Keith Trahan, PhD, is a visiting assistant professor of practice in the Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy, where he teaches numerous courses in the Doctor of Education program.
Dr. Trahan serves as director of the Collaborative for Evaluation and Assessment Capacity (CEAC), a field-based initiative in the School Leadership Program. His research focuses on management and implementation of evaluation and research protocols. Since its founding in 2016, CEAC has worked with numerous organizations within the School of Education, the University, and the communities of Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania. CEAC helps educators, schools, and organizations build their capacity to gather and utilize evidence to better serve their communities.
Through this work, CEAC provides developmental experiences for School of Education students; helps educators and their organizations learn through evaluation and inquiry processes, utilizing findings to improve their programs, processes, and systems; and serves communities by fostering program, school, and organizational improvement for social betterment.
Dr. Trahan has chaired and served on EdD dissertation in practice committees. His teaching has recently focused in the methods realm, primarily on approaches, strategies, and practices in qualitative and quantitative research. Dr. Trahan also advises several students in the School of Education’s EdD program, both in the Education Policy and Social Change and Education Leadership majors.
Dr. Trahan graduated with his PhD in Administrative Policy Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. He received his Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Government from McNeese State University, and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Social Studies Education from Charleston Southern University.
Department of Education Foundations, Organizations, and Policy
Education Policy and Social Change program
Courses Taught:
- EFOP 3201: Introduction to Educational Evaluation
- EDUC 3007: Practitioner Inquiry III
- EDUC 3008: Practitioner Inquiry IV
- ADMPS 3088: Competent Knowledge Management and Utilization ADMPS 2105: Leadership for Change
- EDUC 2100: Education and Society
Program evaluation; Evaluation Utilization and Capacity Building
Continuous Improvement, Improvement Science, and Learning Management
STEM teaching and learning (PK-graduate level)
Making, STEAM, and digital fabrication teaching and learning
Community College advanced technology programs, apprenticeships, and industry partnerships
Out of school time / after school teaching and learning
Moonshot Museum’s Cosmic Careers: From the Earth to the Moon (Program Evaluation), NASA TEAM II, $66,000
Community College of Allegheny County”s Strengthening Technical Apprenticeships through Regional Coordination (Program Evaluation), NSF-ATE, $90,000
Allegheny Intermediate Unit – Math Science Collaborative’s Storytime STEMpacks+C (Program Evaluation), PAsmart/PDE, $40,000
21st Century Community Learning Center Grants (Program Evaluation); Propel Charter Schools, McKeesport Area School District, and Provident Charter Schools; PDE; $94,000
Gismondi Neighborhood Education Programs (Program Evaluation), Gismondi Foundation, $20,000
- Eastern Evaluation Research Society, Board Member 2015-present
- Strategic Planning Sub- Committee Co-Chair 2022-present
- CCAC Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Board, 2019-present
- Racial Equity Consciousness Institute (Filming), Center for Race and Social Problems, University of Pittsburgh, 2023