IBC Local Evaluation
Your hub for Iowa Blueprint for Change evaluation updates. Here, you will meet the evaluation team, learn about the evaluation purpose and goals, and discover the latest updates and products from our team.
IBC Program Purpose
The Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) under the Iowa Workforce Development supports efforts by Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) to continue building upon the Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment (SWTCIE) program through the Iowa Blueprint for Change (IBC) project. IBC continues to promote and facilitate the transition into Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE). There were six main project objective aims driving the IBC project during federal fiscal year (FFY) 2024: 1) engage stakeholders, 2) use Direct Support Professional Registered Apprenticeship (RA) and pre-apprenticeship (PA) programs as project models, 3) support competitive integrated employment (CIE) for youth; 4) increase CIE attainment for Iowans with disabilities, 5) increase expectations of and demand for CIE, and 6) develop CIE supports as the preferred outcome for people with disabilities.
IBC Evaluation Objectives
The local evaluation of the IBC project is led by the University of Iowa (UI) Center for Evaluation and Assessment (CEA). This evaluation follows a formative approach, gathering data to inform decision-making that supports the attainment of project outcomes, as well as a summative approach, collecting and monitoring data throughout project implementation to assess project outcomes in the final project year. The local evaluation workplan for the five-year project duration is comprised of local evaluation objectives that aim to provide formative project feedback and an assessment of project effectiveness for broader impact. In FFY 2024, progress was made towards five evaluation objectives. These objectives cover evaluation expectations for meeting attendance and facilitation, stakeholder surveys, data monitoring and technical support for propensity score matching, and the annual performance report (APR) and end-of-year annual performance report (EOYAPR).
Meet The Team
Dedication. Expertise. Impact.
Welcome to the Center for Evaluation and Assessment (CEA), the evaluation partner for the Iowa Blueprint for Change Project. Our team specializes in program evaluation and assessment, working collaboratively to enhance program effectiveness and support data-driven decision-making. With over 150 successful evaluations and more than $50 million in funding from organizations like the National Science Foundation, we bring extensive expertise in areas such as STEM education and K-12 policy impact. Committed to advancing best practices, we also provide professional training and publish research to empower organizations in effective evaluation design. At CEA, we strive to ensure the Iowa Blueprint for Change Project achieves its goals and creates meaningful statewide impacts.
Liz Hollingworth, PhD
CEA Director
319-384-3543
Liz Hollingworth earned her Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies and is a Professor in the College of Education at the University of Iowa. Her research focuses on equity in school leadership labor markets, principal preparation, the superintendency, program evaluation in schools, and student assessment. Since 2015, she has directed the Center for Evaluation and Assessment, overseeing evaluations for educational programs in collaboration with school systems, universities, and state agencies. Liz brings extensive experience working with Iowa school leaders on curriculum, school improvement, and assessment practices, and her professional service includes leadership roles in AERA and UCEA as well as contributions to statewide professional development initiatives.
Kayla Pfau, PhD
Research Specialist
319-467-3024
Kayla Pfau earned her Ph.D. in Psychological and Quantitative Foundations (Educational Measurement and Statistics) with a focus in program evaluation from the University of Iowa, where her research examined survey methodology and measurement invariance. Her evaluation experience includes projects in K–12 education, STEM initiatives, health interventions, and arts and culture programs, and she currently leads the local evaluation of Iowa Blueprint for Change. Since joining the Center for Evaluation and Assessment in 2018, Kayla has worked extensively on survey design, utilization-focused evaluation, and accessible reporting strategies, while also contributing to a wide range of evaluation approaches to meet diverse client needs.
Asih Asikin-Garmager, PhD
CEA Associate Director
319-335-3160
Asih holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Leadership Studies with a specialization in Program Evaluation from the University of Iowa. She brings over eight years of experience in evaluation, collaborating with school districts, higher education institutions, and community organizations. Her goal as an evaluator is to enhance organization and individual capacity to plan, implement, and utilize evaluation effectively to improve programs and celebrate success.
Erica Kaldenberg, PhD
Associate Research Specialist
319-384-0525
Erica R. Kaldenberg, Ph.D. (she/her) is an Associate Research Scientist with the UI REACH Program at the University of Iowa. She holds a Ph.D. in Special Education (Iowa), an M.Ed. in Special Education (UMSL), and a B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communications (Iowa State). Her work focuses on inclusive postsecondary education, accessibility, and program evaluation that improves services for people with disabilities. At CEA, she supports statewide evaluation efforts associated with the Disability Innovation Fund--Iowa Blueprint for Change. She has worked in the disability field for over twenty years and currently serves as a direct service provider, professor, and researcher.
Cecilia Botwe
Graduate Assistant
Cecilia holds both a bachelor’s and a master's degree in educational administration from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. With over fifteen years of experience in higher education administration in Ghana, she began her career at Christian Service University College, where she served in multiple administrative capacities. Her responsibilities included supervising admissions processes, managing human resource functions, evaluating administrative policies, and contributing to policy development initiatives. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of Iowa, where she serves as a Graduate Research Assistant with the CEA. In addition, she holds the position of International Affairs Director for the GPSG (UI).
Elias Ejeh
Graduate Assistant
Elias holds a master’s degree in information science from the University of Ibadan and a graduate certificate in Institutional Research and Effectiveness from the University of Iowa. He is currently a PhD student in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies at the University of Iowa, where his research examines strategies to improve student career outcomes using career-ecosystem models. Previously, he served for over a decade as Program Officer for the MacArthur Foundation Liaison Office at the University of Ibadan, where he facilitated collaboration between the university and the foundation and supported research and grants management. Since 2023, he has contributed to local evaluation efforts as a graduate assistant with CEA.