Data and Research: Building WBL at Scale
Propel research on work-based learning, registered apprenticeships, and workforce development through rigorous analyses, frameworks, and strategic briefs that enable data-driven decision-making.
Objectives and Mission
Mission Expansion
Generate the data, insights, and evidence needed to expand high‑quality WBL pathways, strengthen registered apprenticeships, and promote economic mobility nationwide.
Research Leadership
Enhance WBL, RAP, and workforce development research with rigorous analysis and strategic briefs for data-driven decision-making.
Impact Partnerships
Form impactful partnerships with philanthropy, academia, research groups, and government agencies to boost the reach and influence of Craft research.
Examples of our Work
We’re partnering with five states to build dashboards with clear data visualizations that help policy leaders, learners, colleges and universities, and apprenticeship providers spot emerging labor supply and high-demand areas.
We're working with the Department of Education and the Chamber of Commerce in Indiana to conduct a two-phase project: We first map Indiana's work-based learning and blended learning programs and define a clear taxonomy of components and document data availability. Then, we will run a rigorous evaluation to estimate impacts on retention, completion, employment, and earnings—and turn those findings into actionable insights.
We’re expanding our partnerships with leading organizations and researchers—including Apprenticeships for America, the Aspen Institute, Arnold Ventures, and SHEEO—to grow the visibility, scope, and influence of Craft-enabled research.
Team Skills
Our team brings a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary skill set that blends rigorous methods, domain depth, and modern analytics.
Clear methods, reliable results
Design, Evaluate, and Explain What Works
We run causal and descriptive analyses, mixed methods and qualitative studies, and full program and policy evaluations. We add policy analysis, forecasting, and web scraping to answer practical questions with evidence you can trust.
Focused domains, practical impact
Economics, Workforce, Education, Strategy
We work in public economics, workforce development, education policy and the economics of education, and organizational strategy. This mix helps us connect learning to labor markets and deliver insights that move programs forward.
Modern tools, usable outputs
From Raw Data to Ready Decisions
We build and analyze data with Databricks, Stata, SQL, Python, SAS, Google Colab, Tableau, Power BI, Salesforce, R, and ThoughtSpot. The outcome is clean datasets, clear dashboards, and analytics that support fast, confident decisions.
Meet Our Team
Patricia Saenz-Armstrong — Head of Data & Research
Ph.D., Economics (George Mason); M.S., Economics (Texas A&M). Leads teacher workforce dashboards across five states and researches teacher diversity, compensation, and education policy.
Stephanie Quinn -Senior Business Analyst
Ph.D. English (BGSU); M.S. Finance (CSU Global); Ed.S. Admin & Leadership (BGSU); Certification: Data Science & Business Analytics. Builds dashboards and datasets to inform state workforce strategies and policies.
- Google Scholar
- LinkedIn
Jorge Ugaz - Senior Research Scientist
Ph.D. Public Policy (UChicago); M.A. Public Policy (Georgetown). Designs evidence-based education-to-employment strategies; leads evaluations and partnerships; focuses on access, quality, equity, and financing.
- Google Scholar
- ResearchGate
Nell Williams - Senior Research Analyst
Ph.D. Education Policy (UPenn); M.A. Statistics (UPenn); M.A. Science Education (Brooklyn College). Analyzes administrative data; builds workforce dashboards; authors industry reports; conducts quantitative analyses and mixed-methods research focused on equitable access.
- Google Scholar
- LinkedIn