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Hi. I’m Kirsten (KER-stin) or Dr. Hill if you prefer.
Stilettos, shorts, sweet jackets, large dog in tow, frequent references to Taylor Swift lyrics. Forget everything you think you know about researchers.
I have a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, and I’ve worked on everything from randomized control trials to designing alternative teacher education programs to leading the development of Philadelphia’s citywide surveys to measure alternative indicators of success in schools.
I’m the author of Ask Better Questions, host of the Is This Legit? podcast, and it's my life's work to make research accessible to everyone.
Traditional research expertise is a tool; leveraging it creatively, for good, is my superpower.
I’m not a big consulting firm, and I like that.
To me — research is personal and collaborative. It’s a conversation. It’s a relationship. It’s not a one-size-fits-all thing that I just pull off the shelf and hand you. You, your goals, and your values matter to me — and they’ll shape our work together.
I consider myself a classically trained researcher: a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, randomized control trials, quasi-experimental designs — I’ve done it all. (You can peep my scholarly publications here). I value tradition and expertise, so I learned the “gold standards” in research.
But my experiences taught me something else: we don’t always need gold. Sometimes we need something more practical, flexible, and accessible — we need aluminum.
Research is a journey — I’ll keep us on track, hand you snacks, and make sure we actually get where you want to go.
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I thrive on simplicity and pride myself on being the most approachable and realistic research partner you’ll ever meet.
I make rigorous research feel simple, actionable, and meaningful to YOU. I won’t talk your ear off about p-values or hand you some dusty survey from the ‘80s just because it's "validated." With me, there’s no one-size-fits-all plan — just useful, real-world insights you can actually use.
I think better when I make things — and that creativity shapes how I work. Sketching my own stickers and packing tape? Check. Editing my podcast and videos? Yep. Building a survey app? I’m on my third. I like being hands-on, and that mindset helps me design tools that are as human as they are helpful.
I’ve partnered with nonprofits, school districts, foundations, and startups — conducting randomized control trials, designing tools for social change, and leading projects across a range of sectors and methodologies.
I’ve helped organizations secure millions in grant funding, supported long-term strategic growth, and led impactful studies — from national professional learning partnerships to district-wide and organization-specific evaluations.
