The Thurston Group Team

Educated

Skilled

Experienced

Committed

Available

Valeria Aizic

Research Assistant

William S. Atkins, DSW

Senior Research Associate

 OUR STAFF TEAM

  The Thurston Group employs a full-time, resident staff team that is skilled, experienced, and diverse. Our staff has expertise in a variety of areas and has the capacity to serve clients in English, Spanish, Creole, and Portuguese. 

  The Thurston Group team has credentials in fields that include delinquency prevention, child and youth development, social services planning, family support, education, domestic violence, health care, statistics, and quantitative and qualitative research methods. As former practitioners and academicians we have worked in communities, organizations, and program settings such as neighborhood associations, alternative schools for at-risk youth, 24 hour shelters, housing developments, and health organizations.

 Our work experience coupled with our expertise and academic credentials  results in practical and informed responses to the needs of our clients. The Thurston Group is a member of the American Evaluation Association.

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Valeria Aizic

Research Assistant/Data Analyst

  Valeria  Aizic brings a wealth of experience and a range of skills to our data team.  She assists in data base management, statistical analyses, and the design of relational data bases and web-based surveys.  In addition to her skills in computer programming she has previously marketed, installed, and maintained computer hardware and software systems as vice president of a private company. Ms. Aizic has a Bachelor degree in Mathematics from Celso Lisboa University , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil . She has also completed college-level training in the United States for certification in Microsoft Office and Access.

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William S. Atkins, DSW

 Senior Research Associate

 Dr. Atkins coordinates the firm’s community-oriented evaluations.  He has more than 30 years of administrative and executive experience in the field of public service. Throughout his career, Dr. Atkins has developed and managed both public and private non-profit human service programs in areas such as: public health education, cross-cultural sensitivity, adolescent substance abuse prevention, juvenile justice prevention (and intervention), community organization, child development, family self-sufficiency, elderly services, program evaluation, organizational development, public-private partnerships, and leadership development.

 Dr. Atkins completed his Doctors of Social Work at Howard University and his post-doctoral studies at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He has a Masters Degree in Social Work from Florida State University, where he also completed his undergraduate education.  Dr. Atkins has had faculty appointments in the Department of Criminal Justice and the School of Social Work at Florida International University.

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Ismael Gavidia

Manager, Research &Evaluation Systems 

  Ismael Gavidia is a seasoned researcher and former university teacher with more than 10 years of social science and health research experience. Prior to joining The Thurston Group, he designed and managed a range of research projects related to health and illness behavior and social networks. As the manager of research and evaluation systems for The Thurston Group, Mr. Gavidia designs the data collection processes, statistical analysis systems, and research and evaluation protocols for all projects. He also coordinates the data team of research assistants/data analysts. He is skilled in SPSS and other statistical software packages as well as Access and other relational data base systems.  Mr. Gavidia has a Bachelor in Biology and a Master Degree in Psychology from Simon Bolivar University , Caracas , Venezuela. In the U. S. , he has completed additional training in computer networking systems.

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Machele Harris-Adderley  

Research Assistant/Data Analyst

  As a research assistant and data analyst at The Thurston Group for more than 6 years, Machele Harris-Adderley assists in data base management, statistical analysis, design of instruments, and training for system users. In addition, she provides support to our accountant where her experience in the banking industry is invaluable to our business. She has been trained in SPSS, Access, and Quick Books.

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Doris Maya  

Vice President

Programs and Administration

  Doris Maya is responsible for corporate oversight and the management of grants and contracts. In addition, coordinates process evaluations and the production of the firm’s narrative reports. As a member of our team for more than six years, Ms. Maya has been involved in more than 50 program evaluations and has been the research associate for programs targeting substance abuse, youth crime, and neighborhood empowerment. She has acquired significant experience in designing and conducting program evaluations and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data. Ms. Maya has a long history of working with immigrant populations, farm workers, gifted students, and at-risk youth in alternative schools and residential programs. Ms. Maya received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Duke University , a Masters in Social Work from Barry University , and a Masters in Library Science from Florida State University .

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