Dr. A. Corinne Huggins-Manley graduated from the Research, Measurement, and Evaluation (RME) program at the University of Miami (UM) in 2012 with her Doctor of Philosophy degree. She has many fond memories of her studies at UM. “The RME program consisted of a tight-knit group of faculty and graduate students, and the result was that I always felt supported and I always had research partners with whom I could collaborate and learn.”
Upon graduation, she was offered a position as Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, and she currently works as an Associate Professor at the University of Florida in the Research and Evaluation Methodology program in the College of Education. She continues to work and grow as a scholar in educational measurement. She has published over thirty peer reviewed articles, has secured large external grant funding in the education sciences, has taught a host of quantitative courses at the graduate level, and has worked as program coordinator for both graduate and undergraduate level major, minor, and specialization degrees.
“I thank all the RME faculty at UM for providing the foundations needed for my successful junior faculty career, and my continuing mid-level faculty career. Go Canes!”
-- A. Corinne Huggins-Manley (Associate Professor at the University of Florida in the Research and Evaluation Methodology program in the College of Education)
After receiving my bachelor’s degree in Sociology, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in Research, Measurement, and Evaluation (RME). Near the end of the master’s program I made the decision to continue and pursue a PhD. I was fortunate to have excellent mentoring throughout my graduate career. I was able to work on a number of grant projects and learned all about the entire grant process. I also had opportunities to consult on various projects which enhanced my analysis skills. I even had opportunities to teach and tutor other students.
I enjoyed the program due to the small cohort size and cohesive group- both students and faculty. I was part of a group that enjoyed working together in class and on projects, and also got along well outside of the classroom. I still keep in touch with many of my former classmates and professors from the program.
Today I am the Assistant Director of Assessment at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. I assist the School in collecting data and conducting evaluations in preparation for program accreditation. I enjoy my job as I am able to apply my measurement and evaluation skills to improve the learning outcomes of students I see every day. I have even assisted in obtaining grants to enhance and improve instruction.
-- Jaime Maerten-Rivera (Assistant Director of Assessment at the University of Buffalo, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences)
Karina Gattamorta started her career as a Special Education teacher after completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Special Education at the University of Miami. Shortly after, she decided to pursue graduate education. While teaching, she earned an EdS in School Psychology from Florida International University. While working as a school psychologist, she became interested in issues related to fairness in testing and decided to return to her Alma Matter for a PhD in Research, Measurement, and Evaluation.
Upon graduating, she was offered a faculty position at the School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) at the University of Miami where she has been for the past 9 years. She is currently a Research Associate Professor where she teaches various courses in research methods, statistics, and measurement. At SONHS, she has developed expertise in health disparities and nursing education practices while continuing to examine issues related to measurement. In her current line of research, Dr. Gattamorta is examining the intersection of racial/ethinic minority and sexual minority status on mental and behavioral health among youth and young adults.
-- Karina Gattamorta (Research Associate Professor, School of Nursing, University of Miami)
