OUR TEAM
LEAVING A WORLD LEGACY
MEET OUR TEAM
Administration
Traci Shirachi
CEO/President
Vanderbilt University
University of California, Davis
Traci earned an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University. Traci is the CEO of The Mark USA, Inc. Traci is responsible for making key business decisions to increase The Mark’s abilities to address client needs. Traci works with all the evaluators within the organization to deliver quality client service. Traci has over 17 years of work experience with consulting companies of various sizes, including PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Jessica Martone, Ph.D.
Director of Research and Evaluation
Loyola University Chicago
Dr. Martone earned a Ph.D. and her MSW from Loyola University Chicago’s School of Social Work. Dr. Martone was a research fellow and is currently a research affiliate for the Institute for Migration and International Social Work. Dr. Martone has been involved with immigration and education focused research projects. Prior to The Mark, Dr. Martone was an adjunct faculty member at Loyola University Chicago teaching undergraduate and graduate level social work courses.
Noely Banos Ph.D.
Assistant Director
North Carolina State University
Western Carolina University
University of Mississippi
Noely earned an M.S. in Experimental Psychology from Western Carolina University, with a focus in research design and statistics, and further graduate training in Applied Social and Community Psychology from North Carolina State University. Noely has extensive experience utilizing various research methods; including survey design, focus groups, experimental and quasi-experimental designs. Noely has extensive research experience implementing a social equity lens in program evaluation to create more equitable and inclusive programming. Noely has conducted applied research and evaluation across various organizations, including non-profit, academic, and health care organizations. Noely's current research interests involve using program evaluation to increase equitable access and services to underserved communities.
Ben Kohl, Ph.D.
Vice President of Business Development
Kansas State University
Dr. Kohl earned a Ph.D. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Kansas State University. Before joining The Mark, Dr. Kohl served as Vice President of Business Development for Piestar Inc, a software as a service (SaaS) company providing research management solutions for higher education. Dr. Kohl spent most of his career at Kansas State University, serving as Assistant Director for the Office of Student Financial Assistance and Enrollment Management Coordinator for the Department of Housing and Dining Services.
Senior Evaluators
Aubrey Roy
Senior Evaluator
University of Oxford
University of California, Irvine
Aubrey Roy earned an M.S. in Sociology from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom where she specialized in quantitative methods and focused the effects of macro-level education spending on the profession of teaching. She also received her B.A. in Sociology and Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from University of California, Irvine. Prior to The Mark, Aubrey worked in trial and political consulting where she used both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Rosalie Fransen
Senior Evaluator
New York University
Boston University
Ms. Fransen has a background in international development, monitoring and evaluation, and evaluation capacity development. She holds a Master's degree in Global Affairs from New York University. Her professional and academic focus is on building context-sensitive evaluation systems that promote continuous organizational learning, resilience to change, and accountability to mission, internal values and community. Prior to joining The Mark, Ms. Fransen worked for and with United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, community-based non-profits, and civil society organizations to deliver research, evaluation, and policy analysis projects.
Adrienne Celaya
Senior Evaluator
University of Miami
Fordham University
Dr. Celaya holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Miami and an M.A. in Sociology and
Graduate Certificate in Latino and Latin American Studies from Fordham University. She has a
background in program implementation and evaluation of research-informed and evidenced-based
community projects, as well as domestic violence and child welfare research. Her professional and
academic interests include risk assessment and management, program development and evaluation,
policy analysis, and issues surrounding minorities and immigrant populations. Prior to joining The Mark,
Dr. Celaya conducted research and evaluation for the child welfare system and served as a consultant on
several federally funded projects.