SPARC About Us

About Us

Overview

SPARC is led by Professor Kevin Gee who specializes in evaluating how schooling conditions, policies, and programs can promote the wellbeing of youth who are often overlooked and underserved in the broader educational policy landscape.

SPARC develops actionable insights based on rigorous analysis of administrative data, both at the state and national levels. The center collaborates with key organizations who address critical educational issues impacting children both locally in California and nationwide, including the Collaborative for Educational Excellence and Attendance Works.

Graduate Student Researchers

Portrait of Sally HangSally Hang is a Ph.D. student in the developmental psychology program at UC Davis. Broadly, her research interests involve utilizing the biopsychosocial model to investigate health biomarkers and using novel ways such as computational methods and technology to measure stress and well-being in underserved populations.


 

Portrait of Geneva JostGeneva Jost is a Ph.D. student in the Developmental Psychology program at UC Davis. She completed her Bachelor’s in biology and global studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before coming to Davis, Geneva taught high school science in Washington D.C. and studied cognitive development in the context of urban education systems at Johns Hopkins and Harvard University. Geneva’s research examines the sources and effects of stress on adolescent development and explores structural solutions to support student health and well-being in schools.

Portrait of Tseng VangTseng M. Vang is a Ph.D. student in Human Development at the University of California, Davis. His major research interests include understanding antecedents and outcomes associated with school belonging in adolescence and emerging adulthood.


 

Undergraduate Student Researchers

Peter Yu is a senior undergraduate student at UC Davis graduating in June with a B.S. in Computer Science and minor in Education. He is interested in improving the quality of computer science education for all students and enjoys solving algorithmic problems.

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