At Expanding the Bench® (ETB), we’ve been thinking deeply about what it means to give the data back to the community, especially when that community is helping us build, shape, and improve our programs. When Cohort 5 of the Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) Program culminated at the end of 2024, we knew we didn’t just want to analyze the end-of-program surveys behind the scenes — we wanted to open up the conversation. Rather than just sharing findings in a report (though a full brief is coming soon), we invited the LEEAD community to engage in our very first LEEAD Data Party. In May of this year, Alumni, Mentors, Practicum Sites, and the LEEAD Advisory Team Workgroup gathered to gain insights from the analyzed data, talk about what it meant, and help us imagine what should come next. What came out of that space was actionable feedback, powerful conversations, and concrete ideas for improving the LEEAD experience for the upcoming cohort, and for the long-term sustainability of the program.

Data Analysis

Over the course of the 2023–2024 LEEAD Program cycle (Cohort 5), we gathered feedback via:

• Curriculum Survey from Scholars (Spring 2024)
• End-of-Program Surveys from Scholars, Mentors, and Practicum Sites (end of 2024/early 2025)

Each of these surveys gave us insight into how well the program is doing and where we can grow. The LEEAD Team analyzed the data to share in advance of the Data Party. You can read the full Cohort 5 analysis here.

What We Heard From the Community

At the Data Party, we shared these insights and posed questions around building a stronger curriculum, facilitating deeper relationships, and strengthening our evaluation and storytelling. The LEEAD community offered thoughtful reflections and critical insights, surfacing both affirmation of existing strengths and opportunities for growth across multiple components of the program. Here is what emerged and actions we will be taking:

Moving from Theory to Application in the Curriculum
While Scholars appreciated the content and structure of the curriculum, many emphasized the need for more time dedicated to the practical application of CREE principles. As several Data Party participants noted, the theoretical foundation is vital, but increasingly, Scholars are entering the program with that foundation already in place.

For Cohort 6, the curriculum will be updated to:

• Spend less time on theory and more on how to use CREE in practice
• Integrate themes of leadership, advocacy, healing, and wellness
• Help Scholars “meet the moment” and navigate today’s complex and shifting landscape as evaluators

Aligning Professional Development with Emerging Needs
Each cohort has surfaced recurring professional development themes, including interest in navigating independent consulting, developing creative technical skills, and being an evaluation leader. Data Party participants noted that these areas are also of interest to LEEAD Alumni and ACE Evaluation Network Members.

As a result, our professional development offerings will increasingly focus on:

• Consulting fundamentals (e.g., business development, client management, proposal writing)
• Contract negotiation
• Storytelling and data visualization
• Strategies for advancing equity in constrained environments

Building and Sustaining Relationships
Cohort 5 underscored the value of peer and Mentor relationships, while also naming the need for more intentional opportunities to develop and sustain those connections, especially in a virtual program model.

In response, we are:

• Designing the kickoff Symposium with more space for meaningful relationship building
• Developing intentional small groups for Cohort 6 engagement
• Continuing to pilot ETB Conference Support Stipends to encourage in-person engagement amongst the ETB community (ETB has piloted this with the CREA Conference in April 2025)
• Exploring more structured Communities of Practice for Scholars, Mentors, and Practicum Sites

Expanding Our Approach to Evaluation and Learning
The LEEAD community also offered feedback on our current evaluation tools and proposed ideas for deepening our understanding of the program’s impact, both at the individual level and across the broader evaluation field.

Key takeaways include:

• Increasing check-ins throughout the program to capture real-time feedback
• Updating Alumni surveys to better capture long-term career trajectories, continued use of CREE, and leadership in the field
• Laying the groundwork for a longitudinal or ethnographic study of LEEAD’s broader impact on the field, with a potential launch in 2026

What Comes Next

The Data Party was not a one-time event — it marked the beginning of a new practice at ETB with a goal of routinely creating space for reflection and feedback that leads to actionable change, guided by the community we serve. As we enter a new program cycle with Cohort 6, we have already implemented several shifts based on Cohort 5 feedback and the Data Party discussion, including curriculum revisions, professional development session planning, and an engaging agenda for September’s LEEAD Symposium.

To everyone who took the time to complete a survey, attend the Data Party, ask hard questions, and share your experiences — thank you! Your voices are shaping a stronger, more responsive, and more resilient LEEAD Program.