BRI is pleased to annouce the appointment of two new full-time employees.

Laura Cochell (left) has been appointed as Program Evaluator. She currently serves as an evaluator for several educational grants including NYS Education Department 21st Century Community Learning Centers, U.S. Department of Education Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language, and Full-Service Community Schools grant programs. She was a teacher for several years before joining BRI, working with students ranging from preschool to sixth grade. She later pursued a Master’s and Doctorate in education. She is well-versed in qualitative research methods, including interviews, focus groups, and observations.

Cailtin Cich (right) has been appointed as Assistant Director of Evaluations. She has been with BRI since 2022 and served as a lead grant writer and lead evaluator on several projects. She has extensive work and managerial experience within nonprofits and has written and reviewed for the NY State Education Department and Department of Justice. In her new role, she will oversee project evaluations and serve as a mentor to other BRI associates. Prior to BRI she completed her Master’s in Sociology of Education and Public Policy at Columbia University’s Teachers College.

We are excited to welcome Laura and Cailtin into their new roles on the BRI team!