Abby Quirk is the Evaluation Manager at ImpactED. In this role, she supports both external research and evaluation projects as well as internal evaluation for training programs. Her previous experience includes work at DC Public Schools, the Center for American Progress, and Character Lab. Across these organizations, her work has focused on school improvement, youth mental health, community engagement, and applying a racial equity lens to policy and research.
Abby is returning to the University of Pennsylvania after having previously worked as a research coordinator for Dr. Angela Duckworth. In that role, she facilitated original research studies on grit, motivation, and self-control in academic environments and extracurricular activities, and also supported data management, pre-registration processes, and the creation of a Character and Well-Being Survey at Dr. Duckworth's nonprofit, Character Lab. Most recently, Abby worked in the Office of School Improvement and Supports at DC Public Schools, using human-centered design to solve education problems of practice and supporting a community-driven high school redesign initiative with a focus on student voice and student co-leadership of redesign.
Abby received her bachelor's degree in psychology with minors in education studies and religious studies from Hamilton College, and her master's degree in education policy from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. In her free time she likes going to concerts, walking dogs, playing volleyball, and traveling--especially by train!
