Laurel Sipes

Senior Research Associate

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Laurel Sipes joined the Gardner Center in 2013 and currently serves as a Senior Research Associate. She leads a range of research projects with school districts and communities in the Bay Area and across California and co-leads the Gardner Center's Youth Action Research Fellowship.

Laurel’s work is driven by questions about equitable access to quality educational and out-of-school experiences, achievement and opportunity gaps, and the broader context in which young people and their families live. She is also dedicated to building the capacity of communities and organizations to plan and use data. Laurel is committed to creating and implementing research work in partnership with communities.

Before joining the Gardner Center, Laurel worked in education research at MPR Associates, Inc.

Education

University of California, Berkeley, MPP

University of California, Los Angeles, BA (History)

Contacts

lsipes@stanford.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Publications

Youth Participatory Action Research: Positive Youth Development with the Power to Ignite Change

The Gardner Center has always engaged young people as research partners and participants and, in recent years, introduced a new research fellowship for high school and college students. This report shares our experiences implementing the fellowship in three California communities.

Authors: Newman, L., Sipes, L.

2022

Tools & Strategies for Foundations that Focus on Equitable College Attainment

How a group of California foundations transitioned from traditional, merit-based college scholarship programs to a more strategic, need-based approach — and how other organizations might do the same.

Authors: Newman, L., Sipes, L.

2020

Mission Promise Neighborhood: Expanded Learning Opportunities for Youth and Their Families

This report shares perspectives from school principals, family engagement staff, teachers, and community partners about how the Mission Promise Neighborhood initiative is supporting children and youth from cradle to college and career.

Authors: Ruiz de Velasco, J., Sipes, L.

2017

Data Use and Inquiry in Research-Practice Partnerships: Four Case Examples

The four case examples presented in this brief are drawn from the Gardner Center's substantial experience conducting rigorous research in research-practice partnerships.

Authors: Gerstein, A., Sipes, L. , Biag, M., Fehrer, K., Sanchez, M.

2016

Laurel Sipes

Education

Contacts

Projects

Publications