Meet the People Behind the Data!

Pacific Research and Evaluation is a team of seasoned professionals. We have earned a stellar reputation for balancing rigorous research and consulting services with a friendly, collaborative style. Drawing on a variety of educational backgrounds and professional experiences, PRE’s staff has the needed expertise to excel in all areas of applied research and consulting.

Steven Rider, Ph.D.

Founder and President

Steven Rider, Ph.D. is the founder and President of Pacific Research and Evaluation. He earned his doctorate in Psychology at the University of Arizona and has been involved in research and program evaluation for more than 25 years. He has directed a wide range of local and state projects, as well as studies funded by a variety of federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Labor, and Justice. Steve has also worked with numerous organizations to provide technical assistance regarding program evaluation, providing thoughtful insights regarding study design and the interpretation and application of evaluation findings. He has taught college courses in statistics and research methods and has expertise in qualitative and quantitative methods, measure development, and survey research. In his free time, he is currently trying to get better at chess or reading the occasional classic (but often just a page-turner).

Kristi Manseth, Ph.D.

Vice President

Kristi Manseth, Ph.D., is the Vice President and Director of Research and Consulting at Pacific Research and Evaluation. She earned her doctorate in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Portland State University in 2009 and has been part of the PRE team for 14 years. Kristi leads the team’s strategic direction, external relationships, and business development. In addition, she serves as an internal thought partner to project teams, assisting with the design of evaluation, technical assistance, organizational consulting, and change management efforts. Kristi is Prosci certified and partners with Dr. Shalyn Stevens to lead PRE’s change management and organizational consulting services.

Kristi has conducted research and evaluation studies with a variety of organizations, including PK–12 and post-secondary education, nonprofit organizations, and federal agencies under PRE’s GSA contract. She is passionate about employee well-being, both as a researcher and a business leader. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading a good book, and spending time with family.

Regina Wheeler, M.A.

Senior Research Manager

Regina Wheeler, M.A., is a Senior Research Manager at Pacific Research and Evaluation. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2011 and has been a member of the PRE team for 14 years. Regina leads a team of researchers at PRE by providing support and oversight on their projects, as well as guidance on data collection, analysis, and reporting techniques. As a Project Management Professional (PMP) certified in 2026 by the Project Management Institute (PMI), Ms. Wheeler brings to her work at PRE expertise in leading cross-functional initiatives, engaging stakeholders, managing risk, optimizing resources, and delivering complex projects on time and within budget. Regina has also managed projects in a variety of sectors at PRE; most notably, she has extensive experience managing projects in higher education. In her free time, Regina enjoys rooting for her favorite sports teams and being on the water.

Shalyn Stevens, Ph.D

Organizational Development Manager

Shalyn Stevens, Ph.D., is an Organizational Development Manager at Pacific Research and Evaluation. She earned her doctorate in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, with training in Occupational Health Psychology and advanced quantitative methods, from Colorado State University and has been part of the PRE team since 2022. Shalyn manages organizational performance consulting engagements, focusing on projects related to change management, strategic planning, employee listening, organizational assessments, and data dashboards. She is Prosci certified and partners with Dr. Kristi Manseth to design and deliver comprehensive change and organizational consulting services. Shalyn brings more than 10 years of experience working with clients from both the public and private sector to form collaborative partnerships, translate research findings into actionable insights, and improve worker and organizational outcomes. Outside of work, Shalyn enjoys being outdoors, reading a good mystery book, and traveling.

Taline Kuyumjian, M.A.

Senior Research Associate

Taline A. Kuyumjian, M.A., is a Senior Research Associate at Pacific Research and Evaluation. She earned her M.A. in Museum Studies from the University of Washington, Seattle, with added graduate-level certificates in Audience Research and Nonprofit Administration, and her B.S.E. in Business Administration from Saint Mary’s College of California. She has been with PRE since 2021 and brings 15 years of research and evaluation experience working with nonprofits, cultural organizations, community-based organizations, and formal and informal learning environments. Taline is skilled in quantitative data management and analysis, qualitative data collection and synthesis, meeting facilitation and stakeholder engagement, and translating complex findings into compelling, audience-ready reports and research products. Whether she is managing large-scale administrative datasets, facilitating multi-day working retreats, or crafting narratives that surface the human stories behind the numbers, Taline brings both rigor and clarity to her work. In her free time, Taline is an avid reader, an amateur photographer, and loves a good road trip.

Serena Chapman, M.A.

Research Associate 2

Serena Chapman, M.A., is a Research Associate II at Pacific Research and Evaluation. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Evaluation and Positive Organizational Psychology from Claremont Graduate University. She has been with the PRE team for over three years and has over nine years of experience evaluating a wide variety of programs in higher education, K-12 education, mental health, and more. Serena especially enjoys managing projects, conducting mixed-methods research, and using her keen eye for design to bring information to life through data visualizations, infographics, and reports. Outside of work, Serena loves taking her bike out for long rides, spending quality time with friends, and dreaming up her next travel adventure.

Maddie Bessler, M.P.H.

Senior Research Assistant

Maddie Bessler, M.P.H., is a Research Assistant at Pacific Research and Evaluation. She holds a Master of Public Health in Community Health Promotion from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology with a concentration in psychology from the University of Kansas. Maddie supports a variety of research and evaluation projects through data collection, analysis, survey development, and reporting. She has experience evaluating programs in rural and community-based settings. She is passionate about community health, global health, qualitative research, and program evaluation. She especially enjoys projects that incorporate community perspectives and explore how programs and services can better meet the needs of the people they serve. Outside of work, Maddie enjoys cheering on the Packers, reading, hiking with her dog, Rosie, thrifting, and attending sporting events.