Meet the WhitworthKee team
WhitworthKee team
When you need insights to help inform mission-critical decisions, you need a research and evaluation firm with the knowledge, expertise, and experience to provide accurate, thorough, and well-documented findings to guide the decision-making process. WhitworthKee’s research team brings decades of experience in organizational change management; strategic planning; research design, implementation; data collection and analysis; and reporting. We help provide the insights you need to make data-driven decisions that inform programmatic modifications, foster success, and improve organizational effectiveness.
As a research and evaluation firm, we have the range of capabilities to customize research to fit your needs and support introductory to complex, multi-year endeavors. At WhitworthKee, our researchers seek to be the partners who blend seamlessly into your team, creating a partnership that is rooted in trust and transparency. WhitworthKee has a team of subject matter experts to support projects when needed.
Cameron Beatty, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate
Dr. Cameron C. Beatty has experience conducting qualitative research and document analysis. He has over 15 years of higher education professional experience working in administrative and faculty roles.
Dr. Beatty holds a bachelor’s in sociology and African and African American diaspora studies and a master’s in higher education student affairs, both from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. He also earned his Ph.D. in higher education administration from Iowa State University School of Education.
As a Senior Research Associate, Dr. Beatty has led projects for large public universities, small private colleges, academic departments, alumni associations, and student affairs divisions. Dr. Beatty has been responsible for developing key recommendations and actionable plans for higher education institutions for capacity-building. He has qualitative data analysis experience using NVivo and Dedoose software.
Trainings or Certifications:
• Social Justice in Higher Education, Graduate Certificate, Iowa State University (Aug., 2014)
Degrees:
• Ph.D./ Higher Education Administration/ Iowa State University
• M.S./Higher Education Student Affairs/ Indiana University, Bloomington (IUB)
Brittany Brewster, Ph.D.
Research Associate
Dr. Brittany Brewster has more than a decade of experience in research, evaluation, and program design. Her work includes developing organizational assessments, conducting program evaluations, and facilitating learning and professional development experiences. She has supported nonprofit, academic, corporate, and federal partners.
Dr. Brewster holds a doctorate in higher education with a minor in sociology from Florida State University. She earned her master’s in higher education from Florida State University and a bachelor’s in communications from Florida International University.
As a Research Associate at WhitworthKee, Dr. Brewster oversees a variety of projects, provides strategic expertise, and implements in-depth data collection and analysis to drive organizational impact.
Trainings or Certifications:
• Program Evaluation Certificate; Florida State University (Aug 2021)
Degrees:
• Ph.D./Higher Education/Florida State University – Program Evaluation Certificate
• MS/Higher Education/Florida State University
Chad E. Kee, Ph.D.
Founder and CEO
Dr. Chad Kee is an entrepreneur, researcher, educator, and first-generation college graduate. He founded WhitworthKee to empower educational, health, faith, and government organizations to make evidence-based decisions. Dr. Kee’s areas of expertise are embedded in the company’s unique community-responsive evaluation and assessment protocols. He has honed these protocols, applying them to WhitworthKee’s organizational environment and partner projects.
Dr. Kee holds a master’s degree in sociology with a focus on urban education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He also earned his doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies, with a focus on higher education and student affairs, from Iowa State University.
As CEO, Dr. Kee works directly with WhitworthKee’s strategic and technical partners, leveraging his expertise in program evaluation, research and development, technical assessment, and group facilitation. Dr. Kee supports the organizational objectives of WhitworthKee’s partner organizations as they implement services, interventions, and programs that enhance outcomes for their constituents.
Degrees:
• Ph.D./Higher Education Administration/Iowa State University
• MA/Sociology/University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Kevin Hylton, Ph.D.
Vice President of Research and Evaluation
Dr. Kevin Hylton is a researcher and program evaluator with experience managing complex, multi-phase, multi-million-dollar contracts, analyzing high-visibility hypotheses for a range of government agencies. Dr. Hylton’s approach centers on improving educational inequities and health disparities. He has published works related to substance use, intimate partner violence, HIV/AIDS, clinical trial participation, and poverty and health status.
Dr. Hylton holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from Buffalo State University and a doctorate in sociology, with a concentration in medical sociology, race and ethnic relations, and demography/urban sociology from Howard University.
As the Vice President of Research and Evaluation, Dr. Hylton focuses on establishing and directing WhitworthKee’s research and evaluation priorities.
Degrees:
• Ph.D./Sociology/Howard University
• M.S./Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration/The State University of New York Buffalo State University
Molly Matthews-Ewald, Ph.D., MS
Director of Research
Dr. Molly Matthews-Ewald is a mixed methods researcher and evaluator with more than 15 years of across a variety of fields. She has worked with an array of partners including federal, state, and local governments, nonprofit institutions, philanthropic, and family foundations. A hallmark of her approach is collaboration and ensuring differing perspectives and voices are considered and uplifted. She works collaboratively to identify novel solutions to clients’ questions and translates findings into actionable recommendations.
Dr. Matthews-Ewald holds a doctorate in public health sciences with a concentration in social and behavioral health from West Virginia University. She earned her master’s degree in exercise and health studies with a concentration in health promotion from Miami University and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Christopher Newport University.
As the Director of Research and Evaluation, Dr. Matthews-Ewald provides overall direction and support across the company’s portfolio of research and evaluation work.
Trainings or Certifications:
• Undoing Racism Training (April 26-28, 2023)
• Southern California Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) Workshop (March 29–March 31, 2018)
• Fourteenth Annual Summer Institute on Randomized Behavioral Clinical Trials (July 20–August 1, 2014)
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention Data Analysis Workshop (May 15–May 18, 2012)
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention Writing Workshop (July 9–July 13, 2012)
Degrees:
• PhD/Public Health Sciences, Focus in Social and Behavioral Health/West Virginia University
• MS/Exercise and Health Studies, Health Promotion Concentration/Miami University
Rachel Messer, Ph.D.
Senior Research Associate
Dr. Rachel H. Messer uses a multidisciplinary lens to engage in data analysis and interpretation, with measurable impact at the core of research, evaluation, and strategic planning activities. With more than a decade of experience leading quantitative and mixed-methods research, her recent experiences have included leading research and evaluation projects across the education, government, and economic development sectors. Dr. Messer has written, implemented, coordinated, and collected data for NIA and NSF-sponsored programs for older adults and college students.
Dr. Messer holds a doctorate in lifespan developmental psychology from Oklahoma State University, a master’s degree in psychology from Oklahoma State University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and French from Morehead (Kentucky) State University. Dr. Messer has published more than 25 original research papers, encyclopedia entries, and reviews, including in venues such as Oxford Bibliographies Online, the International Journal of Humor Research, and Current Psychology.
As a Senior Research Associate at WhitworthKee, Dr. Messer navigates problems without clear solutions and works with team members to devise creative plans of action from project planning stages through reporting. She engages in project and budget management to help lead successful research and evaluation projects while mentoring other team members and building authentic client relationships.
Trainings or Certifications:
• Undoing Racism Training (April 26-28, 2023)
• Johns Hopkins Center for Clinical Global Health Education – Introduction to Research Ethics (09.19.2018, no exp.)
Degrees:
• PhD/Lifespan Developmental Psychology (Cognitive track)/Oklahoma State University
• MS/Psychology/Oklahoma State University
Tiffiani Miller, Ph.D.
Vice President of Research and Evaluation
Dr. Tiffiani Miller guides research and evaluation strategy at WhitworthKee, directing projects that span public health, education, and workforce development. She brings over 15 years of experience designing and managing complex evaluations, with expertise in mixed-methods research, performance measurement, and multilevel analysis.
Her portfolio includes strategic planning for economic development agencies, impact evaluations of federally funded nutrition programs, and systems-level assessments for government and nonprofit clients. Dr. Miller has served in executive regulatory roles and contributed to national advisory panels for the USDA, FDA and CDC.
She holds a doctorate in comparative medicine from Michigan State University, a master’s in environmental health science from the University of Georgia, and a bachelor’s in chemistry. Dr. Miller is known for her methodical, results-oriented approach and ability to translate data into clear, actionable insights for decision-makers.
Degrees:
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology/Michigan State University
• Master of Science (MS), Environmental Health Science/University of Georgia
Tatiana Patterson, M.Ed
Project Manager
Tatiana Patterson has over 15 years of management experience in higher education, where she led and supervised large teams and projects before joining WhitworthKee. She values work-life balance and enjoys traveling, reading, and cooking when she is not working.
Tatiana holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from Michigan State University, as well as certifications in women’s health and human performance.
As Project Manager, Tatiana oversees the contract lifecycle to ensure that nonprofit, academic, and federal partner deliverables are completed on time and within budget. She also contributes to the company’s operational and training efforts.
Degrees:
• M.A./Student Affairs Administration/Michigan State University