I am a Research Associate at the Education Policy Initiative at Carolina (EPIC). My research primarily examines the impact of education systems, policies, and programs on student transitions to college and career. My prior work includes studies of Early College High Schools, Dual-Credit programs, mandatory ACT/SAT testing policies, and high school graduation requirements. Currently, I am working on a multi-year evaluation of North Carolina’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) intervention and research into the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on educational outcomes in North Carolina.
Based on my research, I have written op-eds for education news outlets, prepared policy briefs for state officials, presented at major professional conferences in education and public policy, and published in academic journals including Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Education Finance and Policy, and Social Science Research.
Previously, I worked as a Social Research Specialist at UNC Charlotte’s Urban Institute, where I conducted partner-driven evaluations of local education, government, and social service programs. I earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy and a Master’s in Social Work from UNC Chapel Hill and a BA in Psychology from Boston College.