Karen M. Watt, Ph.D.

Director, AVID Center Special Research Projects Office

The University of Texas Pan American

1201 West University Drive

Edinburg, TX 78539

watt@utpa.edu

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Karen M. Watt earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College in northern Indiana, a master’s degree from The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA), and a doctorate in educational leadership from The University of Texas at Austin. Upon graduation in 1999, she was hired by UTPA and has since been teaching courses in educational leadership and has been engaged in research on the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program. She is currently an Associate Professor at UTPA and, due to her extensive experience with AVID, is the director of AVID’s Special Research Projects Office which focuses on national AVID research.

Jeffery Huerta

Data and Research Coordinator, AVID Center Special Research Projects Office

The University of Texas Pan American

1201 West University Drive

Edinburg, TX 78539

jeff@utpa.edu

Born and raised in South Texas, Jeffery Huerta earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently working on a master’s degree in the same field at The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA). His professional career began in 2000 as a graduate research assistant for UTPA’s Center for Applied Research in Education, where he focused on quantitative and qualitative research and data analyses. Jeff is currently the data and research coordinator for AVID’s Special Research Projects Office at UTPA and has co-authored articles in peer-reviewed professional journals.

Ersan Alkan

Database Administrator, AVID Center Special Research Projects Office

The University of Texas Pan American

1201 West University Drive

Edinburg, TX 78539

ealkan@utpa.edu

Born and raised in Turkey, Ersan Alkan earned a bachelor’s degree in Istanbul, a master’s degree in information technology at The University of Texas Pan American (UTPA), and is currently working on a master’s degree in business administration. In 2002 he began working as a graduate research assistant for UTPA’s Center for Applied Research in Education, where he became familiar with AVID. In 2004 he was hired as the webmaster and database services reporting coordinator for the Texas AVID State Office. Ersan is currently the webmaster and database administrator for AVID’s Special Research Projects Office at UTPA. He has conducted numerous data collection, reporting, and IT support sessions at trainings and conferences throughout the state of Texas.