About Lara Smith

Co-Founder, IEX | External Evaluator | NSF Peer Reviewer| Federal Funding Expert | Grant Evaluation Section Specialist

Lara Smith is an experienced external evaluator with nearly two decades of experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of higher education and workforce development grants funded by NSF and the U.S. Department of Education. She specializes in helping community colleges, federal grant recipients, and technical education programs translate complex evaluation requirements into practical, actionable insights that strengthen student outcomes, institutional effectiveness, and proposal and reporting alignment.

Lara has served as an external evaluator, internal evaluator, project director, and Co-PI on NSF and U.S. Department of Education grants. Her evaluation work integrates qualitative and quantitative methods, logic models, and stakeholder feedback to support rigorous, improvement-focused practice. In 2023, she earned a Master of Science in Measurement and Evaluation from American University, part of the program’s inaugural cohort. She also holds Bronze Certification in Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Evaluation.

Lara’s evaluation work is rooted in clarity, collaboration, and accountability. She designs systems that help projects engage stakeholders, measure what matters, and demonstrate meaningful impact. From designing surveys and analyzing trends to producing polished final reports, Lara helps colleges and grant-funded teams use data to make informed decisions—not just fulfill reporting requirements. Since 2009, she has served as a peer reviewer for National Science Foundation programs including ATE, HSI, and S-STEM. In 2018, she was named an inaugural member of the NSF College of Reviewers for Undergraduate Education—bringing insider knowledge of how evaluation plans are assessed during proposal review.

She has developed and written dozens of successful grant applications, and annually oversees more than $42 million in active grant funding. Lara brings a real-world understanding of pre- and post-award realities, emphasizing the importance of data for grant success, sustainability, and renewal.

Whether you’re launching a new initiative, fulfilling grant requirements, or seeking insights to improve retention and completion, Lara provides:

Logic model and evaluation plan development

Formative and summative evaluation services

Stakeholder interviews, surveys, and data analysis

Final reports aligned to funder requirements (NSF, Department of Education, Title V, etc.)

Action-oriented recommendations and collaborative feedback loops

Lara has evaluated grant programs across multiple domains, including STEM pathways, curriculum development, guided pathways, student services, and workforce-aligned learning. She is known for her ability to synthesize data and findings into clear, actionable reports that support ongoing program improvement and grant accountability.

In addition to serving as an external evaluator, Lara supports institutions in developing strong, NSF-aligned evaluation sections for competitive proposals.

Developing evaluation plans and logic models for NSF and federal proposals

Aligning evaluation design with funding priorities and review criteria

Preparing evaluation narratives and measurable outcome frameworks

Advising on post-award evaluation structure and compliance

Lara’s leadership has helped institutions secure millions in funding—including a perfect score on a Title V Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions grant proposal.

Lara earned a Master of Science degree in Measurement and Evaluation from American University—as part of the program’s inaugural cohort in the first graduate program of its kind in the nation. She also holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Global Business from Arizona State University and an Associate of Arts degree from Glendale Community College, where she began her education as a low-income, first-generation community college student receiving Pell Grants. This lived experience fuels her deep commitment to improving access, persistence, and success for students in community colleges nationwide.

“The Critical Issues and Best Practices Forum”

“ATE Resources for Creating a Successful Dissemination Plan to Achieve Your Broader Impact Goals”

"What You Should Expect from Your Evaluator: Promising Practical Practices”

“National Science Foundation Forum on Technological Education”

“How to Find and Apply for Grant Funding” GateWay Community College, Phoenix, AZ

“Grants 101” Maricopa County Community College District, Phoenix, AZ

L. Smith, "What Grant Writers Need to Know about Evaluation" [EvaluATE Blog post].

L. Smith, “What Grant Writers Need to Know about Evaluation,” EvaluATE Conduit

L. Smith, M. Patton, “Advanced Technological Education Centers Build Career Pathways with Industry and Education Partners” National Career Pathways Network Connections

High Impact Technology Exchange Conferences (HI-TEC) 

© Higher Ed: Impact & Evaluation Experts (IEX) 2026