Connor Associates Adds New Research Talent for 2024-25
Please join me in welcoming our new and accomplished Research Associates, who are kicking off Connor Associates’ 2024-25 Image Audit season. This team brings an extensive set of skills and experiences important to unlocking external insights for school success. Image Audits have been the core of Connor Associates’ services since its inception in 1998.
Image Audits are a valuable tool for informing accreditation, strategic planning, and marketing. They offer insightful perceptual research and recommendations to calibrate a program, build and strengthen key relationships, and raise the school’s reputation and visibility.
Tapoja Chaudhuri, PhD is an anthropologist and a university-level educator with over 15 years of experience conducting qualitative interviews, critical discourse analysis, and participant observation. Dr. Chaudhuri is also a professional interpreter with a certificate from the Bridging the Gap medical interpretation program in NYC and writes freelance.
Elaine Hayes, PhD is a former academic turned writer, editor, and researcher. Her experience spans writing lifestyle content, serving as a local jazz magazine editor, evaluating client projects, and driving large, multi-faceted research projects. One of Elaine’s books was recognized as among the best books of the year by Amazon, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and the Washington Post.
Debra Schade, PhD was elected Vice President of the California School Boards Association (CSBA) in 2023 after serving eight years on its Board of Directors and as a State Delegate. Debra received the 2021 Dede Alpert Award, given to individuals who have significantly contributed to public education.
Olivia Webb earned her B.A. in Journalism and went on to lead development efforts at The Episcopal Day School in Southern Pines and The Richmond Community College Foundation; admissions at The O’Neal School in Southern Pines; and communications for the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools. Olivia also was mayor of her hometown, serving two terms and stewarding major federal and state-funded grant projects.
The newest class of Research Associates share our passion for data-driven research and demonstrate a commitment to the highest research skills and communications standards.
Please join us in welcoming Debra, Elaine, Olivia, and Tapoja to Connor Associates.
Connor Associates stakes its value on its experience with providing comprehensive services, including ensuring proof of ROI through Image Audits (reputational asset and risk management), Alumni and Alumni Parent Surveys, Enrollment Feasibility Studies which identify qualified appropriate prospects at rooftop level, Five-Year Enrollment Forecasts, Location Studies, Business Office Evaluations and Plans (pricing sensitivity, tuition elasticity and analysis, benchmarking, reliable revenue streams, and capital management), Strategic Marketing Plans based on research, and onsite training and coaching to get everyone in your school and your trustees supporting enrollment, retention, and philanthropy.
Our recent offering, Administrative Leadership Search, is a very creative, fast, and effective approach to finding, training, and keeping the best people on your leadership team — and it’s a surprisingly different approach and a better value than you may get from job boards or other search firms.
Find out more about Leadership Search and other new services such as Compensation and Benefits Studies, Strategic Financial Planning, and Ten-Year Financial Modeling here.