Blake Urbach, M.S., is the Principal Consultant of Preferred Program Evaluations, a consulting firm offering specialized experience in the evaluation of state and federally funded grants. She has been conducting participatory program evaluations and social science research for the past 18 years. Blake has partnered with community colleges, universities, and public school districts on initiatives designed to increase academic scholarship and persistence, as well as enrichment projects that employ a holistic approach to educational and personal development. She has carried out numerous single- and multi-year evaluations -- from local projects to national priorities -- for the purpose of informing educational and social policy. In addition to serving as the lead evaluator for Preferred Program Evaluations, Blake has provided technical assistance and strategic planning services to Central Florida non-profits, authored multiple peer-reviewed academic publications, and presented nationally on topics related to community collaboration. She has taught as an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies at the University of Central Florida (UCF), is a Charter Member of the Institutional Review Board of Valencia College, and a member of the American Evaluation Association (AEA).
In preparation for campus-wide e-text adoption, Daytona State College completed a two-year comparative study of four textbook distribution models: print purchase, print rental, e-text rental, and e-text rental with e-reader device.