MAIP Research Team

When you work with the Heartland Alliance Mid-America Institute on Poverty (MAIP), your project will benefit from our collaborative approach that leverages the experience and skills of each team member to create the highest quality product. MAIP staff are not only skilled in the various technical aspects of research and evaluations, but also have proven success in communicating findings using media, briefing, and Web strategies.

Amy Rynell, Director

Amy has worked for Heartland Alliance since 1997 and oversees the Heartland Alliance Mid-America Institute on Poverty's research activities. She serves as spokesperson on poverty issues, coordinates the Regional Roundtable on Homelessness of Northeastern Illinois, and directs the National Transitional Jobs Network. Amy has worked on a variety of research projects, including: an evaluation of permanent supportive housing in the state of Illinois; an evaluation of DuPage County's Plan to End Homelessness; an inventory of public housing and housing choice vouchers capacity and waiting lists in Illinois; and studies of unemployed adults with multiple employment barriers. Amy has an AM from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.

Amy Terpstra, Senior Research Analyst

For the last 3 years, Amy has conducted research for and jointly authored the Heartland Alliance Mid-America Institute on Poverty's annual Report on Illinois Poverty. Amy analyzes data sets including Census Bureau, economic, health, and human services data to discern trends on poverty, income, and housing-related issues. She also tracks state and county data for multiple indicators of poverty and coordinates external poverty-related data requests from nonprofit organizations, government agencies, elected officials, and media outlets to assist groups in using data to best inform their policy work, service delivery structure, and tracking systems. She is currently conducting a needs assessment of affordable housing in McHenry County, Illinois. Amy has a MSW from Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Alyssa Nogaski, Research Analyst

Alyssa has worked on a number of evaluations and needs assessments in her time at MAIP. She is currently working on an evaluation of permanent supportive housing in the state of Illinois that compares public service utilization of residents before and after placement into supportive housing. She is also conducting an affordable housing needs assessment for McHenry County, Illinois. Alyssa is skilled at database management, interviewing research participants, and efficient coordination of projects. Alyssa received her MSW from Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Andrew Roberts, Research Assistant

Andrew is working on a project to develop awareness around the concept of asset building as a means of alleviating poverty. He has also developed a data book on economic trends for women. Andrew is a second year graduate student at the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Jean Lam, Program Coordinator

Jean provides clerical, administrative, and various programmatic support to MAIP. Jean joined Heartland Alliance in 2002 as Administrative Assistant. Her previous experience includes database maintenance and information services support.