Board Staff
Cornelia Orr
Cornelia Orr is the Executive Director of The National Assessment Governing Board. She provides support for members of the Governing Board regarding all matters being considered by the Board. Additionally, she oversees the development and implementation of the Board's budget and procurement activities and works collaboratively with the Board staff to implement Board policies and actions. Prior to joining the Board, she served the Florida Department of Education as the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Accountability from 2003-2009. In that capacity she provided leadership and direction for Florida's K-12 and post-secondary assessment programs. Her career has involved assessments at both the local and state levels, including Director of K-12 Assessment, Director of Testing and Evaluation with the Leon County Schools, and a program specialist with the DOE on a variety of other assessment projects. Other professional experiences have included teaching assessment topics at the university level and work in the private sector as a consultant on assessment and evaluation projects for local, state, and national level organizations.
Mary Crovo
Ms. Crovo advises the Executive Director and serves as chief technical expert on all matters related to the design and conduct of the NAEP. She plans and coordinates the work of the technical staff to ensure consistency among Governing Board policies, guidelines, standards, and procedures. She also advises the Executive Director on the development of NAEP frameworks, specifications, and test items. Prior to joining the Governing Board in 1989, Ms. Crovo was chief of research and evaluation for the Maryland State Department of Education. She provides staff support for the Board's Assessment Development and Nominations Committees.
Lawrence Feinberg
A former long-time education reporter for the Washington Post, Mr. Feinberg serves as the Board's chief staff expert on reporting, disseminating, and analyzing NAEP results. His responsibilities include advising the Board on NAEP background questions and on data for disabled and limited-English students, as well other reporting and analysis issues. He has written extensively on student testing and on demographic topics and trends. Mr. Feinberg provides staff support to the Board's Reporting and Dissemination Committee.
Ray Fields
Mr. Fields serves as the Governing Board's principal advisor on policy formulation. He advises the Executive Director on matters related to legislation and budget, and on areas in which policy-related research is needed. His recent major policy projects include: revising the NAEP schedule of assessments; establishing a Task Force comprised of business leaders to provide input on NAEP-related policy; and redesigning NAEP to report on the preparedness of 12th-grade students for postsecondary education and training. He formerly occupied a number of administrative and policy posts in the U.S. Education Department and was a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. Mr. Fields provides staff support for the Board's Executive Committee.
Susan Loomis
With substantial experience in project design and management in large-scale assessments, Ms. Loomis is the Board's chief technical expert on all matters related to the design of the methodology of NAEP assessments and setting of achievement levels. She is also responsible for advising the Executive Director on the development and execution of policy matters related to the overall technical integrity of NAEP assessments. Prior to the Board, Ms. Loomis directed ACT's contracts to set achievement levels for NAEP for about 10 years, and she also conducted research in college choice, student recruitment and retention, and higher education accountability programs. She held research and college faculty appointments in both political science and geography for several years prior to her work with ACT. Ms. Loomis provides staff support for the Board's Standards, Design, and Methodology Committee and for the Board's 12th grade preparedness research program.
Stephaan Harris
A former journalist for several newspapers including USA Today, Mr. Harris serves as the Board's advisor on external communications issues. He advises the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director on matters related to NAEP public releases, as well as outreach communications about NAEP and the Board with various constituencies, including journalists, policymakers, associations, educators, and the general public. He previously was senior media coordinator for the Economic Policy Institute. Mr. Harris provides staff support for the Board's Reporting and Dissemination Committee.
Michelle Blair
A former middle-school teacher and school district administrator, Ms. Blair joined the Governing Board in 2007. She provides research support, data analysis, and other technical assistance to Board program staff. Ms. Blair also provides staff support for the Board's three standing committees. Her prior experience includes teaching in Broward County, Florida and serving New York City's public schools by working on special initiatives for the Chancellor's office and helping to lead several youth development projects.
Dora Drumgold
Ms. Drumgold provides administrative support to the Governing Board and staff as an office manager. Her varied duties include establishment and maintenance of payroll, Board records, correspondence, publications, and staff files. She has primary responsibility for implementing the solicitation procedures of the nominations process for new Board members. Ms. Drumgold also serves as liaison for the Combined Federal Campaign.
Munira Mwalimu
Ms. Mwalimu serves as the Governing Board's Contracting and Operations Officer. In these capacities, she executes contracts for the Governing Board, manages the Board's budget submission and execution, and has oversight of the Board's administrative operations. In addition, she manages the personnel and administrative actions of Board members and staff. Ms. Mwalimu serves as the Board's Executive Officer, Principal Liaison Officer for the Office of Committee Management, and Information Technology Coordinator at the Department of Education. Ms. Mwalimu is the principal staff person responsible for the execution of the Board's quarterly meeting agenda and is the contact person for Federal Register notices.
Tessa Regis
Ms. Regis provides administrative and technical support to the Governing Board, with varied duties that include conducting research, preparing materials, and coordinating travel arrangements for Board members and invited guests. Ms. Regis also serves as liaison between the Board and the National Center for Education Statistics for meeting planning. Prior to joining the Board in 1998, she worked at the Washington Hospital Center.
Moira McLaughlin Baran
Ms. Baran serves as a Governing Board Contract Officer and is an expert regarding federal contracting regulations, policies and procedures as well as procurement systems. In this capacity she plans and executes contracts for the Governing Board, supports the Board's budget submission and execution, and assists in the Board's administrative operations and policy. Ms. Baran is the contact for all procurement actions, and processes the Freedom of Information requests.
