Opening Plenary Session: Learning from the Life and Legacy of Ricardo Millett: Mentor, Scholar, Field Builder

This year’s AEA’s annual meeting theme, Amplifying and Empowering Voices in Evaluation, is focused on bringing together evaluators, new and experienced, to develop a closer bond with one another for the good of the field. This theme provides the ideal context to honor Dr. Ricardo Millett, who sadly passed away late last year. Dr. Millett focused his professional life on creating community in our field, and in so doing, shaped the careers of evaluators and practitioners of color who were often unseen or had not yet found their place in AEA or the broader field of evaluation. His life and work exemplify the goal of bringing newer and more experienced evaluators together, and we are humbled by the opportunity to share his legacy with a broad audience.

This panel seeks to honor Dr. Millett by presenting stories about how his mentorship, support, and leadership impacted evaluators of color in the non-profit, philanthropic, and private sectors as well as the American Evaluation Association. We hope the audience leaves the session with actionable steps and meaningful insights that inspire reflection on their current practices and ways to enhance them.

Overflow seating available in Portland Ballroom 251.