Judith A. Wilde

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Research Professor, ACE!

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Biography

Judith A. Wilde is a research professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government. Previously, she served as the founding chief operating officer/senior associate dean for the Schar School. Previous higher education experience includes the George Washington University, New Mexico Highlands University, and the University of New Mexico. She has taught graduate-level courses in higher-level statistics, evaluation, and grant writing.

Wilde’s current work focuses on two government-funded projects. She serves as Principal Investigator for the JCOIN (Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network) Rapid Innovation Grants (J-RIG), a rapid-funding mechanism supporting small grants to study newly emerging policies, practices, or interventions that address prevention and addiction in justice settings. JCOIN is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) through the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long Term (HEAL) initiative to George Mason University (PI: Faye Taxman, 2019-24). In addition, she serves as the administrative PI on the Department of Defense-funded MINERVA grant, A Nested Mixed-Method Approach to Armed Non-State Actor Governance and the Rule of Law (Research PI: Desmond Arias, 2017-2023).

In addition, she is frequently interviewed by reporters and writes articles for various local and national publications regarding the use of search firms when universities and colleges seek a new president/chancellor, the contracts and salaries of those presidents/chancellors, and the exit agreements that presidents/chancellors negotiate when they step down.

Much of Wilde’s past work has focused on technical assistance, professional development, research, and evaluation related to English learners and other students at risk of educational failure. She has worked with local school districts to develop projects funded by grants from federal programs such as the National Professional Development Program, the Native American/Alaska Native Children in Schools Program, the 21stCentury Community Learning Center program, Reading Excellence, and the Safe Schools-Healthy Students initiative.

Her work over the years has included consultancies with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of English Language Acquisition and Office of Indian Education; the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; the Council of the Great City Schools and the National Council of State Legislatures; and the World-class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium. Most recently, she served as the executive director of the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA) and the vice president for recognition of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Wilde holds a PhD in educational foundations (research, evaluation, statistics, assessment) from the University of New Mexico, an MAT for secondary education from the Claremont Graduate School and University Center, and a BA in European thought and culture from Scripps College.

Areas of Research

  • Public University Presidents’ Compensation
  • Use of Search Firms in Hiring Presidents and Provosts at Public Universities
  • Education of K-16 English Learners
  • Design and Evaluation of Professional Development

Curriculum Vitae

View Judith A. Wilde's CV

Education

PhD
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Major: Educational Foundations (Research, statistics, and evaluation) 
Minor: Cross-Cultural Human Development
Dissertation: An analysis of mentoring relationships in schools of education

MAT
Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California
Major: Secondary Education

BA
Scripps College, Claremont, California
Major: European Thought and Culture (Renaissance and Reformation) 

Areas of Special Competence

  • University presidencies – the use of search firms, presidential contracts
  • Evaluation design/program evaluation
  • Assessment (standardized and alternative; development, analysis, and interpretation)
  • Research methods and design
  • Survey instrument design and analysis
  • Education of linguistically and culturally diverse K-12 students
  • Professional development – design, facilitation, and evaluation
  • Educational equity for women and ethnically/racially diverse students
  • Higher education administration, including accreditation

Professional Experience

2015-present
George Mason University, Arlington, VA

2020-present
Schar School of Policy and Government

  • Research Professor
  • Work with the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN [2020-2024]) and the Justice Community Overdose Innovation Network (JCOIN 2.0 [2024-2029]) funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM Initiative (HEAL); Faye S. Taxman, PI.
    • PI for the JCOIN Rapid Response Pilot Research program, a rapid-funding mechanism for small grants to study newly emerging policies, practices, or interventions that address prevention and treatment of addiction among justice-involved populations.
      • Responsible for recruiting, training, and maintaining a core of individuals to review and score applications; announcing funding cycles and maintaining a website to guide potential applicants through the application process; following progress of funded projects to assure that projects are completed in a timely manner; and maintaining appropriate contact with NIDA officials.
      • Through 8 application cycles and a year-end supplement, 13 projects received a total of $1.4M.
    • Evaluation of JCOIN Aim 3: Connections Application for Recovery Engagement Study (CARES)
      • Lead evaluator - the study explored whether participants with substance use disorder would adopt and use a smart-phone app with a cognitive behavioral therapy program, weekly addiction monitor, daily check-ins, tools to track sobriety and treatment, and other patient-centered resources.

2016-2020
Schar School of Policy and Government 

  • Chief Operating Officer (Senior Associate Dean) and Professor
  • Reporting to the Dean, responsible for day-to-day administration of the school 
  • Focus on issues internal to the school, including personnel, finance, alumni relations and development, graduate admissions and enrollment, and various planning initiatives
  • Served as administrative PI of the Department of Defense Minerva grant, A Nested Mixed-Methods Approach to Armed Non-State Actor Governance and the Rule of Law (2017-2023)
    • Programmatic PI: Desmond Arias, Baruch College, City University of New York
  • Taught one graduate course per year (PUBP 710, The Art of Grant Writing)

2015-2016
School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs

  • Adjunct Professor and Strategic Planner
  • Taught graduate-level course in grant-writing (PUBP 680, Grant Writing I)
  • Co-taught graduate-level course in evaluation (PUBP 713, Policy and Program Evaluation)
  • Worked with the dean on strategic planning initiatives

2009 - 2012
National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition and Language Instruction Educational Programs (NCELA), The George Washington Univ, Washington, DC 

  • Executive Director; staff of 10-12
  • Authorized within Title III of the ESEA, as reauthorized in 2001funded through the Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students (OELA) of the US Department of Education (USDE)
  • Legislative mandate to "collect, analyze, synthesize, and disseminate information" related to the education of English learners (PL 107-110 §3303)
  • Responsible for day-to-day activities (including budgets, reports, planning and implementing activities, personnel, administration), communications with OELA, USDE, The George Washington University (GW), as well as state and local education agencies
  • Provide technical assistance information and professional development activities to OELA, USDE, state and local education agencies, universities, researchers, and related individuals through document development, listserv, toll-free phone number, email, webinars, website, conferences/meetings, and quarterly newsletter AccELLerate!
  • Budget of approximately $2M/year
  • Note – many of the NCELA documents cited herein are available on the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition.

2007 - 2009
Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), Washington, DC 

  • Vice President for Recognition Services; staff of 9
  • Membership organization responsible for recognizing (accrediting) organizations that accredit degree- and certificate-granting programs, professional schools, colleges, and universities.

2003 - 2007
National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition and Language Instruction Educational Programs (NCELA), The George Washington Univ, Washington, DC

  • Associate Director for Research and Accountability; staff of 12
  • Responsible for all activities related to research, evaluation, assessment
  • Developed materials for dissemination related to research, evaluation, assessment

2002 - 2008
School of Public Policy, George Mason Univ, Arlington, VA

  • Affiliate Professor and Senior Fellow
  • Approved to provide courses related to evaluation for credit or CEUs 

1996 - 2001
Southwest Comprehensive Regional Assistance Center (SWCC) and Center for the Education and Study of Diverse Populations (CESDP), New Mexico Highlands Univ, Rio Rancho, NM

  • Senior Associate, Special Projects Coordinator, Interim Associate Director
  • SWCC funded by the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Language Affairs (OBEMLA – now OELA) of the USDE, through Title XIII of the IASA of 1994 
  • Primary clients: state education agencies, local education agencies, tribal education agencies, and institutions of higher education within the southwestern region of NM, UT, NV, CO, AZ
  • Special projects funded by offices within the USDE
  • Primary focus on services related to K-12 education of English learners, migrant, and American Indian students; students living in poverty; others at risk of educational failure
  • CESDP funded by the New Mexico Legislature and grant-writing activities to provide services to state and local education agencies within the State

1986 -1996
Evaluation Assistance Center-Western Region, New Mexico Highlands Univ/Univ of New Mexico

  • Senior Research Associate
  • Funded through the OBEMLA, USDE
  • Served clients in 23 western states and 7 Pacific Island entities
  • Provided services to clients with ESEA Title VII fund­ing (1995-96 provided services to Title I-funded projects as well)
  • Developed materials and presented workshops and institutes on evaluation practices and proce­dures, assessment of K-12 limited-English proficient students (standardized and alternative), and review materials from Title VII projects
  • Taught ED500, Assessment, design, and computers at NMHU

1984 -1992
Research Advisory Services, College of Education, Univ of New Mexico

  • Assistant Director and Director; Lecturer for Educational Foundations Department
  • Assisted faculty, staff, and students in the areas of research/evaluation design, methodology, tests & measures, analysis, and interpretation
  • Responsible for forecasting budgets, hiring graduate assistants and consultants, locating and writing grants, and maintaining the budget
  • Taught masters- and doctoral-level classes:
  • EF501 – Introductory educational statistics
  • EF504 – Computers in education
  • EF603 – Univariate design and analysis
  • EF604 – Multiple regression
  • EF605 – Multivariate design and analysis
  • EF690 – Dissertation design and completion (developed this course)

1983 - present   beta Group Consulting, Arlington, VA and Albuquerque, NM 

  • Self-identified woman-owned small business; staff of 1 to 6 utilized on an as-needed basis
  • Educational consulting firm specializing in the education of at-risk learners of all ages including grant- and report-writing, assess­ment, program development, and evaluation
  • Provide statistical and evaluation consultation to federal, state, and local education agencies, as well as institutions of higher education and other entities
  • Most work under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as reauthorized through the Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994 (IASA) and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) 

Publications 

Wilde, J. (2025, December 31, 2025). A verification failure. The Washington Post.

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2025, December 19). Guest column: Uva’s board chose speed over legitimacy. Predictable crisis to follow. Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Finkelstein, J. & Wilde, J. (2025, December 2). Column: New governor can restore good governance at Va. Universities. The Virginian-Pilot.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2025, November 14). Column: Governor-elect defended UVa’s integrity. Sitting governor attacked her for it. Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2025, October 16). Gatekeepers of the Ivory Tower. Academe Magazine. (Invited article)

Finkelstein, J.H. & Wilde, J.A. (2025, October 3). The Trump Administration’s “Compact” is a Trap. Choose independence. Refuse to Sign. The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Wilde, J. (2025, January 20). Talk of the Town: New Mexico must address WNMU’s failures for the sake of students’ futures. Albuquerque Journal.

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2024, July 22). We study university presidents and here’s what might happen to Ben Sasse and his pay. Tampa Bay Times.

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2024, January 2024). Unextreme vetting. Inside Higher Ed.

Sawyer-Morris, G., Wilde, J. A., Molfenter, T., & Taxman, F. S. (2023, December 27) Use of digital health and digital therapeutics to treat SUD in criminal justice settings: A reviewCurrent Addiction Reports.

Finkelstein, J. & Wilde, J. (2023, April 17). Contract experts: If Kristina Johnson ‘resigned’ why is Ohio State going to keep paying her? Columbus Dispatch. 

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2023, March 30). How should a university leader know when to quit? Times Higher Education. (Part 4 of a 6-part article)

Wilde, J.A., Zawislak, K., Sawyer-Morris, G., Hulsey, J., Molfenter, T., & Taxman, F.S.  (2023). The adoption and sustainability of digital therapeutics in justice systems: A pilot feasibility studyInternational Journal of Drug Policy, 116:June 2023, 104024.

Finkelstein, J. & Wilde, J. (2023, March 3). Corcoran’s outsized contract makes him a $1 million dollar president at New College (Guest Column).  Tampa Bay Times.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2023, February 22.) How to select the right search firm. The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2022, November 30).  Disgraced presidents shouldn’t get tenureThe Chronicle of Higher Education.

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2022, November 22). Ben Sasse hit the jackpot with his University of Florida contractHigher Ed Dive. Note: This was the #3 most often read opinion piece for 2022 

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2022, June 22).  Letters: Colleges should be wary of following Purdue’s lead on presidential searchesThe Chronicle of Higher Education. 

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2022, May 16).  Letters: Relying on search firms for presidential openings is asking for troubleThe Chronicle of Higher Education.

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2022, April 19). Opinion: Tenure is under attack, so why do college presidents have retreat rights? Higher Ed Dive.

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2022, April 5).  Is it time to cut presidents’ pay?  Austerity has become the rule in higher ed, except at the very top. The Chronicle of Higher Ed.

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2022, January 28). Guest Column: Why secret searches for Florida university presidents are just a bad idea, Tampa Bay Times. 

Finkelstein, J. & Wilde, J. (2022, January 20). Opinion: University of Michigan may have to pay fired Schlissel to keep him off campus, Detroit Free Press. (Article may be behind a pay-wall.)

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2021, November 17).  How to improve hiring of college presidents, Higher Ed Dive.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2021, November 16).  The people hiring college presidents don’t have experience as college presidents, Higher Ed Dive.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2021, November 15).  A fundamental change in hiring college presidents is unfolding, Higher Ed Dive.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2021, April 1). As we see it: Search firms come with hidden costs. Corvallis (OR) Gazette-Times.

Wilde, J.A.  (2021, February 23).   No reason to hide names in higher ed searches, The Gainesville Sun.

Lindsey, B., & Wilde, J. (2020, September 23). Strategic crisis planning: What higher education could learn from the militaryInside Higher Ed.

Porter, T., Wilde, J.A., & Finkelstein, J.H. (2020, September 1). OPINION: How one university can do better by the men and women its namesake enslavedThe Hechinger Report.

Letiecq, B. & Wilde, J. (2020, April). The costs of secret presidential searches, Academe Blog (AAUP).

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2020, January). The downside of confidentiality, Education Dive.

Finkelstein, J. & Wilde, J. (2019, July 29). Platinum parachutes revisitedInside Higher Ed.

Finkelstein, J. & Wilde, J. (2019, June 20). A public executive should get a public search, The Chronicle of Higher Education (CHE).

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2019, May 15).  Opinion: Presidential search researchers say OU should take more transparent path following Gallogly exit, OUDaily, Norman, OK.

Wilde, J. (2018, July 9).  The increasingly high price of confidentiality, Inside Higher Ed (IHE).

Finkelstein, J, & Wilde, J. (2018, June 11). Creating a culture of cronyismIHE.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2018, March 31). How not to choose MSU’s next president. Detroit Free Press.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.F. (2017, August 9). Letter: Public interest not served by forced secrecy in presidential searches, CHE.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2017, June 12). Who wins when a college presidency fails?, CHE.

Finkelstein, J. H. & Wilde, J. A. (2017, June 1). Does your president have a platinum parachute?, IHE.

Finkelstein, J.H. & Wilde, J.A. (2017, May 25). Bonuses and benefits, Inside Higher Ed.

Finkelstein, J.H. & Wilde, J.A. (2017, May 18). The CEO-ization of the president’s contracts, IHE.

Finkelstein, J.H & Wilde, J.A. (2017, May 9). Questioning pay for university presidents, The Gainesville Sun, Gainesville, FL.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2017, May 5). The role of confidentiality in presidential searches, CHE.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2017, April 21). Should university presidents and chancellors get compensated like corporate CEOs?, The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, CA.

Wilde, J.A. (2017, April 2).  Opinion:  The risks in searching for a good university president, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, VA.

Wilde, J.A. (2017, March 26). The value of confidentiality in leadership search is unproven, The Daily Progress, Charlottesville, VA.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2017, March 17). How well do you know your candidate?, CHE.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2016, November 25). Hiring a search firm? Do your homework first. Washington, DC: CHE.

Finkelstein, J.H., Wilde, J.A., & Porter, T. (2016, April 4). “Testimony before Joint Hearing of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee #2 on Education Finance & the Assembly Committee on Higher Education,” California General Assembly, Sacramento, CA.

Wilde, J. (2012, April).  Valid and reliable evaluation of teachers of ELs: An overview of methods (submitted for publication).  AccELLerate! the quarterly review of the National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA).

Rasmussen, M., Romanova, N., Woodson, K., Ballantyne, K., & Wilde, J.  (2012, April).  The identification of Native American and Alaska Native English learners. Short turnaround report #7, prepared for OELA, US Department of Education (USDE).  Washington, DC:  NCELA

Wilde, J.  (2012, January).  Flexibility principle 1: College- and career-ready expectations for all students.  Short turnaround report #3, prepared for the OELA, USDE 

Wilde, J. (2011, Fall).  Facts and figures: Native American and Alaska Native children.  AccELLerate!, 4(1), 20-21. 

Wilde, J. (2011, Summer). Patterns in EL students' mathematics course-taking.  AccELLerate!, 3(4), 5.*

Ballantyne, K.G. & Wilde, J. (2011, May).  Resources for preparing teachers of science and mathematics to work with English learners. Short turnaround report prepared for OELA, USDE.  Washington, DC: NCELA. 

Wilde, J. (2011, Winter). What do we know about ELP assessments? What more should we know?  AccELLerate!, 3(2), 2-6.

Wilde, J. (2010). Guidelines for professional development: An overview.  In C.J. Casteel & K.G. Ballantyne (Eds.), Professional development in action: Improving teaching for English learners.  Washington, DC:  NCELA. 

Wilde, J. (2010, Summer). What makes a "good" assessment for ELLs?  AccELLerate!, 2(4), 18-19.

Wilde, J. (2010, Spring). What have we learned (about professional development)? AccELLerate!, 2(3), 20.

Wilde, J. (2010, Winter). Guidelines for professional development: An overview. AccELLerate!, 2(2), 2-4.

Wilde, J. (2009, Fall). NAEP, the "Nation's Report Card," and ELL students—mathematics.  AccELLerate!, 2(1), 2-6.

Wilde, J. (2009, Summer). NAEP, the "Nation's Report Card," and ELL students. AccELLerate!, 1(4), 21-24.

Wilde, J. & J.H. Finkelstein (2009).  Gender differences in the achievement of K-12 English language learners.  Paper presented at the Second Biennial Language Education and Diversity Conference, Hamilton, NZ; later submitted and accepted for the juried Conference Proceedings.

Wilde, J. (2007). Foreign and second language learning; sole author of the “second language learning” section of the chapter. In S. Klein (Ed.), Handbook for Achieving Gender Equity through Education. Mahwah, NJ:  Lawrence Erlbaum.

Navarrete, C. & Wilde, J. (2000).  IASA Title VII: Writing the Biennial Evaluation Report Guidance. Washington, DC: Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs, USDE. 

Wilde, J.B(usch) & Schau, C.G. (1991).  Mentoring in graduate schools of education:  Mentees’ perceptions.  Journal of Experimental Education, 59(2), 165-179.

Busch, J.W(ilde) (1985, January 1).  Mentoring in graduate schools of education:  Mentors’ perceptions. American Educational Research Journal, 22(2), 259-265.

Tremaine, L.S., Schau, C.G., & Busch, J.W(ilde). (1982, July).  Children’s occupational sex-typing.  Sex Roles, 8(7), 691-710.

Presentations (invited and juried presentations since 2000)

Wilde, J. (2025, August 16). The Attack on Higher Education. Community Forum, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Wilde, J. (2022, April 13). The trendline for presidential tenure in higher education. Podcast with Helix Education’s Enrollment Growth University.

Wilde, J. & Finkelstein, J. (2022, April 12).  Executive search firms and the disempowerment of faculty.  Invited address for the faculty of the University of Michigan.

Porter, T., Wilde, J., & Finkelstein, J. (2020, January 10).  Whither the university presidency?  Symposium presented at the Hawaii International Education Conference, Honolulu, HI. 

Wilde, J. (2019, February 5). Invited presentation as part of a 3-person panel on “The dangers of politically motivated philanthropy in Higher Education.”  Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College, New York, NY.

Wilde, J.A. & Porter, T. (2018, October).  So you want to be a university professor.  Presentation at the Women in Leadership Conference, Harvard Faculty Club, Cambridge, MA.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J. (2018, April).  What board members need to know about hiring a search firm.  Workshop at the Association of Governing Boards Workshop for Professionals, San Francisco, CA.

Wilde, J.A.  (2017, April).  The disempowerment of faculty:  The effect of search firms in higher education.  Presentation at Toward a Culture of University Ethics:  An Interdisciplinary Conference, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA.

Wilde, J.A.  (2017, March).  Hiring a search firm:  A study of search firm contracts.  Invited presentation for the American Council on Education Executive Search Roundtable, Washington, DC. 

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2016, December 18).  Why heads of colleges make more than students will, MarketWatch Podcast.

Wilde, J.A. & Finkelstein, J.H. (2016, July 29).  Why So Secret? Shedding Light on Closed-Door Presidential Searches at Public Universities, Student Press Law Center Podcast.

Finkelstein, J.H. & Wilde, J.A. (2016, June).  Executive search firms and the disempowerment of faculty.  Symposium presented at the American Association of University Professors Annual Conference, Washington, DC. 

Finkelstein, J.H., Wilde, J.A., & Streicker, S. (2016, June).  The corporatization of presidential contracts.  Symposium presented at the American Association of University Professors Annual Conference, Washington, DC. 

Finkelstein, J.H., Wilde, J.A., & Porter, T.  (2016, April). University presidents’ service on boards of publicly-traded corporations.  Testimony before the Joint Hearing of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education and Finance and the Assembly Committee on Higher Education.  Sacramento, CA.  Video available:

Wilde, J.A., Boals, T.J., and Finkelstein, J.F. (2015, November).  The effects of poverty and English learner status on academic achievement. Symposium presented at the Fourth International Conference on Language, Education, and Diversity, Auckland, NZ. 

Wilde, J.A., Boals, T.J., and Finkelstein, J.H. (2015, November).  The effect of leadership teams on the education of English learners. Symposium presented at the Fourth International Conference on Language, Education, and Diversity, Auckland, NZ.

Wilde, J. (2012, February). Valid and reliable evaluation of teachers working with ELs.   Invited address for the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) annual conference, Dallas, TX.

Wilde, J.  (2011, October).  Where are we? Where have we been?  EL Facts and Figures.  Invited address for La Cosecha annual conference of Dual Language Education of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.

Wilde, J. (2011, March). NAEP Assessments of Mathematics and Reading, 2009: Analyzing Language Proficiency with Poverty Status.  Invited address for the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) annual conference, New Orleans, LA.

Wilde, J. (2010, June).  What do we know about ELP assessments?  What more should we know?  Symposium presented at the Large Scale Assessment Conference of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), Detroit, MI. 

Wilde, J. (2010, May).  Comparing results of the NAEP long-term trend assessment: English-language learners, former English-language learners, and English proficient students.  Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.

Wilde, J. & K. Ballantyne (2010, April). How to access and use federal data on ELL students.  Paper presented at the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) annual convention, Boston, MA. 

Wilde, J. (2010, February).  Updates:  What NCELA can do for you.  Invited presentation to the ELL SCASS of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), New Orleans, LA.

Wilde, J. (2007, November).  Gender differences in the achievement of K-12 English language learners.  Paper presented at the Second Biennial Language Education and Diversity Conference, Hamilton, NZ.

Finkelstein, J.H. & Wilde, J.A. (2007, November). What is the cost of educating English language learners?  An analysis of three methods of determining cost.  Paper presented at the Second Biennial Language Education and Diversity Conference, Hamilton, NZ.

Wilde, J.A. (2007, October). Progress of National Professional Development projects, 2006- 2007. Invited presentation for OELA’s Summit VI: Our Rising Stars, Washington, DC.

Wilde, J.A. (2007, October). Progress of Native American, Native Hawai’ian, and Alaska Native projects, 2006-2007. Invited presentation for OELA’s Summit VI: Our Rising Stars, Washington, DC.

Wilde, J.A. (2006, August). Accommodations for assessing English language learners. Invited presentation at conferences in Bismarck, ND.

Wilde, J.A. (2006, October). Progress of National Professional Development projects, 2005- 2006. Invited presentation for OELA’s Summit V: Our Rising Stars, Washington, DC.

Wilde, J.A. (2006, October). Progress of Native American, Native Hawai’ian, and Alaska Native projects, 2005-2006. Invited presentation for OELA’s Summit V: Our Rising Stars, Washington, DC.

Wilde, J.A. (2005, December). Progress of National Professional Development projects, 2003- 2005. Invited presentation for OELA’s Summit IV: Our Rising Stars, Washington, DC.

Wilde, J.A. (2005, December). Progress of Native American, Native Hawai’ian, and Alaska Native projects, 2003-2005. Invited presentation for OELA’s Summit IV: Our Rising Stars, Washington, DC.

Wilde, J.A. (2005, November). Progress of Foreign Language Learning projects, 2003-2005. Invited presentation for the National Foreign Language Association, Baltimore, MD.

Wilde, J.A. (2005, April). Assessing English-language learners for academic English language proficiency: A standards-based approach. Chair and discussant. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada.

Wilde, J. (2003, March). You and the federal government’s No Child Left Behind legislation. Invited keynote for the annual SUN (Spanish, Ute, Navajo) Regional Conference, Cortez, CO.

Wilde, J. & Zelasko, N. (2002, November). Teacher preparation. Invited presentation at the first annual Celebrate Our Rising Stars! Conference of the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) (US Department of Education), Washington, DC.

Wilde, J. (2002, October). No Child Left Behind: Providing educational opportunity for American Indian and Alaska Native students. Invited panel on Teacher Quality at the Office of Civil Rights (US Department of Education) conference on Education Issues for American Indian and Alaska Native students, Washington, DC.

Gottlieb, M.; Wilde, J.; & Balu, R. (2002, June). Assessment standards for English Language Learners. Symposium presented at the annual Large Scale Assessment Conference of the Council of Chief State School Officers, Palm Desert, CA.

Barber, C.; Huffman, C.L.; & Wilde, J. (2002, March). So you’re a new or “wannabe” program evalua­tor? Here’s the real scoop! Symposium presented the annual conference of the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE), Philadelphia, PA.

Wilde, J. & Zelasko, N. (2001, February). What do we know? Evaluation results from Title VII Subpart 1 and 3 biennial reports. Invited keynote for the Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Languages Affairs (OBEMLA) National Professional Development Institute, Phoenix, AZ.

Linquanti, R. & Wilde, J. (2001, February). Issues in the identification and reclassification of English Language Learners. Paper presented at the annual conference of the NABE, Phoenix, AZ.

Zelasko, N. & Wilde, J. (2000, October). Developing assessment standards for ELL students. Sympo­sium presented at the annual conference of the Council of Great City Schools, Norfolk, VA.

Wilde, J. & Del Vecchio, A. (2000, April). Academic achievement and language proficiency gains made by students in bilingual education programs. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Education Research Association (AERA), Montreal, Canada.

In addition, more than 150 invited works related to English learners have been presented at 

  • annual National Association for Bilingual Education conferences and at the California, New Mexico, and Oklahoma Associations for Bilingual Education conferences; 
  • annual regional meetings for Title VII-funded projects in California, Illinois, New Mexico, and Oklahoma; 
  • OBEMLA- and OELA-sponsored workshops for staff in Washington, DC; 
  • OBEMLA-sponsored National Management Institutes/National Professional Develop­ment Institutes, and IASA conferences; and 
  • schools, local districts and county offices of education in AZ, CA, NV, NM, ND, OK, UT, WI.

Selected Technical Reports/Evaluation Reports (since 2000)

Democracy and Anti-Corruption Defenders Fellowship Program (DAC); primary author (2024). Quarterly and Final Evaluation Reports for the US Department of State-funded project. Louise Shelley, PI. Arlington, VA: Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC), George Mason University.

Primary Cultural Interdisciplinary Resource Centers for Language Enhancement (CIRCLE) Project; primary author, under a beta Group Consulting contract to evaluate a US Department of Education-funded project, of 4 “Annual Performance Reports,” 2014-2017, and 4 “Complete Data Reports,” 2014-2017.  Mandan, ND:  Missouri River Educational Cooperative.

Cultural Interdisciplinary Resource Centers for Language Enhancement (CIRCLE) Project: Final Report; primary author (2016). Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract to evaluate a US Department of Education-funded project. (In addition, 4 “Annual Performance Reports,” 2012-2015, and 4 “Complete Data Reports, 2012-2015.) Mandan, ND: Missouri River Educational Cooperative.

Jackson State University’s Cyber Learning Initiative:  Final Report-Year One Evaluation; sole author (2015).  Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for James Renick, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs and Robert Blaine, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Cyber Learning. Jackson, MI:  Jackson State University.

International Psychotherapy Institute Winter 2014/2015 Planning Survey; sole author (2015). Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for the IPI Strategic Planning Committee.

Review of the Study Proposal for JSU’s CyberLearning Initiative; sole author (2014).  Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for James Renick, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs. Jackson, MI:  Jackson State University. 

Evaluation Plan for Course Offerings; sole author (2013).  Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for Jacqueline Phillips, Learning and Knowledge Directorate, United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General.  Arlington, VA:  USPS OIG. (Copies of 33 reports, completed between July 2013 and October 2014, on the evaluation of USPS OIG training programs and courses are available only with the permission of the USPS OIG and therefore are not listed herein.)

Management Courses in Enterprise Risk Management for Public Utilities:  Final Report on the ERM Courses for Investor-owned Utilities and Public Power Utilities; sole author (2013).  Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract with the George Mason University School of Public Policy’s FEMA-funded project.

LADDER™ for language learners – Final report (2007 – 2013); sole author (2013).  Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for Merideth Trahan, LADDER project manager, and Timothy J. Boals, WiDA Executive Director.  Madison, WI: WIDA Consortium, Univ of Wisconsin.

LADDER™ for language learners - A summary of five years (2007 – 2012); sole author (2012).  White paper prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for Merideth Trahan, LADDER project manager.  Madison, WI: WIDA Consortium, Univ of Wisconsin.

Evaluation of Project CIRCLE; primary author (2012).  Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for Bill Demaree, director, Project CIRCLE, a Native American/Alaska Native Children in School Program grantee – evaluation of the project's first year.  Mandan, ND: Missouri River Education Consortium.

National Professional Development Program: GPRA Indicators; primary author (2012).  Summary of grantees' 2001-11 reports.  Prepared under the NCELA contract for Cynthia Ryan, division director.  Washington, DC: OELA, USDE. 

National Professional Development Program: GPRA Indicators; primary author (2012).  Summary of grantees' 2009-10 reports.  Prepared under the NCELA contract for Cynthia Ryan, division director. Washington, DC: OELA, USDE. 

GPRA Indicators: Foreign Language Assistance Program; co-author (2011).  Summary of grantees' 2009-10 reports.  Prepared under the NCELA contract for Cynthia Ryan, division director, OELA, USDE.

National Professional Development Program: Project Progress and GPRA Indicators; sole author (2010). Summary of grantees' 2008-09 reports. Prepared under the NCELA contract for Cynthia Ryan, division director.  Washington, DC: OELA, USDE.

Native American/Alaska Native Children in School: Summary Report and GPRA Indicators; sole author (2010). Summary of grantees' 2008-09 reports. Prepared under the NCELA contract for Cynthia Ryan, division director.  Washington, DC: OELA, USDE.

Foreign Language Assistance Program:  Summary Report and GPRA Indicators; co-author (2010).  Summary of grantees' 2008-09 reports.  Prepared under the NCELA contract for Cynthia Ryan, division director. Washington, DC: OELA, USDE.

Summative Evaluation for the ONPAR Project; sole author (2009).  Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for Dr. Rebecca Kopriva, project director.  Madison, WI: WIDA Consortium, Univ of Wisconsin.

Evaluation: Secondary HILT/HILTEX Program – Analyses of 2003-04 and 2004-05 Student Data; sole author (2006).  Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for Emma Violand-Sánchez, EdD.  Arlington, VA:  Arlington Public Schools.

Secondary HILT/HILTEX Program:  Teacher and Student Surveys.  Final evaluation report; sole author (2006).  Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for Emma Violand-Sánchez, EdD.  Arlington, VA:  Arlington Public Schools.

Definitions for No Child Left Behind: Research that Works within NCLB Standards; sole author (2004). Washington, DC: NCELA.

Definitions for No Child Left Behind: Assessment; sole author (2004). Washington, DC: NCELA.

Definitions for No Child Left Behind: Research; sole author (2004). Washington, DC: NCELA. 

Assessment standards for English language learners; sole author (2002). Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for the Council of Great City Schools and NCELA.

Teacher Preparation under NCLB: Best practices identified through the biennial evaluation reports of Title III/Title VII projects funded in FY1997-FY1999; primary author (2002). Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract with NCELA. Washington, DC:  NCELA, The George Washington Univ (GWU).

Summary of the Title VII biennial evaluation reports for FY1997 projects and FY1995 projects (second reports); primary author (2002). Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education (NCBE).  Washington, DC: NCBE, GWU.

Summary of the Title VII biennial evaluation reports for FY1996 projects; primary author (2000). Prepared under a beta Group Consulting contract for NCBE.  Washington, DC: NCBE, GWU.

Projects/Clients

  • We have worked with education clients in Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin and with an inspector general office located in Virginia
  • Successful discretionary federal grants have been written/evaluated in the areas of
  • ESEA (NCLB) Title III – Native American/Alaska Native Children in School Program
  • ESEA (NCLB) Title III – National Professional Development Program
  • ESEA (IASA) 21st Century Community Learning Centers
  • ESEA (IASA) Title VII, Bilingual Education
  • ESEA (IASA) Title IV, Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
  • ESEA (IASA) Safe Schools/Healthy Students (funded jointly by the US Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services
  • We have worked with clients in the successful development of federal and state grants and contracts worth more than $125 Million

Media Citations 

Contact Information

Judith Wilde, PhD
Cell: 505.301.4081 
2014 Circulo del Monte NE
Albuquerque, NM 87112
email: judithwilde@gmail.com

Schar School of Policy and Government
email: jwilde2@gmu.edu
George Mason University
Arlington, VA  22201