rice University, University of Pennsylvania, Ursinus College, Washington University in St. Louis, and Whitman College and independent schools including Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School, Milton Hershey School, The Hockaday School, The Nueva School, and William Penn Charter School
Before joining A&S in her current role, Lara was an administrator with Baltimore City Public Schools, where she supported the management of district-wide social-emotional learning curriculum, health services, athletics programming, and attendance monitoring initiatives. In addition to her experience in education, Lara has aided research and operations for arts and culture, public history, and international health and development organizations.
Beyond the work:
As a life-long cat lady, Lara enjoys lounging on the couch with her cat, Petra and watching the latest true crime docuseries. Lara is also an avid cook and often experiments in the kitchen with new cuisines and recipes; the spicier the better! When seeking adventure, Lara likes to find hidden karaoke spots around town with friends.
Education
A.B. Anthropology and Classical & Near Eastern Archaeology, Bryn Mawr College
Terry Houser
Executive Director of Research
TERRY HOUSER
Executive Director of Research
Terry Houser has a central role in all research projects from study design to the final presentation of findings to clients. With over fifteen years of experience in higher education research, Terry brings a high level of expertise to each project, while continuing to innovate and refine the firm’s research and statistical methodology. He works directly with project teams to analyze the results of research findings, interpret data, and develop reports. Terry directs all project work from the start of projects, determining the appropriate methodological design and approach for a project, through the analysis of the raw research data that have come in from the field. As the head of the research department, Terry manages, mentors, and trains the other members of the research team and conducts high-level statistical analyses for a wide range of projects, including large-scale survey research, econometric financial aid and retention analyses, and analyses of other client and secondary data. He has particular expertise in coordinating the firm’s advanced simulated decision modeling (SDM) process and results for all major client studies.
Since joining the firm in 2007, Terry has worked on large-scale research projects for a wide range of clients, including colleges and universities—such as Agnes Scott College, Dartmouth College, University of Chicago, Chicago-Kent College of Law, The Catholic University of America, Claremont McKenna College, Hendrix College, University of Richmond, Haverford College, University of Michigan, and the University of Virginia—and independent schools—such as The Buckley School, Norfolk Academy, The Nueva School, Philips Brooks School, Woodberry Forest School, and Milton Hershey School. Terry also plays a key role in conducting data analyses for studentPOLL, the firm’s national omnibus poll surveying college-bound high school students about their attitudes and behavior regarding the college search process.
Before joining the firm, Terry served as a research assistant and interviewer for the American Institutes for Research (AIR), where he played a key role in a longitudinal survey of Baltimore third graders focused on analyzing the effectiveness of a classroom-based intervention program implemented in several first-grade classrooms in the city.
Beyond the Work
When not enjoying America’s pastime, watching “dem’ O’s” at Camden Yards, Terry’s favorite pastime is finding new places to explore and playing disc golf. But no activity can compete with spending time with his amazing wife and daughter, and their dog, Ginny Hendricks—as they listen to his collection of vinyl or cassette tapes, or play with his retro gaming consoles from his youth.
Education
B.S. Psychology / Sociology, James Madison University
M.S. Predictive Analytics, Northwestern University
Leilani Martinez
Research Assistant
LEILANI MARTINEZ
Research Assistant
As a member of the Research Team, Leilani utilizes her experience with data analyzation to compose stories that best characterize clients’ needs and goals. Leilani leverages her written and oral communication skills through collaboration with other Research Team members to ensure quality data is received via surveys and informed conclusions are made to best serve our clients.
Prior to joining the Art & Science Group just six months after graduating college, Leilani interned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology during as an undergraduate. At NIST, she worked on the production and publication of cybersecurity guidance for the world of research in higher education as well as informed recommendations to folks working with voting technology.
Beyond the Work
Leilani was born a Los Angeles Dodgers fan due to her father’s upbringing on Guam; the tiny island in Micronesia where only LA sports were available arriving as video tapes via boat at least one day after any sporting event. Outside of her love for the boys in Dodger blue, Leilani is an avid music fan. At the University of Maryland, she was a radio host and has over 100 concerts under her belt. During baseball’s off-season or when there aren’t any concerts to attend Leilani likes nothing more than to snuggle up with her cats, Yoshi and Tsuki, and knit.
Education
B.S. Social Data Science, University of Maryland, College Park
Lisa Simmons
Research Manager
LISA SIMMONS
Research Manager
Lisa has a wealth of experience using quantitative and qualitative data to understand complex problems and provide informed recommendations to businesses and nonprofits situated at the intersections of higher education and community initiatives. Transforming data and findings into evidence-based perspectives and recommendations is her favorite part of the work. As Research Manager, she helps write, design, build, and analyze data from surveys, and also, conducts qualitative interviews and focus groups, and contributes to other ad-hoc research projects in support of secondary research initiatives at the firm.
Before joining Art & Science Group, Lisa spent 10 years managing all aspects of large-scale survey projects with K-12 and higher education stakeholders and private industry partners. As a research faculty member at Auburn University, Lisa worked on projects focused on external and program evaluations that supported the increase of educational access and outcomes for disadvantaged student populations through STEM-based programming. Previously, she also worked at a high-security juvenile detention center that used data and research to inform treatment and release from incarceration.
Since joining the firm, Lisa has worked on large-scale research projects for a wide range of clients, including colleges and universities—such as Rice University, Bates College, University of Virginia, Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, Allegheny College, Butler University, Susquehanna University, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, University of Arkansas, Whitman College, St. Olaf College, Cranbrook Academy of Art, University of Pennsylvania, Stonehill College, Gettysburg College—and independent schools—such as The Nueva School, The Governors Academy, Norfolk Academy, and Penn Charter School.
Lisa has served in multiple leadership roles in professional associations such as the American Evaluation Association and the Southeast Evaluation Association.
Beyond the Work
When not lost in complex data tables, Lisa can be found seeking out new places to walk or ride bikes with the family rescue dogs, Sophie, a husky mix, and Phoebe, a corgi mix. An ardent supporter and devotee of National Sandwich Day, she honors and celebrates the day appropriately every November 3rd and continues to demonstrate her devotion to sandwiches while tailgating with friends and family and cheering on the Tigers at Auburn games.
Education
B.A. Psychology, Auburn University
M.A. Developmental Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University
Ph.D. Educational Psychology and Program Evaluation, Auburn University