Meet the Team behind nexxus
Stephen Murphy Ph.d
Managing ParTNER
Areas of Expertise
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Authentic Leadership
Strategies for Competing
Organizational Design
Scenario Planning
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Business Growth Strategies
Vendor Relations
Government Relations
RFP Solutions and Response
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Market Analysis
AI- ML-Driven Innovation
Business Model Frameworks
Mergers & Acquisitions
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IRT Modeling
Technical Support
Equating and Scaling
Standard Setting
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Study and Research Design
Data Analytics/Science
Systems Thinking
Report Design
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Assessment Design
Scaling Operations
Assessment Lifecycle
Workflow and Process Improvement
Stephen Murphy is a proven leader and expert psychometrician with more than two decades of experience designing, implementing, and improving assessment systems across industries. Known for blending deep technical expertise with practical operational insight, Stephen has supported state and local education agencies, vendors, and institutions in building programs that are both rigorous and sustainable.
Stephen holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and earned a Certificate of Management Excellence from Harvard Business School, completing programs in Strategy: Building and Sustaining Competitive Advantage, Disruptive Innovation, and Authentic Leadership Development. This unique combination of technical expertise and leadership training informs his ability to guide organizations through complex challenges with both rigor and vision.
Before co-founding Nexxus, Stephen served in senior leadership roles where he led EdTech, assessment design, psychometric research, and the integration of new technologies, including the use of AI in scoring, content generation, and data and reporting. His work has spanned large, multi-year contracts, B2B, B2C, program oversight and design, technical research and documentation, standard setting, test security, and support of Technical Advisory Committees (TACs), always with a focus on ensuring validity, reliability, and fairness for all learners.
Stephen’s approach goes beyond data science and analytics. He is skilled at translating complex psychometric concepts into language that policymakers, educators, and stakeholders can understand and act upon. Clients value his ability to ensure technical excellence while keeping systems aligned to broader educational goals.
At Nexxus, Stephen leads work in business development and relations, leadership and expanding capacity, psychometrics and technical services, assessment operations, and research and evaluation, bringing a steady hand and innovative mindset to projects that require both precision and vision.
“As a psychometrician, I believe the best systems balance technical precision with practical implementation. My time at Harvard, combined with years in executive leadership, reinforced that lasting impact also requires authentic leadership and clear strategy.”
— Stephen Murphy
Maria D’Brot ph.d
Managing ParTNER
Areas of Expertise
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Systems Design
Compliance
Peer Review Evidence
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Transparency Frameworks
Data Puality
Accountability
Reporting
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Validation of Automated Scoring
Emerging Measurement Technologies
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Assessment Systems
Student Engagement
Program Improvement
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Assessment & Item Design
Transition Planning
Readiness
Sustainability
Maria D’Brot is a seasoned education leader whose career spans the classroom, district office, state agency, and vendor sector. With over two decades of experience, she brings a rare combination of practical knowledge, policy expertise, and research skill to every engagement. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to improving systems in ways that genuinely serve students and educators.
Maria began her career as a math and science teacher, where she learned firsthand the importance of student engagement and meaningful feedback. She went on to serve in district leadership before becoming a Deputy Superintendent at the state level, where she oversaw accountability systems, peer review, and data governance. In the vendor sector, she has partnered with states and organizations to design and transition large-scale assessment programs, lead professional learning, and strengthen organizational capacity.
Earning her Ph.D in Research, Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics (REMS), Maria’s dissertation focused on large-scale accountability systems and their relationship to student engagement. Her research underscores her belief that accountability must not only meet compliance standards, but also reflect what matters most in education: supporting students in meaningful, equitable ways.
At Nexxus, Maria leads work in strategy, policy, accountability, leadership, and capacity building, helping clients align technical systems with real-world impact. Known for translating complexity into clarity, she partners with states, districts, and vendors to design solutions that are rigorous, practical, and sustainable.
As a former deputy superintendent, I’ve seen firsthand how the right strategy can transform an organization. At Nexxus, we bridge vision and execution—aligning people, policy, and practice to deliver results that matter for the communities we serve.
— Maria D’Brot
Our Approach
The path forward, made clear.
“Progress begins when the path forward is clear—and the journey is taken in partnership.”
Collaboration
We believe the best solutions are built together. That’s why we work in close partnership with clients and stakeholders—using iterative design to test, refine, and strengthen strategies over time. Our collaborative approach ensures systems are practical, sustainable, and trusted, while building the confidence and capacity leaders need to achieve measurable impact.
Connection
We know progress happens when vision turns into action. Our approach connects policy, leadership, and operations into cohesive systems that work in practice—not just on paper. By transforming complex data into clear, actionable insights, we help leaders align compliance requirements with meaningful outcomes, ensuring every decision drives long-term success.
Clarity
We specialize in simplifying the complex. Whether navigating compliance requirements, technical frameworks, or organizational challenges, we turn information into insight and strategy into execution. By making the path forward clear, we empower organizations to move with confidence and focus on what matters most—delivering results.