Cherie M. Avent (she/her/hers), a professor of educational psychology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, received her Ph.D. in Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Prof. Avent’s work focuses on issues related to social justice in evaluation, communication, and STEM education and evaluation. She has evaluated multiple education projects/programs funded by organizations such as the National Science Foundation, US Department of Education, and the College Foundation of North Carolina.
Prof. Avent is currently working with IHSI Research Scientist Brandi Barnes, IHSI affiliate Douglas C. Smith, a professor of social work, and Celina Trujillo, IHSI research development manager for community-academic partnerships, on an R25 training grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The Illinois-Substance Use and Mental Health Mentored Experience and Research (I-SUMMER) program prepares undergraduates to address substance use disorders and mental health comorbidities through an intensive community-engaged summer research experience at Illinois. Prof. Avent brings her expertise in educational research, measurement, and evaluation to assess the quality and effectiveness of the I-SUMMER program and ensure the program is achieving its proposed aims.
Prof. Avent, who became an IHSI Affiliate in Fall 2025, has been collaborating with IHSI staff since 2020, when she pivoted her research focus to contribute her expertise to addressing COVID-19 health disparities. Prof. Avent worked with local pastors, IHSI’s research development managers, and colleagues from the College of Education to design a culturally responsive needs assessment, develop interventions based on identified community needs, and evaluate those interventions to address the communication and educational needs of members of local Black congregations related to COVID-19 health risks and the benefits of vaccination.
Can you describe a goal you are currently pursuing?
I am currently pursuing two primary lines of research. One area investigates the experiences and practice of social justice-oriented program evaluators. For instance, colleagues and I designed a qualitative study to document how social justice-oriented evaluators conceptualize, operationalize, and advance racial equity and justice while working with racially minoritized and Indigenous communities. Another area of research seeks to understand and report participant experiences in STEM education programs. One specific project uses principles of cultural responsiveness and cultural capital theory to examine student development, identity, STEM pathways, and belonging in the geo-marine sciences across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This research is important given that persons from the U.S. territories and affiliated islands are highly underrepresented and underserved in STEM degrees and jobs.
How has the focus of your research changed or evolved since you first started in the field?
The core of my work continues in the areas described. My graduate training was in program evaluation and research methods. Since I started at Illinois, my research has evolved in a couple of ways. First, I am working with colleagues to center the experiences and voices of Black evaluators. The evaluation field has limited scholarship on Black evaluators professional experiences, and thus expanding this work is important given the contributions and accomplishments of Black evaluators. Second, my work is expanding into areas such as Public Health and partnering with local community-focused organizations. Much of this involves leveraging culturally responsive evaluation for community-driven work. Furthermore, graduate students are often involved with many of the projects, which provides hands-on learning experiences.
How is most of your research funded? Can you share how your approach to seeking funding is changing in the current funding climate?
My research and evaluation work is funded through various external and internal sources of support. It is usually collaborative in nature, which I enjoy. Although I will continue to pursue federal funding, I am learning more about private and/or philanthropic funding opportunities that align with my research aims.
What would you like to know about other researchers?
I would like to know how researchers grow their scholarship and engage collaborators/communities globally. In the next few years, this is something that I want to pursue and would love to know how others are doing it. What advice would they offer to get started?
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