Founder and CEO
info@researchinaction.com

Dr. Brittany Lewis is the Founder and CEO at Research in Action, a ground-breaking social benefit corporation established in 2018 to reclaim the power of research by centering community expertise. She is the author of “Building a New Table: A Community-Centered Handbook for Transformative Social Change” published by University of Minnesota Press, and is a sought-after speaker has delivered talks on her research, leadership, and social justice across the nation. Dr. Lewis is also a powerful coach and trainer who provides actionable skills and strategies to help organizations and individuals dismantle and replace oppressive systems. Learn much more about Dr. Lewis.

Senior Research Associate & Research Operations Manager
amandabolton@researchinaction.com

With 20+ years in nonprofit and government research, I hold a Ph.D. and M.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, and a B.A. in Sociology & Psychology from the University of Minnesota. My key achievements include leading correctional reentry programs in Kansas and Michigan, developing an LA community college Faculty Innovation Hub, evaluating substance abuse programs, and conducting California school district equity audits. I bring both strong research and methodology skills, along with the ability to connect authentically and empathetically with diverse community members. These combined abilities allow me to not only gather and analyze data effectively but translate findings into meaningful actions that resonate with and benefit the communities we serve.

Senior Research Associate and Research Design Manager
tarnjeetkang@researchinaction.com

I am excited to work with, and learn from, community leaders and organizations that ground us in the organization’s core values of racial justice, shared meaning making and accountability. I hold a Ph.D. in Education Policy from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Prior to joining RIA, I conducted research, evaluation and policy analysis for higher education commissions and entities, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations. As a researcher and evaluator, I love being able to help partners design projects that meet their unique needs and goals, center community, and progressively work towards collective racial justice and liberation.

MHR, Research Support Specialist ayaaboudou@researchinaction.com

I was born and raised in Mohammedia, Morocco. I left home at the age of 15 to complete my high school education in Armenia. I later earned a B.A in Political Science and Art, followed by a Masters in Human Rights. During my studies, I developed original mentored research on Decolonial Feminism in the Middle East and North Africa. This work emerged from frustration towards colonial and inadequate tools presented in my education. I am interested in developing liberative tools for misrepresented communities, a framework to bridge the gap between theory and action that is actually free from colonial structures. RIA as a space, gives me the opportunity to learn and execute these goals. For me, RIA uses community-based participatory research to build knowledge production and prosperity for different communities.

Human Resources Manager
suleimanadan@researchinaction.com

For more than a decade, I’ve been a grassroots organizer in Minneapolis and the country, growing my passion to gather, teach, equip and lead folks on causes that are important to me and my community. HR systems can be very complicated at times and I’m excited to provide a space for employees to get the resources they want and need, and be a strong support system throughout their time at RIA. I work closely with our Founder and CEO to create systems that embody the mission and vision and "Why" of RIA. I love that, at Research in Action, I can be unapologetically myself at all times and be part of an organization that puts community members at the head of the table when making decisions that impact their lives.

Lead Junior Research Associate
madasenbriggs@researchinaction.com

My personal background and journey through academia kindled a passion for the ways that equity and justice are entwined with knowledge production and access. I have my PhD in Behavioral Science with a specialization in social psychology. I was fortunate to receive additional training in areas like educational and health psychology, but my research passions have always centered the interplay between the self and environments/society, particularly as it relates to collective liberation. Prior to joining RIA, I was a Data Analyst and a Qualitative Research Consultant throughout my graduate degree. Within RIA, I am most excited to platform impacted peoples and co-develop strategies that drive meaningful change. I am also excited to collaborate with and learn from my colleagues in an environment that embraces us holistically.

Coaching and Training Manager
tyraibronson@researchinaction.com

As a third-generation educator, I learned early that education is not simply about what happens in a classroom—it is about access, possibility, and liberation. I began my career teaching Black and Brown students in under-resourced communities, committed to giving them what textbooks could not: affirmation, opportunity, and the tools to see themselves as capable of more. That commitment now shapes my work with adult leaders across the country. In every aspect of my life, I work to normalize the truth that gender and sexuality are not binary, that race is a social construction with very real consequences, and that every child deserves access to a high-quality education. I do not simply advocate for inclusive spaces—I work to create them. My identities inform my purpose, and my purpose is rooted in making room for people to learn, lead, and exist fully as themselves.

Quantitative Research Expert, MGIS
emilycavazos@researchinaction.com

I have a passion for finding principled and creative solutions towards collective liberation. My primary skillset is using GIS to critically assess an issue by adding not only geographical but also historical context about a place, and my professional perspective is grounded in the principles of Disability Justice. I am most excited about innovating around quantitative research methods to accurately represent the needs and experiences of community members. I am also excited to conduct research that moves away from the norm of treating issues as if they are siloed from larger systems of oppression.

Special Events and Grants Manager
hananeidihoum@researchinaction.com

Throughout my academic and professional career, I have worked across nonprofit organizations, higher education, and community-engaged research, with experience spanning grants, communications, event planning, mixed-methods research, and multimedia storytelling. I am excited to cultivate partnerships through grants, fundraising, and special events while connecting with organizations across the Twin Cities that are working toward more just and equitable communities.

Lead Research Support Specialist
benlevy@researchinaction.com

Informed by my interdisciplinary educational background in American Studies, with an emphasis on Black Studies, my work explores intricate relationships between race, new media representation, and memory; and critically examines how race has been written into landscapes and what it may look like to refute this spatialization of relationships of domination. I’m deeply energized by RIA’s commitment to co-creating research alongside impacted communities to realize their vision for change, and eager to apply my listening-and synthesis-centric approach – coupled with my experience in qualitative research, program evaluation, analytical writing, and housing policy – to my work with the team.

Research Support Specialist
claireknopf@researchinaction.com

I have always been passionate about advancing the well-being of individuals and communities by ensuring they have the necessary services and resources to thrive. At RIA, I can contribute to research that engages and centers impacted communities to drive meaningful changes to policies and practices that advance equity and justice. I am excited to support participatory and community-led research and work alongside a group of talented, driven, and supportive individuals. My background in public service has given me the opportunity to and fueled my passion for working for and with community members to improve their daily lives. I am excited to bring my broad range of skills in mixed-method research, collaboration, and empathy to my work at RIA.

MPP, Junior Research Associate
emmawu@researchinaction.com

Using my Masters in Public Policy, my aim is to make all the marginalized voices heard and respected, I believe that “When solving problems, dig at the roots instead of just hacking at the leaves”. I am excited to work for RIA because of the opportunities to work with under-represented communities and push for equity changes. You can always find me on the tennis court, walking around the lakes, or exploring new food places in the Twin Cities.

Executive Assistant & Organizational Support
info@researchinaction.com

From a young age, I was taught about injustice and it’s impact on communities, and became determined to make a difference in the world. I'm honored to be supporting Dr. Lewis and this team utilizing my background in customer service and employee management to bring empathy, thoughtfulness, and a mindset towards making sure the needs of the humans are met as well as the business as a whole. Working in a more collaborative environment with change makers, I appreciate the freedom to not only grow but to also be given the trust to better care for the workplace in this supporting role, as well as my family at home.