Rebecca Piatt

Rebecca (Dunn) Piatt is a researcher in the Human Services division. Her research focuses on quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis of programs designed to support families. Using rapid-cycle evaluation techniques and human-centered design, she guides grant recipients through change processes to improve program quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Piatt's experience covers a range of program and policy areas, including healthy marriage and relationship education, teenage pregnancy prevention, cash assistance, workforce development, and early childhood education. Her work spans both the program improvement and evaluation spaces, with notable task leadership contributions on large randomized controlled trails and deputy project director roles on rapid-cycle evaluation projects.

Piatt has supported numerous research tasks, including designing, testing, and programming survey instruments; coordinating data collection; conducting interviews with program staff and participants; convening trainings and expert meetings; coding qualitative data; analyzing quantitative data; managing projects; and writing technical reports and practitioner-focused briefs. Piatt specializes in using the Learn, Innovate, Improve (LI²) framework—an evidence-driven approach to innovation and change in organizations—and regularly applies LI² as a process for partnering with and building the capacity of state and local human services providers.

Since joining Mathematica in 2017, Piatt has worked for a diverse range of government and foundation clients—including, the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Assistance and Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation; the U.S. Department of Labor, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, and the Michigan Works! Association. Her work for these clients has explored self-regulation, co-regulation, and motivation; welfare-to-work interventions; community network initiatives; and youth interventions.

Piatt is active in Mathematica’s internal diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and is passionate about mentoring associate staff. She has also served on the Human Services Positive Impact Award Committee. She holds a B.A. with honors in sociology and anthropology from Washington and Lee University and an M.A. with honors in public policy from the University of Chicago.