History of OBRE

OBRE's History

In 2000, David Saarnio, Ph.D., a professor of psychology, started an evaluation/research office that was funded by a Federal Safe Schools Healthy Students (SSHS) grant awarded to all of the school districts in Jonesboro (Jonesboro, Nettleton, Valley View, and Westside). A major goal of the office was to provide research and program evaluation experiences to students. 

During the course of the SSHS evaluation project, the office contracted with other organizations in the community to provide evaluation services (e.g., for a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant to Westside School District).  There was a clear need to create an official entity to promote and continue the efforts of the office. Therefore, in 2005, the Office of Behavioral Research & Evaluation (OBRE) was officially formed as an interdisciplinary center for research and evaluation. OBRE is co-directed by Saarnio and Christy Brinkley, Ed.S., a graduate of both the research office and the School Psychology program at ASU.