As many of you know, we’ve been expanding our team of researchers at Slover Linett, and I’m delighted to report that we’ve found a truly exceptional new colleague — Eddie Chong. Eddie has deep experience in research and data visualization, roots in the museum world, and experience doing community-embedded work (through an Americorps placement with the Chinese Mutual Aid Association here in Chicago).

Eddie joined us earlier this month and jumped right into his role, contributing to our analysis and reporting for longtime clients like the Minnesota Orchestra and Chicago History Museum as well as special projects with the Boston Public Library and a consortium of classical music radio stations.

In an early conversation about this position, Eddie shared that his passion for equity work in cultural organizations stems from experiences of not feeling welcome in some spaces as an Asian American. This role at Slover Linett was compelling to him because it offers a path to helping cultural institutions become more accessible and reflective of the diversity of their communities.

Eddie holds a masters in civic analytics from the University of Illinois at Chicago — a new area of study that combines data science and public policy. Eddie also earned bachelor’s degrees in anthropology and sociology from Loyola University. He’s been on the front lines of museum education and evaluation in Chicago through work with the Museum of Science & Industry, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, and Jane Addams Hull-House Museum. Eddie’s particularly interested in the ways that research can be leveraged to build experiences of welcome and relevance for communities who are underserved by many cultural institutions.

You can read more about Eddie here. We’re excited to be working with him starting in this holiday season, and I’d love for you to join me in extending him a warm welcome — email him here.

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Top photo:  Eddie Chong, second from right, joined Slover Linett just in time for our 2022 holiday party at the office…which involved some serious crafting as well as carousing. Others pictured, from left: Camila Guerrero, Melody Buyukozer Dawkins, Tanya Treptow, and Bayaz Zeynalova.