PAEA Hires First Research Staff Member as Association Develops Research Infrastructure

Mei Liang, MS, will become the first PAEA staff member dedicated to research when she assumes the position of assistant director, data and research, on April 16. Liang’s position was approved by the PAEA Board of Directors in February, as part of the Association’s developing research infrastructure.

Liang's previous position was as a senior research analyst for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), within the economics group. In that capacity she has primary responsibility for survey research, including data collection and statistical and economic analyses. She has also written and produced industry reports, including the Housing Market Index and Remodeling Market Index. Liang graduated from Texas A&M University, with an MS in agricultural economics, and also holds a BS in international economics from the Second Foreign Language Institute in Beijing, China.

Having a dedicated research staffer will allow the Association to centralize many of the data collection and analysis functions that are currently outsourced, as well as to further develop its research capacity and ability to make decisions based on data. Specific responsibilities of the new position will include Annual Report data collection and analysis (scheduled to be brought in-house beginning in 2008), annual analysis of the CASPA data, monitoring and reporting trends of interest to the PA education community, and implementation of policies related to the use of Association data. Liang will also provide support and expertise to the PAEA Data and Research Workgroup and to the Research Institute.

Liang will report to Steven Lane, who was recently promoted to the position of associate executive director. For the past two years Lane has served as PAEA director of communications and information services and as managing editor of the Journal of Physician Assistant Education, a position he will retain. After reviewing PAEA’s plans for increasing services, staff time allocations, and finances, the board approved the appointment. Lane will have increased responsibility for the overall direction and operations of the Association. He will work with the leadership and PAEA executive director Timi Agar Barwick in implementing the strategic plan and revising and implementing the business plan. In addition, he will work with Liang on the development and implementation of the research agenda, assuring that the Association’s data and research efforts, from collection through dissemination, are institutionalized as a significant and ongoing function of the Association.

Liang will join PAEA staff members Timi Agar Barwick, executive director; Lane; Geraldene Darden, assistant director, marketing; Eileen Evans, manager, member communications; Sam Kang, manager, education programs; Jennifer Jarmin, coordinator, meetings; and Jonna Holden, administrative assistant. Future issues of PAEA Networker will highlight the activities of different staff members, to help familiarize members with who does what.