Rachael leads NORC’s portfolio on hard‑to‑reach populations and people in vulnerable situations, bringing to bear her expertise in research on human trafficking, labor exploitation, and other forms of abuse affecting hidden or marginalized groups. She brings 18 years of expertise in mixed‑methods research and evaluation, survey methodology, hidden‑population sampling, data quality assurance, and multi-stakeholder coordination.

Rachael’s expertise in researching vulnerable and hard‑to‑reach populations is reflected across several flagship NORC initiatives including the International Justice Mission Cross‑Border Forced Labor Study in Cambodia and Myanmar, the USAID Democratic Republic of the Congo CTIP Assessment, and the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery Kenya CSEC Prevalence & KAP Study. As the lead researcher on these projects, Rachael applied innovative methods for measuring trafficking among hard‑to‑reach groups, oversaw large‑scale mixed‑methods studies, and guided partners in implementing evidence‑based approaches to understanding exploitation and vulnerability in complex environments.

In addition to her research leadership, Rachael draws on her deep monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) knowledge to develop and facilitate trainings and support implementing partners in the design of evidence‑based MERL plans, reinforcing capacity building as a core component of her work in strengthening counter‑trafficking systems and advancing practitioner learning. For the Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Office of Trade and Labor Affairs (ILAB/OTLA) she led the development of a MERL guidebook and 10 associated training sessions.

Outside NORC, Rachael serves on the Steering Committee for Monitoring and Evaluation of Trafficking in Persons (METIP), a supportive community of practice for M&E experts and researchers working on anti-trafficking programs and policies. Prior to working at NORC, Rachael built a strong foundation in anti‑trafficking research as the global MERL advisor at International Justice Mission, where she supported MERL capacity development and research. Her work included leading the Online Sexual Exploitation of Children Study in the Philippines, contributing to major studies on the prevalence and patterns of labor abuse in Thailand’s fishing industry, and supporting research assessing the Thai government’s response to trafficking in the fishing sector. These experiences highlight her long‑standing expertise in mixed‑methods design, multi‑stakeholder coordination, and generating actionable insights to strengthen responses to exploitation.