With 120+ Evaluators and growing in the Network, we are highlighting an ACE Evaluation Network Member each month to share their experiences and current projects with the ETB® community.

Advancing Culturally-responsive and Equitable (ACE) Evaluation Network Member Sharon Attipoe-Dorcoo, MPH, PhD Principal of TERSHA LLC, is a Ghanaian-American scholar-activist whose work bridges engineering, public health, and community engagement. A former board member and Education Council member of AcademyHealth, she is also a Senior Human Centered Designer at US Department of Homeland Security, published author, poet, and consultant. Dr. Attipoe-Dorcoo holds a DEI certificate from the University of South Florida. Her work focuses on co-designing research and evaluation initiatives with communities, leveraging culturally responsive and equitable tools to advance justice across systems.

The following excerpts are from an interview during the 2024 ETB Gathering at the AEA Annual Conference:

How has being a part of ETB impacted you?

I’ve been part of the Expanding the Bench® (ETB) network for several years, and I still vividly remember my first experience. In ETB, new members are paired with a “buddy” for guidance. At one event, my buddy and I were on opposite sides of a large room, and I was wearing traditional regalia—an expression of cultural responsiveness that is central to who I am.

My buddy noticed me across the room and approached. I remember thinking, “Oh, someone’s coming toward me.” That conversation marked the beginning of a meaningful friendship. My buddy, further along in their career, has shared immense wisdom. Together, we’ve navigated both life’s joys and challenges, learning to hold these experiences in community.

How do you hope to implement CREE in the future?

For me, culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE) goes beyond culture and responsibility—it’s also about research and, most importantly, equity. We must systematically center lived experiences in our work, especially in the social sciences. Implementation is twofold: first, rethinking how we approach the work; second, ensuring those ideas are put into practice.

It’s easy to write concepts into papers or books and leave them on a shelf, but what’s the point if we don’t act? That’s why I focus on linkages. The work is interdisciplinary—you have to look holistically across people, policies, and economics. And let’s be honest: you also have to follow the money.

We must think big about systems, especially unjust ones we’re still navigating. I don’t believe we’ll ever arrive at a utopia of complete justice. Justice work is ongoing, requiring vigilance to keep building and sustaining equitable systems.

How do you see yourself engaging with ETB in the future?

I love serving as a reviewer for new member applications—it’s inspiring to see the brilliance entering the network. I also work directly with foundations to strategize and implement CREE. ETB, through Change Matrix and other platforms, amplifies this work and impact.

At TERSHA LLC, our commitment goes beyond branding. We aim to embody equity-centered principles in every project and partnership. I’m excited to deepen our collaboration with ETB for both CREE and the larger evaluation ecosystem.

Where do you see ETB in the next 10 years?

As a business owner, I naturally think in long-term projections. I see ETB as a convener of diverse talent—consultants, government professionals, and private-sector leaders—creating a centralized space where interdisciplinary expertise thrives. Imagine a future where embedding CREE is not an “add-on,” but foundational to all evaluation and research.

ETB also nurtures the next generation of evaluators, creating a pipeline where community-centered practices are the norm. From my buddy, to colleagues, and educators planting seeds in higher education, we are collectively building a legacy of justice and equity.

How are you bringing CREE through a diaspora lens?

When asked “Who are you? What do you do?” I start with who I am—because it shapes what I do.

As a Black, foreign-born Ghanaian American mother raising Black boys in the U.S., I live in constant duality—honoring my roots while navigating American systems. This perspective informs my work and expands my vision of what’s possible for others.

At TERSHA LLC, while organizations hire us, the ultimate clients are the communities they serve—especially Black African diasporans. I want them to see that you can honor your culture and identity while navigating U.S. systems, with all their opportunities and challenges.

This is the essence of CREE: making space for diverse experiences and identities to flourish. Looking ahead, I see ETB not just as a hub for evaluators, but as an ecosystem—touching digital spaces, healthcare, venture capital, and beyond—with CREE as a central pillar. Those are the possibilities I’m eager to help create.

To learn more about Sharon, view her Evaluator Database profile.