Dan Merson | Rankin & Associates Consulting, LLC

Director of Data Analytics/Executive Associate/Project Manager

Dr. Dan Merson studies college student success, college environments, and STEM education. He most recently served in a fixed term capacity as an assistant professor of Higher Education and a research associate with the Leonhard Center for Enhancement of Engineering Education at The Pennsylvania State University. He currently consults on campus climate assessment with Rankin & Associates Consulting, and provides professional methodological consulting and support to researchers and graduate students. He received his Ph.D. in Higher Education from Penn State, following degrees from The University of Michigan and Kansas State University, as well as several years of professional experience in student services and academic affairs.

Pronouns: He, Him, His

Publications

Fernandez, F., Merson, D., Ro, H. K., & Rankin, S. R. (2019). Do classroom interactions relate to considerations of institutional departure among student veterans and service members? Innovative Higher Education, 44(3), 233-245.

Oseguera, L., Merson, D., Harrison, K., & Rankin, S. (2018). Beyond the Black/White binary: A multi-institutional study of campus climate and the academic success of college athletes of different racial backgrounds. Sociology of Sport Journal, 35(2), 119-131. doi: 10.1123/ssj.2016-0175

Zappe, S. E., Hochstedt, K. S., Merson, D., Schrott, L., & Litzinger, T. A. (2016). Development and implementation of quantitative methods to study instructional practices in engineering programs. International Journal of Engineering Education, 32(5), 1942-1959.

Rankin, S., Merson, D., Garvey, J. C., Sorgen, C., Menon, I., Loya, K., & Oseguera, L. (2016). The influence of climate on the academic and athletic success of student-athletes: Results from a multi-institutional national study. Journal of Higher Education, 87(5), 701-730. doi: 10.1353/jhe.2016.0027

Ro, H. K., Merson, D., Lattuca, L. R., & Terenzini, P. T. (2015). Validity of the Contextual Competence Scale for Engineering Students. Journal of Engineering Education, 104(1), 35-54.

Ortagus, J., & Merson, D. (2015). Leveling the Playing Field: Faculty Influence on the Academic Success of Low-Income, First-Generation Student-Athletes. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education. 9(1), 26-49.

Merson, D., Schrott, L., Zappe, S., Hochstedt, K., & Litzinger, T. (2015, April). Institutional Policies that Encourage Faculty Adoption of Effective Evidence-Based Instructional Practices. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Merson, D., Garvey, J., & Rankin, S. (2015, November). The Development of Measures of Staff- and Faculty-Specific Workplace Climate. Paper presented at the ASHE Annual Conference, Denver, CO.

Merson, D., Schrott, L., Zappe, S., Hochstedt, K., & Litzinger, T. (2015, April). Reconciling Faculty Members’ and Academic Administrators’ Differing Perceptions of Institutional Support to Promote Instructional Change. Paper presented at AERA, Chicago, IL.

Zappe, S., Merson, D., Hochstedt, K., Schrott, L., & Litzinger, T. (2014, October). A Self-Assessment of the Use of Evidence-Based Instructional Practices in Engineering. Work-in-progress paper published in proceedings of the 2014 Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference, Madrid, Spain.

Merson, D., McIntosh, K., & Rankin, S. (2014, May). Measuring Students' Perceptions of Campus Climate by Academic Major. Paper presented at the 2014 Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum, Orlando, FL.

Merson, D., & Rankin, S. (2013, April). The Influence of LGBTQ Student-Athletes' Collegiate Experiences on their Academic and Athletic Success. Paper presented at AERA, San Francisco, CA.

Ortagus, J., & Merson, D. (2013, April). Faculty Influence on the Academic Success of Low-Income, First-Generation Student-Athletes. Paper presented at AERA, San Francisco, CA.

Rankin, S., Merson, D., Sorgen, C. H., Menon, I., Loya, K., & Oseguera, L. (2013, April). The Influence of Climate on the Academic and Athletic Success of Student-Athletes: Results from a Multi-Institutional National Study. Paper presented at AERA, San Francisco, CA.

Ro, H. K., Lattuca, L., Merson, D., & Terenzini, P. T. (2012, June). Measuring Engineering Students’ Contextual Competence. Proceedings of the 2012 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference and Exposition, San Antonio, TX.

Rankin, S., & Merson, D. (2012, November 22). Student-Athlete Climate Study (SACS) pre-conference seminar & proposal workshop. Invited pre-conference seminar at the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV.

Rankin, S., & Merson, D. (2012). Campus Pride 2012 LGBTQ College Athlete National Report. Charlotte, NC: Campus Pride.

Palmer, B., Terenzini, P., McKenna, A., Harper, B., & Merson, D. (2011, June). Design in Context: Where do the Engineers of 2020 Learn This Skill? ASEE proceedings, Vancouver, BC. [Best Conference Paper, Best Professional Interest Council (II) Paper, and Best Design in Engineering Education Division Paper]

Merson, D., Sorgen, C. H., & Rankin, S. R. (2011, November 18) The Development of Measures of Student-Athlete Identity and Athletic Success for a Multi-Institution National Study. Paper presented at ASHE, Charlotte, NC.

Garcia, G., Merson, D., Musial, J., Turner, C., Weltzer, L., & Woo, H.-J. (2011, April 8). Failure to Persist at Career Entry: Leak at the End of the STEM Educational Pipeline. Paper presented at AERA, New Orleans, LA.

Rankin, S., Merson, D., Sorgen, C. H., McHale, I., Loya, K., & Oseguera, L. (2011). Student-Athlete Climate Study (SACS) Final Report. Indianapolis, IN: National Collegiate Athletic Association and The Pennsylvania State University.

Rankin, S. R., & Merson, D. (2011). Department of Education Policy Studies Climate Assessment Project Final Report. Unpublished Report. The Pennsylvania State University. University Park, PA.

Junco, R., Merson, D., & Salter, D. W. (2010). The Effect of Gender, Ethnicity, and Income on College Students’ Use of Communication Technologies. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 13(6), 619-627.

Merson, D., & Rankin, S. R. (2010, November 19). An Outcomes-Based Model of Student-Athlete Success Developed for a Multi-Institution National Study. Paper presented at ASHE, Indianapolis, IN.

Merson, D. (2009, November 7). A Critical Review of How Higher Education Researchers Incorporate a Sociocultural Perspective into their Study of College Student Learning and Development. Paper presented at ASHE, Vancouver, BC.

Merson, D., & Meadows, L. (2009, November 6). Understanding Transfer Student Transitions: Paving the Path from Community College to an Engineering Degree. Poster presented at ASHE, Vancouver, BC.

Rankin, S. R., Chang, S., Domagal-Goldman, J., McHale, I., Merson, D., & Sorgen, C. (2009, March 31). Student-Athlete Identity: Experiences of and Perceptions Toward Intercollegiate Athletes. Paper presented at ACPA, Washington, D.C.

Merson, D. (2008, November 8). How Does Religiosity Differ for Students Who Attend Catholic versus Non-Catholic Four-Year Colleges? Paper presented at ASHE, Jacksonville, FL.

Merson, D., Badke, L. K., & Burkhardt, J. C. (2008). Reframing the National Conversation: Immigration and Higher Education. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan.

Thirolf, K., Merson, D., & Burkhardt, J. (2008). Tapping into the Talent in Southeast Michigan: A Demographic Analysis of Young Adults in the Region and a Literature Review on Adult Learners. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan.

Presentations

Rankin, S., & Merson, D. (2013, March 5). LGB & T Student-Athlete Convention Institute. Invited three-session institute presented at the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Convention, Las Vegas, NV.

It was a pleasure to work with Dr. Sue Rankin and her associate Dr. Genevieve Weber. They worked closely with our dedicated College committee and took great care to ensure the climate study accurately reflected our institution and its needs. We trusted the Rankin & Associates process and thousands of College community members participated in the survey. We now have extensive and valuable data with which we will shape the future of our campus.

Danielle Dimitrov, Esq.
Director, Diversity and Compliance/Chief Diversity Officer
The College of Staten Island

When the Texas A&M School of Law decided to conduct its first-ever climate survey, we thought we could do it ourselves. Then we came to our senses and sought expert help. Dr. Rankin's step-by-step guidance through the months-long process of designing and implementing the survey and interpreting the results has been invaluable. She brought to the table the experience, insight, and know-how derived from hundreds of surveys and years of studying and writing the relevant literature. When I say we could not have done it without her, I mean it in the most literal sense.

John F. Murphy
Associate Instructional Professor of Law
Texas A&M School of Law

I highly recommend campuses engage Rankin & Associates for campus climate studies. Dr. Rankin brings the experience and insights needed to successfully guide a campus through a critical institutional process. She understands how to best engage campus stakeholders and how to help a campus identify and speak to their unique needs during survey development and in post-survey communications. Sue was a true partner in this process – while it was clear this was our process, we always felt that Sue proactively offered the support and knowledge needed for our campus committee to conduct this study and she was incredibly communicative throughout all phases of the project.

Nariah Broadus
Director, Innovation and Growth
Tuck School of Business
Dartmouth College

I have appreciated very much my opportunities to work with Dr. Rankin as a consultant. Her commitment to research-based campus climate assessment produces sound and usable results. At the same time she is willing to accommodate client suggestions and respond to client questions promptly and appropriately. Her enthusiasm for improving the campus climate provides clients with positive energy - in addition to consultant expertise - for their campus-based efforts to create inclusive environments.

Sandra Holbrook, Ph.D.
Director Emerita
North Dakota State University

Sue Rankin is not only an expert researcher, she is a passionate one, whose commitment to diversity has led her to not only ask the tough questions but to answer them. Her survey on LGBT issues on our campus was the match that fueled the fire. Within two years we moved from essentially no LGBT resources on campus to the administration funding a LGBT Office.

Sue Rankin has perfected the art of assessing campus climates through her nationally recognized consulting firm. A skilled researcher in her own right, Dr. Rankin and her associates are a full service firm from questionnaire construction to data analysis.

Linda A. Mooney, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology
East Carolina University

Celebration of diversity and inclusivity are treasured values at West Chester University, but we hadn't taken the opportunity to assess our success and challenges until we committed to conducting a campus-wide survey of climate. Dr. Rankin's approach to the survey development and implementation, bringing all concerned constituencies to the table, was the perfect approach to ensuring wide participation in the survey. ...It is obvious that the campus is engaged; there are conversations everywhere, and the ideas for action are pouring in.

Darla Spence Coffey, PhD, MSW
Associate Provost
West Chester University (PA)