Betty Li Simpson (she/her) is a researcher and evaluator at the Communities In Schools national office, a youth-serving education nonprofit. She helps to expand CIS’ evidence-base and determine the impact of integrated student supports in partnership with state education agencies, school districts, and community-based organizations. In her role, Betty enjoys the process of transforming big questions into practical research activities to provide relevant and actionable insights.

As a first-generation immigrant and Chinese-American woman, she is passionate about challenging inequities and advancing systems of justice. She appreciates how art can transform individual and collective mindsets through wonder, curiosity, and beauty.

Betty first came to know New City Arts Initiative in 2016 when she volunteered to bartend a Charlottesville SOUP event. After living in northern VA, Betty found her way back to Charlottesville in 2021 and was reacquainted with NCAI through Housing2Home. Betty has a BA in Biology and Masters in Secondary Science Teaching from UVA. She also serves on the board of Theological Horizons. In her spare time, Betty enjoys cooking new dishes, traveling, and walking neighborhood trails with her husband Joshua and their dog Basil.