Margaret Camarena, Ph.D., Director

Phone: (757) 683-3631 / E-mail: Mcamaren@odu.edu
Dr. Camarena holds a BA in Humanties, an MS in Educational Psychology, and an Ed.S. in Program Evaluation. In 1986, she received her PhD in Social Sciences in Education from Stanford University.

Dr. Camarena has over 20 years experience conducting research and evaluation studies in the areas of education, substance abuse, and community-based prevention and early intervention programs for low-income youth and for minority populations. She also has managed regional and national research and evaluation studies and has extensive experience applying for Federal funding and private foundation funding.

Dr. Camarena was raised in Kansas and California and comes to us from Chapel Hill, North Carolina where she was most recently Vice President for Research Services at NcNeil Technologies.

Tancy Vandecar-Burdin, Associate Director

Phone: (757) 683-3802 / E-mail: Tvandeca@odu.edu
As the Social Science Research Center's associate director, Tancy is responsible for the development, administration, and implementation of research grants and contracts. She works with individuals, groups and businesses to determine research needs and provide assistance for applying specific methodologies. Tancy is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Center as well as for supervising the SSRC research assistants and other staff. Previous career experiences include a magistrate position for the 4th Judicial District in the City of Norfolk and a project consultant to measure the attitudes toward domestic violence of Virginia magistrates.

Tancy earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY and received her Master of Arts in Applied Sociology with a certificate in Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University. She is presently working on a PhD in Public Administration and Urban Policy at Old Dominion University. Tancy currently resides in Virginia Beach with her husband, Corey, step-son, Jesse, and daughter, Josie.

Wendi Wilson-John, Project Coordinator

E-mail: wwilsonj@odu.edu
Wendi is a Project Coordinator for the Social Science Research Center. Her responsibilities have included the day-to-day management of the development of Virginia's Integrated Data System for Early Intervention and overseeing Virginia's General Supervision Enhancement Grant for Part C in conjunction with the University of Kentucky. Wendi's previous career experience includes working for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a Highway Safety Specialist in Washington, DC. She was also employed for the State of Maryland's Governor's Highway Safety Office as a Data Analyst and Evaluation Coordinator.

Wendi earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice in 1997 from Old Dominion University. She earned her Master of Arts in Experimental Psychology in 1999 from Towson University in Towson, MD. Wendi currently resides in Chesapeake with her husband, Bobby and daughter, Josi, and son, Brandon.

Gina Respass, Research Assistant

E-mail: Grespass@cox.net
Gina works on a variety of projects and has been responsible for creating the data file for the Mental Health Statistics Improvement Program's (MHSIP) Consumer-Oriented Mental Health Report Card and the annual Youth Services Survey for Families. She received her Bachelors degree in psychology and criminal justice from James Madison University in 2003 and completed her Masters in the MA Applied Sociology/Criminal Justice Program here at Old Dominion University.