Sarah “Cori” Elsesser

Cell: (630) 624 – 5026 640 Marston Avenue

s.cori.elsesser@gmail.com Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

EDUCATION
Northern Illinois University (NIU) – DeKalb, IL
Anticipated graduation: May 2020
Master of Science, Educational Research and Evaluation
Certification of Graduate Studies in Advanced Quantitative Methods
Certification of Graduate Studies in Advanced Qualitative Methods
GPA 4.0/4.0 – as of March 11, 2020

North Central College (NCC) – Naperville, IL

Bachelor of Arts, Anthropology, Summa Cum Laude
Minors – Psychology, Environmental Studies, and Global Studies
GPA 3.9/4.0

College of DuPage (COD) – Glen Ellyn, IL

Associates of Arts

WORK EXPERIENCE
Hallmark Gold Crown Store – Sales Associate – Lombard, IL – June 2019 – present

Morton Arboretum – Data Collection Contractor – Lisle, IL – October 2018

Collected evaluation surveys on the Morton Arboretum’s “Troll Hunt” exhibit.

Chicago Zoological Society – Audience Research Assistant 2 – Brookfield, IL – Sumer 2018

Helped run an experiment in partnership with the Animal Welfare Research department about benefits of
seeing a live animal versus seeing or hearing a recording of an animal. Contributed to a team project on
interviewing Millennials about why they visit the zoo in connection to their values. Mentored new team
members. Helped the research team collect surveys. Created databases in Microsoft Access, created code
books, entered data into Microsoft Access, coded data in Excel, and analyzed data using SPSS.

Pick Museum of Anthropology – Guest Services – DeKalb, IL –Winter/Spring 2018

Managed the main desk in the museum. Answered guests’ questions related to the museum and the
exhibit. Collected exhibit evaluation surveys.

Chicago Zoological Society – Audience Research Assistant 2 – Brookfield, IL – Summer 2017

Mentored new team members. Helped the research team collect surveys. Created databases in Microsoft
Access, created code books, entered data into Microsoft Access, coded data in Excel, and analyzed data
using SPSS. Created a Microsoft Access database for Human Resources’ New Hire Orientation and
Safety evaluations including a system of interrelated tables, forms, queries, and reports. Created a “How
To” guide for creating a Microsoft Access database.

Morton Arboretum – Seasonal Sales Associate – Lisle, IL – Fall 2016/Winter 2017

Responsible for register operation including opening and closing the register, customer service, and
preliminary annual inventory.
 Sarah “Cori” Elsesser

Chicago Zoological Society – Audience Research Assistant 2 – Brookfield, IL – Summer 2016

Helped the research team collect surveys and conduct interviews. Created databases in Microsoft Access,
created code books, entered data into Microsoft Access, coded data in Excel, and analyzed data using
SPSS. Gathered questions for a new survey. Analyzed data and created a presentation for an independent
research project.

Chicago Zoological Society – Audience Research Assistant 2 – Brookfield, IL – Summer 2015

Mentored new Audience Research Assistants. Helped the research team collect surveys, conduct
interviews, and use iPads for tracking surveys. Created databases in Microsoft Access, entered data into
Microsoft Access, coded data in Excel, and analyzed data using SPSS.

Chicago Zoological Society – Audience Research Intern– Brookfield, IL – Summer 2014

Completed and presented an independent research project focusing on parents versus children’s desires of
what to visit while at Brookfield Zoo compared to what families actually did while visiting. Created
surveys, collected surveys, conducted interviews, created databases in Microsoft Access, entered data into
Microsoft Access, coded data, and used SPSS.

FIELD RESEARCH
Northern Illinois University – Program Evaluation Assistant – DeKalb, IL – December 2019
Project: BELONG in STEM Evaluation
Coding open-ended survey questions for the NSF funded BELONG in STEM program at NIU and writing
corresponding sections of the evaluation report.

John G. Shedd Aquarium – Evaluation Intern – Chicago, IL – Winter/Spring 2019

Main Project: Learning Labs Evaluation
Conducted and analyzed formative observations of field trip Learning Labs. Wrote a report with
recommendations for next steps. Based on recommendations, developed a systematic observation
instrument and sampling plan. Collected, analyzed, and reported to stakeholders on systematic
observation data with recommendations.

Pick Museum of Anthropology at NIU – Evaluation Independent Study – DeKalb, IL – 2017 – 2018
Projects: Northern Illinois University Student Surveys and Exhibit Evaluations
 Student Surveys – Created and collected intercept surveys of Northern Illinois University
students. Surveys gauged students’ behavior, attitudes, and knowledge regarding the Pick
Museum. Analyzed the surveys in Microsoft Access and created a report for staff.
 Exhibit Evaluations – Created evaluation surveys and associated Microsoft Access databases with
interrelated tables, forms, queries, and reports for three exhibits. Created final reports for the
evaluations.

North Central College – Research Practicum in Psychology – Naperville, IL – Winter 2014

Project: Continuing research at DuPage Children’s Museum
Conducted observations at DuPage Children’s Museum using three different research tools in two
different areas and analyzing the data by coding with Excel.

Czech American Archaeology and Bioarcheology Field School – Pohansko, Czech Republic –
Summer 2013
Project: Continuing research at Great Moravian Empire archeological site
 Field Archaeology – test pits, excavation, shovel skimming, screening, wall profiles, planview
drawings, processing and cleaning artifacts.
 Bioarcheology – examined and analyzed human skeletal remains from the 9 th century CE.
 Sarah “Cori” Elsesser

ACADEMIC RESEARCH
“Pathways to Museum Careers: Describing Museum Studies Students’ Experiences”
Created an interview protocol, conducted and transcribed four interviews, coded the interviews, wrote a
report, and presented the findings. Focused on museum study certificate students’ experiences that
brought them to the museum field.

“The Morton Arboretum Education Department: A Case Study Evaluation”

Conducted two observations and one interview as well as collected educational materials, Analyzed and
triangulated different types of data to evaluate the Morton Arboretum’s education department.

“Quality of Museum Visits: Using Qualitative E-Interviews and NVivo to Enrich Previous Data”
Expanded upon previous interviews by adding four rounds of e-interviews. Analyzed new and old data in
NVivo utilizing query and visualization tools. Incorporated theoretical literature in final model on quality
of museum visits.

“Teachers’ Agendas for Annual Field Trip: A Case Study”

Created three interview guides, interviewed three participating teachers three times each, and observed
two of the teachers on their annual field trip to the Field Museum. Coded and triangulated data. Utilized
literature on museum visitors and teachers’ agendas on field trips in the final report and presentation.

“Educational Theory and Sunday School: A Look into First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn”
Created an interview protocol, conducted four interviews, coded the interviews, and wrote a report. Based
the research on Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences and the banking method.

“Committee Capital”
Observed a committee meeting and conducted three follow up interviews with a standard interview
protocol. Wrote memos on data, transcribed interviews, and coded both sets of data. Wrote a report and
gave a presentation. Based the research on Bourdieu’s different types of capital, theories of volunteer
organizations, and theories of groups.

DATA ANALYSIS
“Predicting the Public’s Opinion on Science After Demonstrations through Ordinal Regression”
Utilized a large secondary data set to conduct ordinal regression in R.

“Chaperone Roles During Field Trips And Roles of Field Trips from Teachers’ Perspectives”
Analyzed previous qualitative data utilizing grounded theory coding techniques and role theory literature.

“Predicting Opinions about Wind Turbines through SEM”

Utilized a large secondary data set to conduct a structural equation model (SEM) in R.

“Connotation of ‘Fracking’ as Predicted by Opinions on the Effects of Economy, Public Health,

and the Environment”
Utilized a large secondary data set to conduct logistic regression analyses in SPSS.

“Religious Affiliation and Beliefs about the Occurrence and Cause of Global Warming”
Utilized a large secondary data set to conduct a chi-square test of independence in SPSS.
 Sarah “Cori” Elsesser

PRESENTATIONS
“Quality of Museum Visits: Using Qualitative E-Interviews and NVivo to Enrich Previous Data”
Presented at Qualitative Inquiry Conference, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

“Qualitative Interviewing: A Discussion of Possibilities and Challenges from In-progress Projects”

Presented at Qualitative Inquiry Conference, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

“Contemporary Polynesian Health: A Spotlight on Maoris and Native Hawaiians”

Presented at Globalization: A Colloquium, North Central College, Naperville, IL

COMPUTER KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Statistical Packages – SPSS and R
Qualitative Analysis Packages – NVivo 12
Survey Platforms – Qualtrics
General Computer Skills – Microsoft Office including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access

HONORS AND AWARDS

Summa Cum Laude
Nominated for “Outstanding Sociology and Anthropology Student”
Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society
Lambda Alpha Anthropology Honor Society
Ellen Johnson Memorial Scholarship in Anthropology

EXPERIENCE ABROAD
Study Abroad in Costa Rica – COSI – Máximo Nivel – Manuel Antonio and San José, Costa Rica
 Intensive Spanish Courses – one-on-one Spanish classes with native Spanish speakers for ten
weeks, emersion through living with host families for fifteen weeks, better understanding of Latin
American Hispanic culture.
 Service Learning – volunteered at Parque la Liberdad, a regional park with programs in social,
economic, and environmental sustainability, helped work with the trees around the park and in
the nursery.

Czech American Archaeology and Bioarcheology Field School

See Research Experience Above.

Service Trip to Guatemala – Common Hope – Antigua, Guatemala

House building, helped in a preschool, went on a social work home visit, sorted food, and repaired
equipment.

TEACHING AND OTHER ECUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Educational Materials for Museum Exhibit Creation (Project) – NIU – DeKalb, IL
Created formal, non-formal, and informal educational materials for the “‘We want pens and notebooks,
not violence.’ The University of Tetova and the Struggle for Educational Equity in Macedonia” exhibit at
The Blackwell History of Education Museum at Northern Illinois University. The assignment included
developing a mission statement for the museum as well as creating the three types of materials and
associated evaluation protocols.

Mexico and Its Neighbors (SOA 363) Preceptor – NCC – Naperville, IL

Taught two lessons, met with students to discuss research projects, wrote study guides, and held study
sessions for exams.
 Sarah “Cori” Elsesser

OTHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS/VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

2006 – Present Education Bulletin Board Designer– First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn
2005 – Present Christmas Gift Appeal Team Member – First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn
2015 – 2016 Conscious Bean Coffee Project Manager – North Central College Chapter of Enactus
2010 –2013 Volunteer Sales Associate – Ten Thousand Villages in Glen Ellyn
2009 – 2010 Education Committee Youth Liaison – First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn