A. L. Burruss Institute Associate Director Shows Dedication to Research

Kelleigh Trepanier aids in research and programs at KSU

KENNESAW, Ga. (Sept 2, 2020) — Kelleigh Trepanier, associate director of the A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service and Research, has a strong educational background in research methods and statistics.  She has more than 20 years of experience collecting data, designing survey instruments, and conducting program evaluations.

Trepanier, whose primary research interests are in education and youth development, covers many different research areas in her role at the Burruss Institute as she oversees evaluation projects, as well as assists with survey projects that require her expertise. 

Trepanier noted that the Burruss Institute has a unique specialization in survey research and program evaluation at Kennesaw State University.

“Funding agencies increasingly require survey research and evaluation services,” she said. “This is not an area of expertise for many university faculty or nonprofit and government agencies.  Burruss meets this need and can serve as an external evaluator.” 

She finds the most enjoyment from working on the 21st Century Community Learning Center evaluation projects. These afterschool programs allow for both academic support and enrichment opportunities for not only struggling students but their families as well.

“For these projects, we synthesize data including student grades and test scores, site observations, and surveys of students, teachers, parents, and afterschool program staff,” Trepanier said. “I like that we can measure progress across the five-year grant on program-specific goals and objectives, and I can help the program improve.” 

Trepanier has a simple goal for the Burruss Institute for the upcoming semester: continuing to work with faculty to support their grant applications with survey and program evaluation services, in the same manner as she has assisted faculty in recent months.

“I have recently been contacted by several faculty to assist with evaluation plans for National Science Foundation proposals,” she said.  “In one case, we developed the evaluation plan from scratch and in the other project, I assisted with improving the evaluation plan based on reviewer comments for a resubmission.  These evaluation plans are customized for the specific project.  We hope to help faculty develop fundable grant proposals and implement successful projects.”    

She joined the Burruss Institute as an interviewer in 2000 with the Telephone Survey Research Laboratory.  Before arriving at the institute, Trepanier held a position at the Survey Research Center at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan.

Trepanier received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Georgia, as well as a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan, where she held research and teaching assistant positions while completing postgraduate work.

—Landon Mion