Patricia Steele

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Patricia Steele, Higher Ed Insight

HEI is a group of applied researchers who seek to catalyze greater equity and justice in education and workforce opportunities.

Philosophy/Approach: Using frameworks and lenses of equity and justice, we help foundations, nonprofits, colleges and universities answer mission-critical questions to continually advance their impact for marginalized populations and communities.

Types of clients: Private foundations, Corporation foundations, Community foundations, Small Nonprofits, Major Nonprofits, Universities

Specialization: Our core practice areas are:

- STUDENT SUCCESS: Since our founding, HEI has served a wide range of nonprofits, foundations, colleges and universities in their efforts to advance access and success for underserved and nontraditional students. Our team specializes in custom research, strategic learning and planning, and assessment of efforts to improve opportunity and outcomes through initiatives such as promise scholarships, mentorship programs, and other holistic, wraparound supports.

 - STEM EDUCATION: We partner with educational institutions, foundations, and community organizations to apply for, implement, and assess both programs and grants designed to improve STEM teaching, learning, and employability. Our team specializes in assisting with grants from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Labor, and departments of education. Through our STEM education program analysis services, we help our clients identify, evaluate, and realize intended outcomes.

 - ADULT LEARNERS: HEI has served a wide range of nonprofits, foundations, colleges and universities in their efforts to advance access and success for adult learners.

Our team specializes in custom research, strategic learning and planning, and assessment of efforts to improve opportunity and outcomes through initiatives such as wraparound supports, academic and financial advising, and other programs that seek to meet the unique needs of adult students.

 - JUSTICE-IMPACTED LEARNERS: At HEI, our team has research and policy experience serving persons who are currently or were formerly incarcerated. We are committed to supporting programs and initiatives that open and support opportunity for justice-impacted learners.

We specialize in helping clients create frameworks and processes to assess their impact, continuously improve their programs, and focus precious resources to best align with the unique contexts of the people they serve.

 - WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: HEI’s commitment to advancing opportunity and outcomes for underserved populations spans the education-to-career pipeline. Our team supports funders, government and municipal agencies, and nonprofits to facilitate, assess, and improve programs to advance local and regional workforce development. Through the development of a learning agenda, data collection plan, and strategic decision making, we help our clients zero in on the impact they wish to make, identify how to measure it, and then make better decisions for the future.

"HEI is a great partner, with its collaborative and responsive team members, rigorous methods and/or approach to the work, thoughtfulness of individuals, out-of-box thinking, and connectivity to other experts."
- Lorelle Espinosa, PhD, Program Director, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

"We love HEI's expertise, style, and the way they partner with their clients. They have extensive experience in our programming priorities, with superb client services and responsiveness. They practive humility, yet are very smart--and they are fun to work with."
-Jim McHale, President & CEO, Woodward Hines Education Foundation

"Higher Ed Insight (HEI) provided meeting planning and facilitation expertise that enabled a generative and inclusive meeting. The HEI team was extremely professional, flexible, and responsive to feedback during the collaborative planning process. Their innovative meeting facilitation techniques allowed us to successfully engage a large, diverse group of key stakeholders in the virtual environment."
- Laura Castillo-Page, PhD, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer & Gregory Symmes, PhD, Chief Program Officer, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine