Strategic Praxis Advisory  - From Research to Decision-Ready Insight

Selected Work

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Tell me what your organization is working on, where you're stuck, and what you need to make possible.If the work aligns with my practice, we'll identify the appropriate next step and determine whether there is a strong fit for an engagement.

Have a complex problem that needs research, strategy, or structure?

20+ engagements 40+ substantive products 600+ stakeholders engaged 70+ presentations $100K research funding secured as PI

I help mission-driven organizations turn complex questions into credible evidence, actionable strategy, and systems that move work forward.My practice brings together applied research, data and evaluation, strategy, program and project design, organizational learning, curriculum and professional development, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, research translation, and implementation.

Research, strategy, and implementation for complex problems.

Providing tailored technical support and training to enhance organizational capacity in research and data analysis.

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

We deliver comprehensive research integrating social sciences and humanities to uncover insights that drive equity and innovation.

Competitive Analysis identifies and evaluates the business strategies of your competitors, resulting in the analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) for your product relative to the competitors’ in a business ecosystem. Further analysis may provide an insight to your product strategy.

The analysis is often conducted in the early stages of product development. As the dynamics of products in the ecosystem change rapidly, many companies have embraced agile competitive analysis as a part of their product strategy.


Interdisciplinary Research Solutions

You have a complex question, incomplete evidence, multiple stakeholder perspectives, or data that needs to become usable insight.

You need credible research to guide a consequential decision.

The goal may be clear, but the research, workstreams, roles, decisions, deliverables, or pathway to implementation are not.

You have an ambitious project that needs structure.

You need plans, workflows, systems, measurement, stakeholder processes, learning, or accountability infrastructure.

You have a strategy but need to make it operational.

You need curriculum, professional learning, facilitation, technical assistance, decision tools, or a multi-session learning experience.

People need the knowledge and tools to carry the work forward.

Bring Me In When...

Black Migrants &amp; U.S. Immigration CourtsOhio Immigrant AllianceMulti-year funded research combining interviews, demographic analysis, institutional research, policy analysis, convening, and public dissemination.$84K external research funding secured as PIEXPLORE THE RESEARCH: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ohioimmigrant.org/2025/04/21/behind-closed-doors-black-migrants-and-the-hidden-injustices-of-u-s-immigration-courts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Behind Closed Doors</a>Metropolitan Economic &amp; Demographic ResearchWomen’s Institute for Science, Equity, and RaceApplied economic and demographic research and development of repeatable metropolitan Data Portrait infrastructure.Approximately 16 million observationsVISIT WISER: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wiserpolicy.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Women’s Institute for Science, Equity, and Race</a>Long-Term Feminist StrategyAfrican Women’s Development FundResearch, ecosystem analysis, stakeholder engagement, facilitation, synthesis, and strategic-framework development.EXPLORE LEMLEM: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://awdf.org/lemlem-awdf-strategic-framework/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">AWDF Lemlem Strategic Framework</a>Policy Analysis, Power Mapping &amp; Persuasive AdvocacyNational Black Worker CenterFive-part professional-learning engagement combining curriculum, applied tools, office hours, advising, and capstone support.&nbsp;VIEW THE INSTITUTE: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nationalblackworkercenters.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">National Black Worker Center</a>

User Journey Map is also known as Customer Journey Map is a a visualization of the process that a person goes through in order to accomplish a goal visualization of a user/ customer using your product or service. In its basic form, journey mapping starts by compiling a series of user actions into a timeline. Next, the timeline is fleshed out with user thoughts and emotions in order to create a narrative. This narrative is condensed and polished, ultimately leading to a visualization.

Selected Work Snapshot

A portfolio of research, strategy, learning, organizational systems, and implementation engagements.Each project is different. What remains consistent is my ability to make complex problems legible, create structure around the work, generate credible evidence, translate what matters, and produce something useful.<h3>Black Migrants &amp; U.S. Immigration Courts</h3>Ohio Immigrant AlliancePrincipal Investigator • Research Lead • AuthorThe ChallengeBlack migrants' experiences within the U.S. immigration-court system were significantly under-researched, including the ways race, institutional processes, and adjudication shape experience and outcomes.My RoleLed the initiative from research framing and design through evidence generation, analysis, knowledge products, convening, and dissemination.The WorkMixed-methods research • interviews • demographic analysis • public and federal data • policy research • institutional analysis • research synthesis • stakeholder engagement • public scholarshipScale$100,000 in external foundation research funding secured as Principal Investigator60+ participants engaged through the Dystopia, Then Deportation strategy convening.&nbsp;Selected Outputs<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ohioimmigrant.org/2025/04/21/behind-closed-doors-black-migrants-and-the-hidden-injustices-of-u-s-immigration-courts/">Behind Closed Doors</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ohioimmigrant.org/blog/2024/10/08/black-immigrants-in-ohio-new-demographic-data-brief/">Black Immigrants in Ohio</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ohioimmigrant.org/2024/01/07/dystopia-then-deportation-for-black-migrants/">Dystopia, Then Deportation</a>The ValueA single research problem became a multi-product evidence portfolio supporting policy analysis, public education, stakeholder engagement, and continuing organizational work.<h3>Metropolitan Economic &amp; Demographic Research</h3>Women’s Institute for Science, Equity, and RaceSenior ResearcherThe ChallengeLarge public datasets contain significant policy-relevant information, but producing useful disaggregated analysis requires rigorous research and repeatable analytical infrastructure.The WorkACS/IPUMS analysis • survey-weighted analysis • demographic and economic disparity analysis • subgroup analysis • data cleaning • validation • recoding • variable construction • table specification • methodological documentation • visualization • research translationScaleApproximately 16 million observations in the current five-year ACS analytical extract.&nbsp;The ValueThe work combines substantive analysis with the standards, documentation, and quality-control infrastructure required to produce that analysis consistently.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wiserpolicy.org/">Women’s Institute for Science, Equity, and Race</a><h3>Lemlem: Ten-Year Strategic Framework</h3>African Women’s Development Fund / I.G. AdvisorsLead Researcher • Co-FacilitatorThe WorkDesk research • stakeholder interviews • ecosystem analysis • synthesis • facilitation • strategic analysis • board engagementThe professional evidence bank documents this as research and facilitation supporting AWDF's long-term strategy development.&nbsp;Evidence<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://awdf.org/lemlem-awdf-strategic-framework/">AWDF Lemlem Strategic Framework</a>The Transforming African Feminist Funding EcosystemThe ValueResearch, movement knowledge, stakeholder perspectives, and institutional priorities were synthesized into strategic intelligence supporting long-term organizational decision-making.<h3>African Feminist Research Ecosystem</h3>AfriFem Consortium / African Women’s Development FundEcosystem Research • Research Synthesis • Knowledge StrategyThe WorkResearch examining the scholars, institutions, relationships, resources, knowledge systems, and structural conditions shaping African feminist research.The ValueMaking a complex knowledge ecosystem more legible for decisions around collaboration, knowledge production, institutional relationships, movement infrastructure, and resourcing.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSuN7gDU02-ZxIQHNmpys2leoA4WvJdtjESvr1OSnR0Syt8WlnoqjAivrRB6HpXMmywYA1LPZocoOr8/pub">Read the African Feminist Research Ecosystem Report</a><h3>Policy Analysis, Power Mapping &amp; Persuasive Advocacy</h3>National Black Worker CenterCurriculum Designer • Facilitator • AdvisorThe WorkDesigned and facilitated a five-part applied professional-learning series combining:Policy analysis • power mapping • stakeholder analysis • research translation • persuasive advocacy • interactive exercises • decision tools • office hours • individualized advising • capstone support.&nbsp;The ValueThe engagement was designed not simply to transfer information, but to strengthen participants' ability to apply research and policy analysis to real advocacy and strategy work.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://nationalblackworkercenters.org/advocacy-and-policy-institute/">National Black Worker Center Policy and Advocacy Institute</a><h3>Beyond Borders</h3>University of San Diego — Violence, Inequality and Power LabVIP Lab Non-Residential Fellow • ResearcherThe WorkInterdisciplinary research integrating scholarship, data, policy evidence, and expert interviews concerning systemic and transnational violence affecting Black migrants.OutputBeyond Borders: Confronting Transnational Violence Against Black Migrants<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://digital.sandiego.edu/ipj-research/102/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Read Beyond Borders</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://krocstories.sandiego.edu/peace/the-innovating-peace-blog/black-migrants-and-the-global-crisis-of-anti-blackness-reflections-at-the-close-of-the-international-decade-for-people-of-african-descent">Read Black Migrants And The Global Crisis Of Anti-Blackness</a>

SELECTED WORK

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I am an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner, researcher, strategist, educator, consultant, writer, facilitator, and organizational leader.My work focuses on how institutions organize and distribute power, knowledge, resources, opportunity, belonging, mobility, safety, care, and material conditions—and how organizations and communities build the evidence, relationships, systems, learning, and capacity required to create change.&nbsp;My career has crossed disciplines and sectors, but the practice underneath it is consistent:I move from complex questions to rigorous evidence, from evidence to strategy, and from strategy to implementation.I can conceptualize the work, lead it, structure it, manage it, and produce the actual output.

About Me - Nana Afua Brantuo, Ph.D.

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1. InquiryYou share the challenge, desired outcome, and basic project context.2. Fit ConversationIf the work appears aligned, we'll have a focused conversation about the problem, stakeholders, outcomes, timeline, resources, and constraints.3. Scope &amp; ProposalIf we decide to proceed, I develop a proposed scope of work outlining the engagement, deliverables, responsibilities, timeline, and fees.4. Contract &amp; KickoffOnce the agreement is finalized and executed, we schedule kickoff and begin.<h3>What I Value in an Engagement</h3>The strongest engagements have a meaningful problem to solve, clarity about who will use the work, access to the information and people required to do the work well, a realistic relationship among scope, timeline, and resources, and decision-makers prepared to engage seriously with what the evidence shows.

Analytics dashboard for growing small business in central illinois

What Happens Next?

My professional experience spans independent research and consulting, philanthropy, higher education, advocacy, public institutions, journalism and publishing, nonprofit organizations, and community-based work.Across those settings, I have led and supported research initiatives, consulting engagements, policy portfolios, strategic planning, curricula, professional-learning programs, evaluation, stakeholder processes, organizational systems, public scholarship, and nonprofit governance.<h3>Education</h3>Ph.D., Curriculum &amp; Instruction — Education Policy &amp; LeadershipUniversity of Maryland, College Park<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://drum.lib.umd.edu/items/6b81f49e-294d-4457-816c-364e8a638cb1">Doctoral Dissertation</a>M.Ed., Curriculum &amp; InstructionUniversity of Maryland, College ParkB.A., African Studies, Economics MinorHoward UniversityMagna cum laude • Phi Beta Kappa<h3>Selected Appointments &amp; Recognition</h3>Visiting Scholar-Practitioner — University of Dayton Human Rights CenterVIP Lab Non-Residential Fellow — University of San Diego / Kroc SchoolNon-Resident Fellow — TRAC / Syracuse UniversityNon-Resident Fellow — Howard University Center for African Studies<h3>Selected Professional Development &amp; Certifications</h3>Process Improvement &amp; Organizational EffectivenessSix Sigma Yellow Belt (SSYB™) — 6sigmastudy / SCRUMstudy | 2026 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.6sigmastudy.com/certification/verify?type=SSYB&amp;number=1148168">View Certificate</a>Artificial Intelligence PolicyCertificate in Artificial Intelligence Policy, With Distinction — Center for AI and Digital Policy | 2024 Completed the CAIDP AI Policy Clinic with distinction. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://credsverse.com/credentials/b298be92-ba13-4411-970a-ae5d6a6edceb">View Credential</a> <a target="_new" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://www.caidp.org/">Center for AI and Digital Policy</a>Community PlanningMontgomery County Community Planning Academy — Montgomery Planning / Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission | 2026 Completed training in community planning and the institutions, processes, and decisions that shape development in Montgomery County. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="decorated-link" href="https://montgomeryplanning.org/montgomery-plannings-community-planning-academy">Community Planning Academy</a>Research Ethics, Compliance &amp; Good Clinical PracticeCITI Program — Current Research Compliance TrainingAll of the following credentials are still current as of September 2026:GCP — Social and Behavioral Research Best Practices for Clinical Research Completed November 24, 2024 | Current through November 24, 2027 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.citiprogram.org/verify/?w7be30051-1aac-43dc-81a8-c3e2d642a210-59929495">Verify Credential</a>Humanities Responsible Conduct of Research Completed December 4, 2023 | Current through December 4, 2027 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.citiprogram.org/verify/?w1b008866-6276-4ac2-b091-6738cbb2522c-59951990">Verify Credential</a>Social and Behavioral Responsible Conduct of Research Completed December 4, 2023 | Current through December 4, 2027 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.citiprogram.org/verify/?w43ac73b2-db18-44e8-b616-bf31aec39dc2-59929492">Verify Credential</a>Conflicts of Interest Completed December 3, 2023 | Current through December 3, 2027 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.citiprogram.org/verify/?wbb24f5a1-d76c-496e-aa99-021e4b08d00f-59929494">Verify Credential</a>Human Subjects Research — Social &amp; Behavioral Research Basic/Refresher Completed December 2023 | Current through December 2026 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.citiprogram.org/verify/?w7be30051-1aac-43dc-81a8-c3e2d642a210-59929495">Verify Credential</a>

Professional Background

For my complete professional chronology, leadership, scholarship, publications, academic projects, and public writing:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nana-brantuo?utm_source=chatgpt.com">LinkedIn</a> | <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://sites.google.com/view/nanabrantuo/">Research Portfolio</a> | <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://muckrack.com/nana-brantuo-1">Journalism Portfolio</a> | <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=zPPX1TIAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">Google Scholar</a> | <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2276-3802?utm_source=chatgpt.com">ORCID</a>

Selected Clients & Partners

Organizations rarely need “research” or “strategy” in the abstract.They need to understand something, decide something, build something, strengthen something, or move something forward.My engagements are structured around those outcomes.

About Me - Nana Afua Brantuo, Ph.D.

Professional Background

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