Ann G. Bessell

Ann Bessell, University of Miami, agbessell@miami.edu

Ann Bessell of the U of Miami talked about how she uses spider diagrams.She has worked with a wide range of nonprofits, from those who don't do any evaluation or data tracking, to those that generate 60-page reports full of bar charts on their indicators, but who are losing sight of the forest for the trees.

Bessell gave a great example of a metaphor she uses to get nonprofits interested in and understanding evaluation.She asks them to think about the process of car buying.

Ann G. Bessel, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, University of Miami

Ann Bessell, PhD. research assistant professor at University of Miami, Fl., attended the session.Her son Jonathan died of lymphoma, cancer of the lymph system, at age 12.She fought to keep her son in school during and after his treatment.She felt that it was important for these kids to stay in school; If their education is taken away, she said, you are telling them there isn't any hope."If you take away today, you take away tomorrow," she said."You have to give them quality today."

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Ann Bessell, professor at the University of Miami, Fla., attended the session.Her son Jonathan died of lymphoma, cancer of the lymph system, at age 12.She fought to keep her son in school during and after his treatment.She felt that it was important for these kids to stay in school.If their education is taken away, she said, you are telling them there isn't any hope.

"If you take away today, you take away tomorrow," she said.

Ann BessellUniversity of Miami

An article by Ann G. Bessell, PhD, a Research Assistant Professor in the School of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning at the University of Miami, FL. Includes her personal story as well as tips for educators and parents.