About the Founder

DONNA SURGES TATUM, PhD, CAE
CEO of Meaningful Measurement, Inc.

Dr. Tatum founded Meaningful Measurement in 1990 to answer a need for customized research and solutions to organizational challenges. Over the past 14 years the organization has grown to include 80 Associates. These well-known advanced degreed experts have impeccable credentials in their respective disciplines. Dr. Tatum has significant experience with creating and guiding teams of these highly skilled professionals to accomplish complex tasks, produce cutting-edge research and formulate real-world recommendations for positive action.

Dr. Tatum holds a Baccalaureate degree in Speech Communication and a Master of Arts in Persuasion and Organizational Communication from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Her Doctorate in Measurement Evaluation Statistical Analysis (MESA) is from the University of Chicago. She researches, publishes, and presents widely on a variety of subjects, particularly performance assessment, computer-adaptive testing, and workforce studies.

Dr. Tatum teaches communication and statistics classes at the University of Chicago for the Graham School of General Studies. She created, and Meaningful Measurement produces, the Executive Communication track of the Leadership Institute for the University of Chicago Executive MBA program; and Making Policy Public for the University of Chicago Harris Graduate School.

For five years Dr. Tatum was Psychometrician and Director of Research & Psychometric Services for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). She developed 7 new credentials, and was responsible for 24 computer-adaptive examinations and 5 qualifications for certification in Laboratory Science for the ASCP Board of Registry.

Dr. Tatum taught and was Director of the Communication Studies department at Roosevelt University in Chicago where she created many new course offerings, collaborated with faculty, and maintained class size averages of 37% above the university norm.

Seven years in advertising and marketing (Mead Corporation, Majers Marketing, Metromedia) gave Dr. Tatum a firm grounding in the practical application of theory. This combination of expertise allows her to effectively communicate difficult concepts to those who need to use the information and to guide them in their decisions and strategic planning. Informed decisions based on proper research produce successful action plans.

Dr. Tatum is active in a number of professional associations and was awarded certification as CAE (Certified Association Executive). She is the creator and editor, for the first three years, of Popular Measurement, journal of the Institute for Objective Measurement. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Institute for Objective Measurement, and is an Officer of the Communication Assessment Commission for the National Communication Association. In 1999 Dr. Tatum was presented with the national award: Outstanding Contribution to Communication Assessment by the National Communication Association.