“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Guided by principles of justice, equity, curiosity, and collaboration, Piere approaches research and evaluation by honoring lived experience, questioning assumptions, and transforming data into learning and action that fosters systemic change. She joined Wilder in 2022.
Piere is an interdisciplinary researcher and evaluator whose work primarily explores education, families, housing, and other whole family supports within the context of community-centered initiatives. Her work with the Wilder has focused on strengthening family stability and well-being, including evaluations of cash transfers, direct housing assistance, and other wraparound supports. Some of her education-focused evaluations have included exploring the impact of improved professional development supports for English Learner educators working with the Southeast Service Cooperative’s Project Momentum team; explorations of statewide needs for supporting English Learner outcomes with a Minnesota Department of Education task force; and family and community needs assessments from the perspectives of youth, parents, and school leaders working with Minneapolis’s Northside Achievement Zone. Additional evaluation efforts have included investigating the impact of professional learning communities in university settings, and mechanisms for effectively expanding education and employment for adults with disabilities.
Piere holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Loyola University Chicago; a Master of Arts in social and cultural foundations in education from DePaul University; and a Doctor of Philosophy in sociology from the University of Illinois Chicago. She is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and enjoys spending time with her husband and children traveling, trying new cuisines, and playing tennis.
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