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Producing Competent Evaluators: A Self-Study of a Graduate Evaluation Program

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Title: Producing Competent Evaluators: A Self-Study of a Graduate Evaluation Program
Language: English
Authors: Sandra Nyashaddai Ayoo (ORCID 0000-0002-8091-8289), Tiffany L. S. Tovey (ORCID 0000-0002-7813-4485), Tyler Clark, Stacy Huff (ORCID 0000-0002-1309-2237), Omodolapo Somo-Aina, Jaime R. Moller, Xinru Yan (ORCID 0009-0002-7281-249X), Joy Alcantara Chuquiruna, Charity Odetola, Aileen Reid (ORCID 0000-0002-8099-1435), Ayesha S. Boyce (ORCID 0000-0002-9509-8703)
Source: American Journal of Evaluation. 2026 47(2):191-217.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 27
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Graduate Study, Evaluation, Evaluators, Skill Development, Job Skills, Minority Serving Institutions, Graduate Students, Alumni, College Curriculum, Student Experience, Competency Based Education, Reflection, Authentic Learning, Standards, Social Justice, Cultural Relevance
Geographic Terms: North Carolina (Greensboro)
DOI: 10.1177/10982140261425204
ISSN: 1098-2140
1557-0878
Abstract: Preparing evaluators requires more than technical training. It requires cultivating the judgment to navigate uncertainty, complexity, and equity concerns. This study examines how evaluator competencies are developed through a collaborative, reflective self-study of a graduate evaluation program at a Minority Serving Institution in the southeastern United States. Twenty-two students and alumni participated in interviews exploring how evaluator competencies were enacted through coursework, assistantships, and applied projects. Findings indicate strengths in Context and Methodology competencies, while Planning and Management and Interpersonal competencies require greater attention. Participants emphasized the importance of safe and brave spaces and identified reflection as essential for linking technical skills with professional judgment, cultural responsiveness, and professional identity. The study introduces the ARC Framework--Action, Reflection, and Competency--as a model for evaluator preparation. Implications extend to embedding authentic practice, making reflection intentional, cultivating dispositions, and integrating justice throughout curricula to prepare evaluators to act wisely and responsibly.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504246
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Producing Competent Evaluators: A Self-Study of a Graduate Evaluation Program
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sandra+Nyashaddai+Ayoo%22">Sandra Nyashaddai Ayoo</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8091-8289">0000-0002-8091-8289</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tiffany+L%2E+S%2E+Tovey%22">Tiffany L. S. Tovey</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7813-4485">0000-0002-7813-4485</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tyler+Clark%22">Tyler Clark</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stacy+Huff%22">Stacy Huff</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1309-2237">0000-0002-1309-2237</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Omodolapo+Somo-Aina%22">Omodolapo Somo-Aina</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jaime+R%2E+Moller%22">Jaime R. Moller</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xinru+Yan%22">Xinru Yan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7281-249X">0009-0002-7281-249X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Joy+Alcantara+Chuquiruna%22">Joy Alcantara Chuquiruna</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Charity+Odetola%22">Charity Odetola</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aileen+Reid%22">Aileen Reid</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8099-1435">0000-0002-8099-1435</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ayesha+S%2E+Boyce%22">Ayesha S. Boyce</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9509-8703">0000-0002-9509-8703</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22American+Journal+of+Evaluation%22"><i>American Journal of Evaluation</i></searchLink>. 2026 47(2):191-217.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 27
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Study%22">Graduate Study</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Evaluation%22">Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Evaluators%22">Evaluators</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skill+Development%22">Skill Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+Skills%22">Job Skills</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minority+Serving+Institutions%22">Minority Serving Institutions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Students%22">Graduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alumni%22">Alumni</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Curriculum%22">College Curriculum</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Competency+Based+Education%22">Competency Based Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reflection%22">Reflection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Authentic+Learning%22">Authentic Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Standards%22">Standards</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Justice%22">Social Justice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Relevance%22">Cultural Relevance</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22North+Carolina+%28Greensboro%29%22">North Carolina (Greensboro)</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1177/10982140261425204
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 1098-2140<br />1557-0878
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Preparing evaluators requires more than technical training. It requires cultivating the judgment to navigate uncertainty, complexity, and equity concerns. This study examines how evaluator competencies are developed through a collaborative, reflective self-study of a graduate evaluation program at a Minority Serving Institution in the southeastern United States. Twenty-two students and alumni participated in interviews exploring how evaluator competencies were enacted through coursework, assistantships, and applied projects. Findings indicate strengths in Context and Methodology competencies, while Planning and Management and Interpersonal competencies require greater attention. Participants emphasized the importance of safe and brave spaces and identified reflection as essential for linking technical skills with professional judgment, cultural responsiveness, and professional identity. The study introduces the ARC Framework--Action, Reflection, and Competency--as a model for evaluator preparation. Implications extend to embedding authentic practice, making reflection intentional, cultivating dispositions, and integrating justice throughout curricula to prepare evaluators to act wisely and responsibly.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1504246
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        Value: 10.1177/10982140261425204
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      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 27
        StartPage: 191
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Graduate Study
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Evaluators
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Skill Development
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      – SubjectFull: Job Skills
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      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
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      – SubjectFull: Cultural Relevance
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      – SubjectFull: North Carolina (Greensboro)
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