Assessment industry veterans join ACT leadership team

Two college and career research and assessment industry veterans are joining the leadership team of ACT in Iowa City.

Richard Patz, formerly vice president of engineering, research and development at CTB/McGraw-Hill, has accepted the position of chief measurement officer at ACT. Patz will lead all research, development and validation activities associated with the organization's testing programs and services.

Wayne Camara, formerly vice president of research and development at the College Board, will assume the role of senior vice president of research at ACT. Camara will lead the organization's expanded research agenda from kindergarten through career education.

Camara and Patz will begin their duties at ACT on Sept. 5.

A former high school mathematics teacher and now a leader in the field of educational measurement, Patz holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Grinnell College and both a master's and doctoral degree in statistics from Carnegie Mellon University.

During his 17 years with CTB/McGraw-Hill, Patz brought established testing programs into digital and adaptive delivery formats, established content development leadership in the common core state standards and modernized psychometric software and practices for the company.

During his tenure at the College Board, Camara was responsible for managing research and assessment development for programs including the SAT and Advanced Placement. He previously directed scientific affairs at the American Psychological Association, overseeing policy, federal funding and advocacy for behavioral sciences.