Ellen B. Mandinach

Ellen Mandinach is a Senior Research Scientist at WestEd. Dr. Mandinach has been a leading expert in the area of data-driven decision making at the classroom, district, and state levels. Her work over the past several years has focused on understanding how educators are using data to inform practice. She has written and spoken widely on the topic, and has served on a number of technical working groups and advisory boards on data use. Dr. Mandinach served as an expert panelist on the IES Practice Guide for data-driven decision making and on the technical working group commissioned by NCES to understand how researchers can better use the statewide longitudinal data systems. She has led discussions, funded by the Spencer Foundation, about how schools of education and provide courses around data-driven decision making to build human capacity.

Dr. Mandinach has served on the research staffs of Educational Testing Service, the Education Development Center’s Center for Children and Technology, and CNA Education. Although trained in educational measurement, Dr. Mandinach’s career has focused on aspects of educational technology.

Dr. Mandinach has authored a number of publications for academic journals, technical reports, and four books. She wrote Data-Driven School Improvement: Linking Data and Learning. She has regularly presented at international, national, and regional conferences on education and psychology. She has served as the President of the American Psychological Association’s Division of Educational Psychology. She received an AB in psychology from Smith College and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Stanford University.