About Silver State Evaluations
Thoughtful research.
Accountable delivery.
An evaluation consultancy based in Reno, Nevada, supporting grant-funded programs and research partnerships with practical, evidence-informed work.
Depth across the
evaluation cycle.
Chris Copp brings evaluation experience dating to 2016 and a broader professional background in applied research and analysis. His work spans national fire science exchanges, multidisciplinary research teams, statewide child-care initiatives, and community programs.
His responsibilities have included developing evaluation plans and matrices, designing survey instruments and interview protocols, leading field staff, conducting interviews and focus groups, analyzing complex data, and preparing reports and presentations.
He combines qualitative research with statistical and computational expertise, including experience in R, Python, SPSS, SQL, Tableau, Excel, and Qualtrics. He has also improved recurring analytical workflows through automation.
Before his doctoral work, Chris worked as a crime analyst with the DC Metropolitan Police Department and as an ORISE research analyst supporting the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. These roles developed his experience organizing complex information, reviewing evidence, and communicating analytical findings.
Education
PhD, Social Psychology
University of Nevada, Reno
MA, Legal Psychology
Marymount University
Professional background
University evaluation and applied research
Public-sector analysis
Interdisciplinary research partnerships
Education & training
Master’s degree
Marymount University
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology
Cardiff University
BA, Sociology & Criminology
University of Kent
Paralegal Studies Certificate
University of Nevada, Reno
Research experience.
Operational expertise.
Laura Chiesa brings a background in legal research, public administration, and office management to Silver State Evaluations. Her experience spans a law firm, the court system, government service, and independent business ownership, combining research and writing skills with careful records management and project organization.
At the Nevada Equal Rights Commission, Laura managed government documents and case records, improved data-entry procedures, and developed survey dashboards using Excel. Her earlier work as a pretrial services officer included interviewing, reviewing case information, and preparing reports for judicial decision-making. As a probate research specialist, she investigated records at courthouses and the Library of Congress while collaborating with colleagues across the country.
Laura holds a master’s degree from Marymount University, postgraduate training in psychology, and a paralegal studies certificate. She speaks multiple languages and holds a DELE Spanish-language diploma. Her academic and professional background supports clear communication, document research, and the organization of complex information.
At Silver State Evaluations, Laura contributes administrative coordination and research support, helping keep project records, communications, and supporting workflows organized throughout an engagement.
Education Evaluation
Education
PhD, Interdisciplinary Social Psychology
University of Nevada, Reno
MA & BA, Psychology
San Diego State University
Education expertise.
Built through partnership.
Marisa Crowder is an education evaluator with more than 12 years of experience and co-founder of The ElevatEd Initiative. As an external collaborator, she can be engaged for education evaluation projects through a separate, project-specific agreement. She maintains her independent practice and is not a member of Silver State Evaluations’ staff.
Her experience at McREL with the Regional Educational Laboratory Pacific includes managing research-practice partnerships with K–12 and community college leaders in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. This work supported mathematics transition courses, system-wide planning for social-emotional learning, and educators’ capacity to develop and implement locally relevant initiatives.
Marisa co-develops evaluation approaches, logic models, and theories of change with education partners, grounding research in local knowledge. Her expertise includes survey and measurement design, experimental and quasi-experimental methods, and analysis of outcomes over time. Earlier district-wide evaluation work with Washoe County School District strengthened her experience with student measurement and large, multiyear datasets. Across these settings, she translates findings into practical guidance for educators.
Explore education experienceProfessional network
Connected expertise.
Capacity for your project.
Our professional relationships extend to external evaluators, researchers, and academic professionals with complementary experience. For projects that call for additional capacity or specialized methods, we can draw on those connections to assemble support around the scope, timeline, and subject matter.
Silver State Evaluations provides a consistent point of coordination, with clear responsibilities and deliverables for each engagement. Additional collaborators are brought in as needed, based on project requirements and professional availability.
Our approach
Evidence with context.
We start by understanding what a program is trying to accomplish and what its stakeholders need to know. Methods should fit the question, data collection should respect participants’ time, and findings should be understandable to the people who will use them.
That means being clear about what the evidence shows, acknowledging limitations, and keeping evaluation work connected to practical decisions.
Let's talk about your project
A thoughtful evaluation starts with a conversation.
Planning a proposal or looking for support on an existing project?