Marvin C. Alkin

Hello. I’m Marv Alkin, a Professor Emeritus at UCLA. I am an academic but in my writing I try not to act like one. At heart, I am an educator and I believe that writing has to communicate in language that can connect with readers. My latest book, Evaluation Essentials: From A to Z, 2nd Edition is written as a conversation with you, the potential reader.

Let me tell you what I have been doing with my life. I got my doctorate from Stanford University in 1964 and I’ve been on the faculty of the University of California Los Angeles since then as a member of the Social Research Methodology Division of the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. During that time, I have held administrative assignments as Chair of my Division, Chair of the Department, and Associate Dean of the School. I have also been the editor of major journals in the evaluation field. I am only one of two people who have been honored by the American Evaluation Association with its two major awards. In 1996, I received the Paul F. Lazarsfeld Award for Lifelong Contributions to Evaluation Theory. And, in 2016 I received the Association’s Research on Evaluation Award. In addition to my new book, Evaluation Essentials: From A to Z, 2nd Edition, I have written or edited some others: Evaluation Roots: Tracing Theorists’ View and Influences, Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Sixth Edition, Debates on Evaluation, The Costs of Evaluation, Using Evaluations: Does Evaluation Make a Difference? If you have opportunity, read one of my other books, I hope you find it beneficial, enjoy my writing and learn from it.