Lisa Jewell: CE Success Story

Who is the Credential Evaluator (CE)?

Lisa is a Research Officer in the Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. She is a member of the CES Saskatchewan Chapter and is a CE. She acts typically as an external evaluator when conducting research and evaluation funded by federal and provincial departments and community organizations. 

Lisa is responsible for several projects and would consider herself the manager/coordinator of those projects. She completes most evaluation functions and may supervise others who collect data. The majority of her work falls under the umbrella of “evaluation.” Lisa has ten years of evaluation experience. 

Lisa has a BSc (Honours), Psychology, from the University of Alberta and a MA and PhD in Applied Social Psychology from the University of Saskatchewan (U of S).

What was the initial situation?

During Lisa’s graduate work, she completed practicums, internship placements, and additional contract work where she participated in, and led, multiple evaluation projects. She learned about the CE while in graduate school and attended a CE session at a National Conference.  

After graduation, Lisa spent two years working for Health Canada as a program evaluator and during this time she started the professional designation process. She then joined the Forensic Centre at the U of S where she completed the application.  She initiated the process on her own, and it took her the full three years to complete it. She had money and time invested and wanted to ensure she obtained the credential. She used the online materials and samples available to her.

Why did the CE want the credential?

Lisa is an advocate of education and always looks for ways to augment her opportunities. She had the postsecondary education and experience and knew the CE would be of further value to her. She believes the credential is a good way to “recognize my program evaluation education and experience.”  The credential “sets her apart” from others, emphasizing her specialization.

What was/is the relationship of the credential to the CE’s work?

Lisa specialized in program evaluation in her graduate work and continues to conduct research and evaluation in her current role. She believes the credential complements her education and professional experience.

What happened?

Lisa obtained her CE in 2014. She found the process and the application requirements suitable. She was accustomed to filling out forms and the sample responses were helpful. She remembers the challenge of limiting her responses to the capacity of the application form and of choosing two or three projects from which to provide examples of competence. From those same projects, she asked individuals to provide references for her.

Results.

Lisa feels the CE gives her credibility. With her CE, others are aware of her abilities and her knowledge. Although she has only seen the CE mentioned “as an asset” on one RFP, she believes that in the future “we will more often see the designation as a requirement for the evaluator.”

Lisa actively pursues professional development opportunities to maintain her CE designation. She instructs a graduate course on applied research methods; she is currently the professional development chair for the CES-SK Chapter; and she regularly attends webinars, workshops, and conferences.

Lisa believes she is prepared. “I will be eligible for all opportunities that require a CE in the future.”