“Incorporating lived experience into research and evaluation is crucial for addressing systemic challenges and fostering systems change. By valuing the knowledge and perspectives of individuals who have firsthand experience with a policy, program, service, or community of interest, we can create research that identifies root causes of issues, develops meaningful solutions, and drives transformative change within systems”
Dr. Gilmore’s Biography
Danielle Gilmore, PhD, MPP, CHES, specializes in evaluations aimed at systemic change. A Certified Health Education Specialist, Dr. Gilmore has deep expertise in qualitative research methodologies, particularly phenomenology, and integrates the lived experiences of communities into policy and program development. She views education as a key social determinant of health, emphasizing its intersection with systems like child welfare to improve community well-being.
While at Community Science, Dr. Gilmore oversaw qualitative and quantitative data analysis, including focus groups, interviews, and surveys. She was central to the Dalio Foundation’s Connecticut Opportunity Project, directing the qualitative analysis for Connecticut's Unspoken Crisis: Elevating the Voices of Young People. This study explored barriers faced by youth who are disconnected from education and the workforce in Connecticut. Dr. Gilmore oversaw the collection and analysis of 74 in-depth interviews, ensuring the findings were both rigorous and actionable.
As part of the Dalio study, Dr. Gilmore also developed a capacity-building framework for the Community Advisory Group (CAG), which was composed of young people with a history of disconnection from education and work, alongside adults from youth-serving organizations. She equipped CAG members with tools for meaningful participation in the research process. She facilitated their first public engagement event—a data walk—where members co-presented findings alongside her, fostering strategic dialogue on the study’s implications.
Additionally, Dr. Gilmore led the development and implementation of qualitative data analysis standards and guidelines at Community Science, setting new benchmarks for coder training materials and project design. Her methodologies are trauma-informed, asset-based, and grounded in social-ecological frameworks.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Gilmore worked as a Research and Evaluation Associate at Mirror Group, LLC, overseeing qualitative research initiatives, and at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, where she managed the multi-institutional Primetime Sister Circles randomized controlled trial research study. Her expertise in capacity building, community engagement, and policy advocacy positions her as a strategic leader in creating informed changes.
Dr. Gilmore holds a PhD in Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in program evaluation from George Washington University, a Master of Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Science in Community and Public Health from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Based in Washington, DC, she enjoys cooking, reading, and playing golf in her free time.
She/Her/Hers (what’s this?)
-
Policy Research and Evaluation: Expertise in conducting mixed methods research, including survey design, document analysis, qualitative interviews, and statistical analysis, with a focus on public policy and economic impact.
Data-Driven Insights: Strong background in data reporting and visualization to support policy development and decision-making. Proficient in translating complex datasets into actionable insights for non-technical audiences and cross-functional teams.
Evaluation for Systems Change: Proven experience in designing and implementing culturally responsive evaluation frameworks, including conceptual and logic models, with a focus on economic equity and community impact. Skilled in trauma-informed methodologies and stakeholder engagement to ensure inclusive policy outcomes.
Program and Project Management: Lead cross-functional teams in developing and executing strategic policy and program initiatives. Expertise in managing large-scale research projects and providing technical guidance on data analysis and evaluation methods.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experienced in working with diverse teams, including policy, communications, analytics, and strategy departments, to ensure alignment of research findings with organizational goals and public policy objectives.
-
Incorporating lived experience in trauma-informed research and evaluation to reduce inequality and drive systems change. I incorporate the perspectives of those who have directly encountered specific experiences or challenges to (1) tap into their unique insights and expertise, (2) create a more comprehensive understanding of root causes and potential solutions, and (3) conduct research and evaluation to identify meaningful solutions and drive transformative change within our systems.
-
Qualitative Data Analysis: (ATLAS.ti & MaxQDA)
Quantitative Data Analysis: (STATA & SPSS)
Survey Design: (Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey & RedCap)
Project Management and Task Productivity: (Asana, Google Suite, Monday.com & Microsoft Office 365)
-
Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (#26207)
Creative Facilitation for Youth Engagement, Partnerships for Youth Engagement (2023)
CITI Human Subjects Research, Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (2023)