The staff at the Traffic Injury Research Foundation USA, Inc. (TIRF USA) in collaboration with the professional team of TIRF (Canada) provides a unique blend of research and technical expertise, gained through decades of work in traffic safety.
The senior staff have over 80 years of experience in the field and are internationally recognized experts in research, program and policy development, evaluation, as well as knowledge transfer.
The combined TIRF staff possess expertise in relation to:
- Experimental and epidemiological research
- Qualitative and quantitative analyses (and specialized multivariate techniques)
- Observational studies
- Public opinion, population, and roadside surveys
- Crash analysis and causal assessment
- Database design, construction, and management
- Literature reviews
- Knowledge transfer
- Event coordination
Rachel Hamel is an accomplished interdisciplinary researcher with extensive evaluation and consulting experience.
With a Ph.D. in Applied Psychology and a specialization in Organizational Behavior, Rachel brings a robust methodological foundation and a passion for translating complex data into actionable insights that inform public policy and strategic decision-making. Her interests include behavioral safety research topics such as risky driving behaviors, traffic enforcement issues, safety performance indicators, implementation of road safety programs, evaluation methodologies, and survey research. Rachel is actively involved in TIRF’s technical assistance, supported by NHTSA, on alcohol ignition interlocks and impaired driving countermeasures.
Rachel previously served as a Research Psychologist at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), where she led behavioral safety research and evaluation studies aimed at reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries. Her expertise spans quantitative and qualitative methodologies, including survey design, statistical modeling, experimental design, and behavioral data analysis. She has managed large-scale research projects across national, state, and local levels, applying behavioral science principles to evaluate the effectiveness of safety programs and interventions. Rachel has also held key roles in higher education, including Assistant Director of Data Analytics at Temple University and Analysis and Planning Consultant at Penn State University, where she led data-driven initiatives to support institutional strategy and student success. Her work is characterized by a collaborative approach, strong communication skills, and a commitment to methodological rigor and innovation.
Professional memberships:
Friend of the Transportation Research Board (TRB)
- Impairment in Transportation Committee
- Safety Data, Analysis and Evaluation Committee
- Traffic Law Enforcement Committee
Carl Wicklund has over 47 years of experience in the corrections/human services field.
Most recently, he served as the Community Justice Division Director for Volunteers of America (VOA) – Minnesota. Previously, he was the Executive Director of the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) for nearly two decades where he administered well over 100 grants and training and technical assistance projects, parole and services for victims of crime. He oversaw the development and delivery of numerous-face-to-face training and distance learning programs, research projects, creation of many guidebooks, and policy and practice advocacy endeavors. Earlier in his career, he served as the director of a three-county adult and juvenile probation and parole department as well as developed and managed a variety of community-based, private sector programs for juveniles and adults involved with the justice or social services systems. He was also a volunteer counselor at the Minneapolis Sexual Assault Crisis Center.
He has served or is serving on numerous locally, nationally and internationally oriented advisory and working groups that include representatives from various criminal and juvenile justice, public safety and social service organizations and agencies. He was the vice chair for eight years of the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative Advisory Committee (consisting of 35 national organizations) which advised the U.S. Attorney General on cross domain information sharing and was a 10-year member of the Criminal Justice Information System Advisory Policy Board which advises the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Awards:
- The first Minnesota Citizens Council on Crime and Justice – Gisela Konopka Award in 1984 for humane and creative treatment of juvenile delinquents;
- 2001 Florida Community Corrections Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award;
- The first U.S. Congressional Crime Victims’ Rights Caucus Allied Professional Award in 2006;
- 2007 Justice Leadership Award from Family Justice (NY);
- 2015 Justice Leadership Award from the U.S. Department of Justice.