Valerie Wood is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont in the Center for Disability and Community Inclusion, which is housed in the College of Education and Social Services. She earned her Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology from Colorado State University in 2010. After completing her Ph.D., she worked in Vermont state government, first with the state's child welfare agency (DCF-Family Services Division) and later with the Department of Mental Health. Both positions were focused on program evaluation, quality improvement, and community and stakeholder engagement. Prior to joining the faculty at CDCI, she was a Post-doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Social Work where she supported the work of the Child Welfare Training Partnership. Her current research interests include: evaluation science, systems integration and change management, the psychology of inclusion/exclusion, positive youth development, and conflict resolution.