Collin McColskey-Leary, PhD, is the Vice President of Research and Evaluation at Communities In School of North Carolina. In this role, he supports network-wide data collection, evaluation, and implementation efforts. Prior to joining CIS, he was an Implementation Specialist at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute/National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) where he partnered with state and district leadership and teams, as well as external partners such as national technical assistance centers and not-for-profit organizations, to understand what is required to effectively implement and scale programs, practices, and policies designed to improve the lives of traditionally marginalized populations. 

Collin has held leadership roles at state-wide and community-based non-profit organizations partnering with communities and schools to improve child, student, youth, family, and community outcomes. In those roles, he led cross-functional teams to support capacity-building within organizations that implement evidence-based practices and programs (including human resources, professional learning and coaching systems, research and evaluation, partnership, and fundraising). Knowing that clients cannot benefit from what they don’t receive with fidelity, his career has focused on building and aligning high-impact organizational structures that support practitioners to implement programs and practices as intended.

Collin completed his doctorate in Education Evaluation and Policy Analysis at North Carolina State University. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Durham Partnership for Children, where he co-chairs the kindergarten readiness committee, and Board of Trustees of the Wade Edwards Learning Lab (WELL).