Betty Li Simpson (she/her) is a researcher and evaluator for a national youth-serving education nonprofit. She helps to expand the organizational 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.

Betty's faith and lived experiences as a first-generation Chinese-American immigrant continue to shape her values of justice, challenge, and equity. 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 and was reacquainted with NCAI through Housing2Home in 2021. Betty has a BA in Biology and Masters in Secondary Science Teaching from UVA. In her spare time, Betty enjoys cooking, traveling, and walking neighborhood trails with her husband, their son, and their dog. You'll find her and her family quietly enjoying the latest exhibition at the Welcome Gallery on Saturday mornings.