Erin Burns, Ph.D.

Dr. Burns is a veteran program evaluator and behavioral researcher with more than 15 years of experience across education, behavioral health, and public health sectors. She leads evaluations across multiple Federal agencies, including the Department of War Education Activity, the U.S. Department of Education, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the National Science Foundation.

Her work applies evidence-based, mixed-method evaluation approaches that emphasize participatory engagement to foster collaborative change, data-informed decision-making, and continuous improvement. She has directed major Federal contracts, including Synergy’s subcontract for the National Center for Homeless Education (2016–2024) and the ESSIN 26 contract supporting statistical reporting with the School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey.

In addition to her research and evaluation experience, Dr. Burns has taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels—most recently, courses in research methods, policy evaluation, and leadership capacity. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national conferences. Dr. Burns earned her doctoral degree from the University of Georgia, where her research examined mediators linking childhood trauma to adult psychopathology.