AARON D. SCHROEDER, PH.D.
 The entirely too-many activities of Aaron David Schroeder, Epistimologist, Methodologist, Technologist, Musicologist,
 Research Scientist, Coach[ologist], Dad[ologist], Husband (amateur), Fisherman (rank amateur)
Education, Specializations & Training
Education
Virginia Tech UniversityPublic Policy & AdministrationPh.D., 2001
James Madison UniversityPublic AdministrationM.P.A., 1993
University of DelawarePsychologyB.A., 1991
Specializations
EvaluationInformation Technology
Research DesignInformation Policy
Methods of Data CollectionData Management and Integration
Quantitative and Qualitative Data AnalysisWeb-Enabled Public Services
Policy & Implementation Network Analysis
Additional Specialized Training
SAS JMP Regression & ANOVA
Group Facilitation, Focus Groups, & Nominal Groups
Cisco Network Administration
Microsoft Server Administration
Microsoft SQL Server Programming (T-SQL)
Oracle Database Programming (PL/SQL)
ASP.NET Web Development (C#)
JavaEE Multi-Tier Programming (Java, JPA, JSF, Facelets)
Advanced Adobe Photoshop
Advanced Cold Fusion: Fusebox
Research & Leadership Positions
Virginia Tech Institute for Policy & Governance (VTIPG)
Public Policy Information Integration and Informatics Scientist2010-Present
Leads a multidisciplinary research program dedicated to conducting policy analyses and program evaluation using the techniques, methods, and theories related to the integration, storage, retrieval, sharing, and optimal use of policy relevant data, information and knowledge. Demonstrates a high level of influence and reputation among Virginia state agencies dealing with issues of information integration and informatics, as well as experience with the integration of information technology research to support these communities. Possesses a deep knowledge and understanding of issues and opportunities related to state and national research priorities of relevance to the Institute’s research and outreach priorities. Initial focus of the position is development and oversight of a portfolio of projects involving the integration and analysis of education, health, social service and non-profit administrative data streams for the purpose of conducting policy analyses and program evaluations impacting a wide range of constituents including: pre-K child social and health service recipients; child care service operators; primary, secondary, post-secondary and adult education service recipients; state workforce training service recipients; and, U.S. Veteran health and social service recipients. Clients include local, state, federal and non-profit agency leaders and policymakers. Ensures high quality and robust research program with outstanding programmatic and technical credentials.
Virginia Tech Institute for Policy & Governance (VTIPG)
Research Scientist2008-2010
Responsible for planning, securing and executing major research projects focused on the techniques, methods, and theories related to the integration, storage, retrieval, sharing, and optimal use of policy-relevant data, information, and knowledge for the purposes of policy analysis and program evaluation. A particular focus has been on the integration and analysis of education, health, social service and non-profit administrative data streams for the purpose of conducting policy analyses and program evaluations impacting a wide range of constituents including: pre-K child social and health service recipients; child care service operators; primary, secondary, post-secondary and adult education service recipients; state workforce training service recipients; and, U.S. Veteran health and social service recipients. Continuing, high-profile projects in the Commonwealth of Virginia are the USHHS-funded Project Child HANDS and the USED-funded Statewide Longitudinal Data System.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI)
Director, Center for Technology Deployment2004-2006
Director of the first research center within the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and, by itself, the fifth largest research center at Virginia Tech. The director is responsible for managing approximately 20 research projects/year, 20 full-time and part-time staff members, 8 graduate students, and approximately $2 million/year in research expenditures. Comprised of technology and management professionals, the mission of the Center for Technology Deployment is to “invent, deploy, and evaluate” prototype Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies for use by state departments of transportation. The invention aspect of the center's mission includes extensive work with information technologies and their application to Advanced Traveler Information Systems and Advanced Traffic Management Systems. The deployment aspect of the center’s mission includes extensive work in building partnerships with both public and private agencies to produce ‘live’ demonstration projects. The evaluation aspect of the center’s mission involves the application of both managerial and technical evaluation tools to establish the likelihood of an inventions deployment into real-time environments.
Leader, Information Applications Group2002-2004
The mission of the Information Applications Program was to utilize information technology and inter-institutional (e.g. public-private) partnerships to develop and deploy new or enhanced public services. Responsibilities include the management of existing program development and deployment projects, procurement of all program funding, management of program relationships with private and public-sector personnel and political representatives, and coordinating with other Institute research programs. The Information Applications Group was founded in 1998 and has quickly grown to become the second largest research group at the Institute. Statistics as of 2002 for the center were: over $3 million in committed contract funding, 20 staff members (programmers, policy analysts, marketing analysts, lawyers, project managers), 4 associated Virginia Tech faculty members, and 11 graduate research assistants (representing Systems Engineering, Public Administration, Computer Science, and Marketing).
Senior Research Associate1998-2002
Served on numerous research teams taking responsibility for necessary policy analyses, stakeholder facilitations, and development of applicable IT solutions. Served as principal investigator, co-principal investigator, or researcher on numerous projects.
National Academy of Public Administration
Research Associate, Standing Panel on Executive Organization and Management1995-1996
Served as the Assistant to the Director of a National Academy of Public Administration study focusing on the relationship of the National Guard to public, non-profit, and private agencies in natural disaster response and recovery.
Teaching Positions
Virginia Tech Center for Public Administration and Policy (CPAP)
Visiting Assistant Professor2007-Present
Courses:
  • Research Methods
  • Public Policy and Program Evaluation
  • Government Administration: Applied Technologies
Assistant Research Professor (joint appointment with VTTI)2002-2004
Courses:
  • Research Methods and Statistics
  • Internet, Database and Administrative Technologies
Adjunct Instructor1994-2001
Courses:
  • Statistical Methods
  • Computer Business Applications
  • Internet and Database Technologies
  • Public Budgeting
  • Policy Network Analysis
Elon University Department of Political Science and Public Administration
Adjunct Instructor1995-1996
Courses:
  • Public Administration
  • Policy Analysis
Honors, Awards, Recognition
Virginia Early Childhood Advisory Council(2010) Invited to present to the Virginia Governor's Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) on the status of and approach being employed in Project Child HANDS. The ECAC is chaired by the Secretary of Education, co-chaired by the President of the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, and is comprised of the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Finance, the Governor’s Director of Policy, and many other high-ranking state officials.
National Institute of Statistical Sciences Workshop (2009) Invited to present on methods of public-sector data integration and issues created by federal and state privacy laws to a workshop on Research Use of State Longitudinal Data Systems sponsored by the National Institute of Statistical Sciences (NISS) , the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).
National Press Club(2008) Invited to present the findings from a recent study analyzing the relative costs associated with intergeneration day care facilities vs. traditional operations.
Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference(2003) Invited speaker to the Florida Department of Transportation Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference. Lectured on potential benefits of an 802.11 wireless communications backbone to operate the nation’s freeway assets
Technology and Public Administration Conference(2000) Invited by Univeristy of LaVerne to lead two day workshop on the concepts of stakeholder analysis and management, public-private partnerships, and political-economic analysis for the purpose of Information Technology development and implementation in the public sector.
Virginia Transportation Conference(1999 & 2000) Invited to speak on topics of public-private partnerships and information technology deployment in rural areas.
Advanced Traveler Information Systems (2000) Invited speaker on Advanced Traveler Information Systems in Rural Areas, sponsored by the Intelligent Transportation Society of Virginia.
Association of State Governments(1999) Nominated by the Association of State Governments for Award in Innovation in State Government for the design, development and deployment of Travel Shenandoah, a public-private partnership for Advanced Traveler Information Systems in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.
Member, Congressional Commission(1999) Appointes as a Member, Congressional Commission on I-81 Truck Safety.
Eno Transportation Fellow(1997) Eno Transportation Fellow and graduate of Eno Transportation Foundation Leadership Development Program.
Guest Editor(1997) Invited Guest Editor, Administration & Society.
Computer Applications & Programming Skills
Applications
SAS, SPSS, SAS-JMP, Visual Studio, Net Beans, ACCESS, EXCEL, SQL Server, Oracle, Atlas GIS, Photoshop, Premiere, Director, many more...
Languages
C#, ASP.NET, Java, JavaEE, SQL, Cold Fusion, Javascript, Visual Basic, XHTML/CSS (Certified Webmaster)
Professional Society Memberships
Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society
Pi Alpha Alpha National Public Administration Honor Society
American Society for Public Administration
Intelligent Transportation Society of America
Intelligent Transportation Society of Virginia
Community Service
President, Board Member, House Commissioner, Director of Business Operations, and Coach New River United Soccer Association 2004-Present
Head Coach and Assistant Coach Blacksburg AAU Basketball 2006-Present
Head Coach and Assistant Coach Blacksburg Baseball Association 2005-2007
Vice President and Photographer Village at Tom’s Creek Home Owners Association 2000-Present