How to Find an Evaluator or Connect with Evaluation Professionals Through AEA

You can use the American Evaluation Association (AEA) site at eval.org for two distinct tasks: Find an Evaluator when you need to locate a practitioner (for example, to hire someone for a program evaluation), and the Member Directory when you want to look up or connect with AEA members. For ongoing professional connection, AEA points members and the field to EvalTalk, Topical Interest Groups (TIGs), and Local Affiliates, with additional paths through International Partnerships, Student Membership, and Volunteer opportunities listed in its Community section.

Find an Evaluator vs. Member Directory

Both tools are linked from the site's top navigation, but they serve different purposes:

The site presents these as separate entries, so start with Find an Evaluator if your goal is hiring or engaging someone, and use the Member Directory if your goal is member lookup and networking.

Ways to Connect with Evaluation Professionals

AEA's Community section describes several channels for connection:

• EvalTalk — listed as a community discussion channel under AEA Connect.
• Topical Interest Groups (TIGs) — subject-focused groups; the site provides a Join a TIG entry and a TIG FAQ for questions about how TIGs work.
• Local Affiliates — regional groups listed under the Community section for connecting closer to home.
• International Partnerships — for connections beyond the U.S. context.
• Volunteer — a listed pathway to contribute time to the association.
• Career Center and Research Requests — also listed in the Community section for job-related and research-related engagement.

Joining a TIG: what to expect

1. Go to the Join a TIG page from the Community section.
2. Review the TIG FAQ first if you are unsure which group fits your specialty or what membership in a TIG involves.
3. Complete the join step for the TIG that matches your evaluation interest.

The site does not publish TIG dues or eligibility details on the pages summarized here, so confirm any requirements on the TIG pages themselves before joining.

Membership, Students, and International Participants

AEA describes itself as providing "an inclusive and diverse environment where evaluators can learn and connect regardless of experience in the field." Specific participation paths listed on the site include:

• Join/Renew — the membership entry point in the top navigation.
• Student Membership — a membership category listed under Community.
• International Partnerships — for international connection.
• Organizational Membership — listed under About.

Membership is described as supporting connection and learning; the site does not state membership fees on the pages summarized here, so check the Join/Renew page for current terms.

Education and Events for Building Your Network

AEA's Education & Programs section lists structured ways to meet other evaluators and build skills, including Eval 101, Coffee Breaks, eStudies, Town Halls, Potent Presentations, Virtual Workshops, and in-person events (the site notes AEA offers two in-person events each year). The Graduate Education Diversity Internship (GEDI) and Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Fellowship are listed as programs with their own application pages, and the Student Evaluation Case Competition (SECC) provides team and judge roles with published rules and FAQs.

Practical Checklist

• Need to hire an evaluator? Start with Find an Evaluator.
• Looking up a member? Use the Member Directory.
• Want discussion and peer exchange? Join EvalTalk.
• Want a specialty community? Review the TIG FAQ, then Join a TIG.
• Want local connections? Check Local Affiliates.
• Student or early-career? Review Student Membership, GEDI, and SECC.
• Outside the U.S.? Look at International Partnerships.

Each of these entries is reachable from the site's main navigation and Community section; follow the linked page for current eligibility, dates, and any costs, which are not specified in the material summarized here.