Our Team & Approach

50+ combined years of dedication to good social science and social well-being


Redwalla is made up of Michelle Janning and Neal Christopherson. It is named for the two towns we grew up in (Redwood Falls, Minnesota and Redlands, California) and the town we currently live in (Walla Walla, Washington). Our communities have helped us thrive, and we aim to use our social science knowledge about groups, systems, roles, and inequalities to answer pressing questions in our communities. At Redwalla People Research Consulting, we believe social science research can be put to good use to enhance social relationships and resources in organizations, neighborhoods, and communities. Our approach to consulting is an inclusive one — we co-design projects with you and your organization in order to be attentive to your local context, and to enhance your skills to sustain your work. At the same time we utilize cutting edge and rigorous methods that can help situate local stories in larger data patterns. In this way, we seek to bridge the forest (the bigger patterns) and the trees (local stories). We are especially skilled at:

  • creative ways to help you figure out the precise questions you need answered, and how best to answer them.
  • design thinking approaches to collaboration and problem-solving.
  • qualitative and quantitative data design, analysis, and reporting.
  • clear and helpful communication avenues to ensure timeliness and success.
  • accessible and readable findings, with a focus on flexible formatting and application for easy use in strategic planning and mission fulfillment.
Michelle Janning, Ph.D.

Michelle Janning is a mixed-methods sociologist and expert in human-centered design facilitation and systems analysis. She has volunteered and served in leadership positions in non-profits dedicated to early learning, philanthropy, higher education, family services, and the arts. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame and holds the Raymond and Elsie Gipson DeBurgh Chair of Social Sciences at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. Her 25+ years of academic and community-based research focuses on the intersections of designed spaces, objects, and social relationships, with emphasis on families, schools, community groups, and neighborhoods. She is the author of several books, including A Guide to Socially-Informed Research for Architects and Designers and Investing in Enchantment: Memory, Market, and the Family Vacation Home.

Neal Christopherson, Ph.D.

Neal Christopherson is a mixed-methods sociologist and expert in translating complex quantitative and qualitative data findings into accessible stories for any audience. He has volunteered and served in leadership positions in organizations dedicated to sports and recreation access, religion and outreach, and higher education. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Notre Dame and serves as the Director of Institutional Research and Assistant Cross Country/Track Coach at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. His 25+ years of academic and community-based research focuses on social dimensions of religious life, sports and social relationships, and transformative student learning. He is the author of Transformative Experiences in College: Connections and Community.