NEW ORLEANS – Today, Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA) announces Debra Vaughan as the new Vice President for Research and Evaluation. This role is responsible for cultivating and maintaining ULLA’s capacity as a community-centered, data-informed strategic learning organization and ensuring continuous innovation toward equity-focused programming and experiences for both stakeholders and staff. The Vice President of Research and Evaluation will be responsible for developing and executing a research agenda and engagement strategy focused on equity, with a strong focus on education equity, as well as driving organizational effectiveness and program evaluation activities for ULLA.
“We are thrilled to have Deb join our leadership team at such a pivotal time for our organization,” said Judy Reese Morse, Urban League of Louisiana President & CEO. “Deb has extensive experience working to advance equity and improved outcomes in people’s lives. She has worked across the country in government, the private sector, and nonprofits. Deb will help our organization deepen our impact even further as we move boldly into the future.”
“Numbers and data put facts on anecdotes, and has a way of putting issues on the table that people are sometimes afraid to face,” said Debra Vaughan, Vice President for Research and Evaluation. “I am excited to join the Urban League of Louisiana to help ensure we are measuring the things important to the communities we serve because what gets measured, gets done.”
Debra Vaughan brings more than twenty years of experience conducting equity research and evaluation, developing innovative policy and practice recommendations, and engaging community stakeholders around an evidence-based advocacy agenda. Prior to joining the team, Debra supported ULLA’s Education Equity initiative as researcher and author of the Advancing Education Equity reports. In addition to serving as a consultant to various other organizations across Louisiana and the country. Debra previously served as Budget Consultant for the City of New Orleans, Senior Managing Consultant for PFM Consulting Group, and Director of Research at Tulane University’s Cowen Institute.
Relentlessly focused on sustainable equity and excellence, Debra Vaughan is skilled at helping organizations identify ways to maximize their impact, while working within communities to address systemic barriers that impede success for all. Throughout her career, she has been diligently focused on what organizations can do (and do better) to help young people, their families, and communities thrive, now and in the future.