Deborah Jonas leads the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service’s Research Collaborative, a team specializing in survey design and administration, economic and policy studies, and demographics, among other fields. Jonas is a consultant with advanced training in cognitive science research methodologies and has more than 20 years of experience leading significant research programs and effective teams. She values taking multidisciplinary approaches to meeting public-sector needs. For six years prior to joining Weldon Cooper, Jonas led the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Appalachia, serving Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Prior to REL Appalachia, she served as the executive director for research and strategic planning at the Virginia Department of Education. Jonas earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, a master’s degree in experimental psychology from Lehigh University, and a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Duke University. She has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and presented to national conferences and audiences in a variety of disciplines.