ADA Testing Services Staff

Michael Matyasik, Senior Manager, Test Development, is responsible for overseeing meeting facilitation and test publishing activities in the Department of Testing Services. In this role, Michael – along with his team – works with test construction teams and exam delivery vendors throughout the entire test development cycle in order to ensure the delivery of quality, accurate and valid assessments.

Michael has over 15 years of experience in test development. He previously worked as the Director of Education Solutions for a well-known test publisher, where he implemented pre-employment and student admissions tests with clients; he also worked for a large transportation organization’s Selection Testing and Development Department, where he was responsible for developing and validating selection programs for positions across all levels of the organization.

Michael received his B.A. in Psychology and Spanish at Elmhurst College and M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Dr. Brad Worner, Manager Dental Content and Media Development, is responsible for overseeing digital image creation and storage activities in the Department of Testing Services. In this role, Brad – along with his team – works with practitioners from around the country to curate and develop new digital content for testing purposes.

Prior to joining the ADA, Brad was a private practice general dentist in South Carolina. He has also spent time consulting in dental AI development and served as an adjunct professor in Dental Hygiene.

Brad received his B.A. in Biology at The University of Northern Iowa and his DDS from The University of Iowa.

Pronouns: He/Him

Debi Willis, Lead Assessment Specialist, Meeting Facilitation, is responsible for project management and oversight of the test development, test production, and test publication activities essential to DTS testing programs. Her responsibilities include maintaining the item banks and corresponding images; providing deliverables to the testing vendors for test publishing; facilitation of test construction committee meetings; facilitating external consultant activities for the development of test content, and maintaining standardized procedures and quality assurance measures to ensure high quality examination programs.

Prior to joining the Department of Testing Services in 1995, Debra worked at the South Bend Tribune as an Editor; the La Porte Herald-Argus as a Police Beat Reporter; Lake Area United Way as Public Relations Director, and Indiana Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission as Communications Director.

Catherine Burns, Assessment Specialist,  Meeting Facilitation, is responsible for the development of National Board examinations and admission tests through planning and prioritizing the work of the test constructors, including facilitation of item writing and item review meetings. Preparation for these meetings includes a collaborative review of gap and statistical analysis with the Research and Development and Publishing teams, maintenance of the item bank including editing items to style guidelines, and observance of standardized practices and procedures and quality assurance measures to ensure the high quality of ADA examination programs.

Katy has over two decades of experience in educational program management, licensure, and examination development. Before coming to the ADA in 2005, she worked at institutions including Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, and Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine.

Lori Kaplan, Assessment Specialist, Meeting Facilitation, is responsible for the test development of all National Board examinations and admission tests through planning and prioritizing the work of the test constructors, including facilitation of item writing, collaborative review of gap and statistical analysis with the research and develop team, maintaining the item bank and corresponding dental images, maintain standardized procedures and quality assurance measures to ensure high quality of examination programs.

Lori brings to the DTS team over three decades of dental experience, with the majority of her career as a clinician in private practice. Before joining the ADA in 2015, Lori transitioned into the educational aspect of dentistry as an instructor and then director of a CODA-accredited dental assisting program.

Jolene (Jo) Riordan, Assessment Specialist, Meeting Facilitation, is responsible for the development of National Board examinations and admission tests through planning and prioritizing the work of the test constructors, including facilitation of item writing and item review meetings. Preparation for these meetings includes a collaborative review of gap and statistical analysis with the Research and Development and Publishing teams, maintenance of the item bank including editing items to style guidelines, and observance of standardized practices and procedures and quality assurance measures to ensure the high quality of ADA examination programs.

Jolene has been in the field of medical certification and licensure examination development since 2000. Before joining the ADA, Jolene worked with organizations including the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry (ABPN), and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Jolene joined the ADA Test Development Services team in 2015.

Jolene holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Shimer College and a Masters of Liberal Studies from Lake Forest College.

Pronouns: She/Her

Michelle Singleton, Assessment Specialist, Meeting Facilitation, is responsible for the development of National Board examinations and admission tests through planning and prioritizing the work of the test constructors, including facilitation of item writing and item review meetings. Preparation for these meetings includes a collaborative review of gap and statistical analysis with the Research and Development and Publishing teams, maintenance of the item bank including editing items to style guidelines, and observance of standardized practices and procedures and quality assurance measures to ensure the high quality of ADA examination programs.

Michelle has over 20 years of experience in anatomical sciences education for healthcare professionals and 10 years of experience in high-stakes assessment item construction. She previously worked as a Professor of Anatomy at Midwestern University and was a volunteer member of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners National Faculty.

Michelle earned her B.A. in Anthropology and Music from Duke University and both her M.A. and Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago’s Graham School of Professional Studies Copy Editing Certificate program.

Pronouns: She/Her

Carley Bertucci, Assessment Specialist, Test Publishing, is responsible for building exams and reviewing exams at all stages of the publishing process. She also supports the yearly Test Construction Team meetings.

Carley began her career in the testing industry nine years ago at the ADA.

Carley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northern Michigan University in International Studies and French.

Pronouns: She/Her

Prior to joining the ADA, Sai worked with one of DTS’ test publishing partners, Prometric, for 15 years, serving as a Team Lead for the Prometric Publishing Team, and before that, main Publisher for all ADA exams administered through Prometric.

Sai Lwin holds a Bachelor of Computer Engineering degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

Pronouns: He/Him

Matt Powers, Assessment Specialist, Test Publishing, is responsible for developing, building, and editing licensure and admission exams.

Before joining the ADA, Matt worked for more than ten years as a reporter at newspapers across the Central and Western regions of upstate New York. After moving to Chicago, he wrote high level communications for the associate dean of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business as part of the advancement marketing and communications team.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University in Political Science.

Micah Schippa, B.F.A.

Micah Schippa, Assessment Specialist, Test Publishing, is responsible for administrative and user management, technical systems and support liaison for the programs we use for all exam development. Micah also provides backup for imaging and design.

Micah began their career in the testing industry at the ADA in an administrative capacity. Micah holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

James Trevenen, Assessment Specialist, Digital Imaging, is responsible for overseeing and organizing the imagery used in the Department of Testing Services. In this new role, James serves as the point person for all image and retouching needs.

He has fifteen years of experience in photography, retouching and photo editing. Before joining the ADA, James worked at Playboy and Schawk! Photo Studio.

James received a Bachelor of Arts degree in photography from Columbia College Chicago.

Nick spent his early career in government where he served as a legislative and budget analyst for a State of Illinois agency. Prior to joining the ADA, he spent 5 years as a test development manager for a supply chain management association, where he managed exam development and publishing processes for high stakes certification programs. 

Nick received his B.A. in Economics from Northeastern Illinois University and his M.B.A. from Concordia University Chicago.

Alexis Curtis, Manager, Volunteers and Meetings, serves as the primary liaison to volunteers, manages all Department of Testing Services meetings, and oversees the volunteer application process.

Alexis brings ten years of experience in communications, meeting and convention planning, and managing volunteer and governance activities at medical associations and nonprofits. Before joining the ADA, Alexis worked with organizations including the American Osteopathic Association, DOCARE International, and the Academy of General Dentistry.

Betsey Palmer, Coordinator, Volunteers and Meetings is responsible for all DTS meeting logistics, including travel, meeting room arrangements, catering, and technical support. Betsey also facilitates the delivery of CE credits to volunteers and the documentation of meeting logistics.

Betsey is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) through the Events Industry Council and brings a decade of varied event planning and management experience to this role. They have held positions in corporate meeting planning, stage, house and production management for local theaters, and custom event design. Betsey holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, where they studied solo performance, stage management, directing, and costume design.

Pronouns: They/Them

Sara Green, Coordinator, Volunteers and Meetings, coordinates the business and operational activities as well as planning governance meetings for the Department of Testing Services. She is also responsible for reviewing and approving volunteer travel reimbursements.

Sara has over a decade of hotel convention meeting planning experience, with brands such as Hyatt, Starwood and Gaylord Hotels. In these positions, she worked with outside clients to ensure successful meeting coordination on-site of food and beverage, audio visual and setup needs to the hotel staff.

Sara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University in Hospitality Business.