Michal Kurlaender, Faculty Director, Professor, School of
Education
Michal Kurlaender investigates students’ educational pathways, in
particular K-12 and postsecondary alignment, and access to and
success in postsecondary schooling. She has expertise on
alternative pathways to college and college readiness at both
community colleges and four-year colleges and universities. In
addition to working with national data, Kurlaender works closely
with administrative data from all three of California’s public
higher education sectors–the University of California, the
California State University and the California Community College
systems. Read more aboutMichal
Kurlaender.
Scott Carrell, Faculty Co-Director, Professor, Department
of Economics
Scott Carrell is a Professor of Economics and the Faculty
Athletics Representative at the University of California,
Davis. His primary area of research is in the economics of
education. Professor Carrell is a Research Associate at the
National Bureau of Economic Research, a Research Fellow at
Institute for the Study of Labor, and a Co-Editor for the Journal
of Human Resources. He spent 10 years as an active duty officer
in the U.S. Air Force, retiring from the U.S. Air Force Reserve
as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2015. Read more about Scott
Carrell.
Paco Martorell, Faculty Co-Director, Associate Professor,
School of Education
Francisco (Paco) Martorell joined the School of Education as an
assistant professor in July 2014. He has broad research
interests in both higher education and K-12 policy. Recent
studies include analyses of developmental education in college,
the returns to educational credentials, and the impacts of school
facility investments. Current projects include an examination of
parental preferences for schools, financial aid in community
college, the impacts of college readiness signals, and the
long-run effects of school quality. Read more about
Paco
Martorell.
Sherrie Reed, Executive
Director
Sherrie Reed is Executive Director at the California Education
Lab. In this role, she directs research and administrative
activities of several federal and foundation grants aimed at
improving the educational experiences and outcomes of
California’s youth. Prior to joining the California
Education Lab, Sherrie served as the Director of Research for New
Tech Network and worked in K-12 education as a special education
teacher, school administrator and charter school developer for
more than 20 years. Sherrie has a Ph.D. in School
Organization and Education Policy from University of
California Davis. Drawing on her history as a school practitioner
and charter school developer, Sherrie’s doctoral research focused
on efforts in school reform. More recently, her research efforts
have focused on school truancy, high school graduation
requirements, and college outcomes. Read more about
Sherrie
Reed.
Elizabeth Zeiger Friedmann, Research
Fellow
Betsey Friedmann is a postdoctoral researcher at the California
Education Lab and Wheelhouse Center. She received her Ph.D. in
Education with an emphasis in School Organization and Educational
Policy from the University of California, Davis. Her research
focuses on issues related to college access and success,
including financial aid and transfer pathways from community
colleges. In addition to her work at University of California,
Davis, Betsey also lectures at California State University, East
Bay. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from
University of California, Berkeley and a master’s degree in
Education from California State University, East Bay.
Graduate Student Researchers
Sara Adan, PhD Student, School of
Education
Sara Adan is a second year Ph.D. student in Education with a
concentration in School Organization and Educational Policy. Her
research interests primarily focus on higher education and
include issues on college affordability, access, student success,
and equity. Prior to joining CEL, Sara was a researcher for the
California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the Public
Policy Institute of California, and the Education Insights
Center. Sara holds a master’s in public policy and administration
from Sacramento State University and a bachelor’s of science in
applied psychology from New York University.
Minahil Asim, PhD Candidate, School of
Education
Minahil Asim is a fourth year Ph.D. candidate in the School
Organization and Educational Policy (SOEP) program at University
of California, Davis. Her research examines the role of parents
and communities in improving the school and home-learning
environment for school-aged children in developing countries.
Minahil has worked with multilateral agencies, governments, and
universities to collect, analyze, and use data to inform
education policy and programs in Pakistan, Sierra Leone, and
Rwanda. Minahil completed a master’s degree. in International
Comparative Education (ICE) at Stanford University prior to
joining the Ph.D. program at Davis. She was born and raised in
Lahore, Pakistan and has been living in the Bay Area for 4 years
with her husband.
Briana Ballis, PhD Student, Department of
Economics
Briana Ballis is a Ph.D. student in the Department
of Economics at University of California, Davis and has a
particular interest in the economics of education. Specifically
she is studying the long-run impacts of special education
placement and how peers influence educational investments. Prior
to enrolling as a graduate student at Davis, she worked as a
research analyst at Research Triangle Institute
(RTI) working on projects related to Medicare and Medicaid.
She holds a master’s degree in Economics and a bachelor’s degree
in Economics and International Relations from Boston University.
Kramer Cohen, PhD Candidate, Department of
Economics
Kramer Cohen is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Economics
at the University of California, Davis. Her research interests
include the economics of education and labor economics, with a
particular interest in college readiness, educational
effectiveness, and the effect of educational systems on
historically underrepresented students. Prior to attending UC
Davis, Kramer was a research associate at the Public Policy
Institute of California and taught at San Francisco State
University. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s
degree in Economics from San Francisco State University.
Claudia Escobar, PhD Student, School of
Education
Claudia Escobar is a doctoral student in the School Organization
and Educational Policy (SOEP) program at University of
California, Davis. Her research interests include the
persistence, retention, and learning experiences of first
generation (firstgen) college students at 2- and 4-year public
universities in California. Her work explores the
relationship between the social and emotional learning processes
of firstgen students and the culture of higher education
vis-à-vis faculty and peers. In her spare time, she cycles,
collects spices, cooking and cocktail recipes, and tests the
recipes she has collected. Claudia is a former policy
analyst for the University of California’s Office of the
President. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Government from
Claremont McKenna Collee and a Masters of Public Policy from
University of Chicago.
Ambar Hernandez Negrete, PhD Student, School of
Education
Ambar is a second-year Ph.D. student in the School of Education
at University of California, Davis with an emphasis in School
Organization and Educational Policy. Her research interests
include examining the ways in which race-conscious and
race-neutral policies hinder, or facilitate. the educational
attainment of historically underrepresented students. Ambar was
born in Oaxaca, Mexico and migrated to California with her family
at the age of seven. Ambar previously earned a Bachelor of
Science in Community and Regional Development from University of
California, Davis.
Alexandria Hurtt, PhD Student, School of
Education
Alexandria Hurtt is a third year Ph.D. student in Education with
a concentration in School Organization and Educational
Policy. Her research interests include college access and
readiness, particularly in terms of literacy, and her current
work examines the effects of course-taking on postsecondary
outcomes. Prior to enrolling at University of California,
Davis she worked at a charter school in New Jersey developing
English curriculum for middle school students. She holds a
master’s degree in education from University of California, Davis
and a bachelor’s degree in political science from The College of
New Jersey.
Jill Huynh, PhD Student, School of
Education
Jill Huynh is a Ph.D. student in School Organization &
Educational Policy. Building on a decade of professional
experience at colleges and universities, Jill’s research
questions revolve around issues of diversity, equity, and
inclusion in higher education. Jill obtained a Bachelor of
Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at
the University of Washington and earned her EdM in Higher
Education at Harvard University.
Alice Li, PhD Student, Department of Economics
Alice is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Department of
Economics at the University of California, Davis. Her research
interests include education topics generally. In particular, her
current focus is on financial aid for students and how access, or
lack thereof, affects educational outcomes.
Previously, Alice worked at an economic consulting firm
for two years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and
Mathematics from the University of Virginia.
Justin Luu, PhD Student, School of
Education
Justin is a first-year Ph.D. student studying Education with an
emphasis in School Organization and Education Policy. Prior to
joining the California Education Lab, he worked as a quantitative
research analyst with the Center for Research on Education
Outcomes (CREDO) based at Stanford University. There, his
research focused on urban education and school choice. He holds a
bachelor’s in Economics with a minor in Education from the
University of California, Davis.
Joanna Mathias, PhD Student, School of
Education
Joanna is a Ph.D. student in Education at the University of
California, Davis with an emphasis in School Organization and
Educational Policy. Joanna’s research focuses on the measurement
of socioeconomic status and the income achievement gap in higher
education, especially in STEM fields. Joanna received her
bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Colorado in
Colorado Springs and her master’s degree in Economics from North
Carolina State University while working professionally at a
financial consulting firm.
Anna Marie Ramos, PhD Student, School of
Education
Anna Marie is a doctoral student in the School
Organization and Educational Policy program at the
University of California, Davis. Her research spans a variety of
policies that shape college transitions in California, inclusive
of how basic needs insecurity and related institutional resources
influence students’ educational trajectories. Anna Marie
previously worked at MDRC, aiding in evaluations of postsecondary
policies intended to support low-income students. She holds a
master’s degree in Education from UC Davis and a bachelor’s
degree from the University of San Francisco.
Derek Rury, PhD Student, Department of
Economics
Derek is a Ph.D. student in the in the Department of Economics.
His research interests include higher education, technological
change, and income inequality. His current projects focus on how
students choose their field of study once in college and how
those choices both influence and are influenced by broader
economic trends. Derek’s research also touches on how the price
of higher education influences income inequality, as well as how
labor markets and educational decisions are influenced by public
policy. Derek served as a fellow at the Center for Educational
Effectiveness at University of California, Davis where he
collaborated with university administrators in supporting
graduate student instructors. Before coming to University of
California, Davis, Derek worked for the New York City Department
of Education and earned his Master of Public Administration at
NYU.
Iwunze Ugo, PhD Student, Department of
Economics
Iwunze Ugo is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Economics. His
research interests include educational funding and outcomes both
at the K-12 level and in higher education as well as local
government public finance. Previously, Iwunze was a research
associate at the Public Policy Institute of California, where he
worked on a variety of projects related to educational funding
and academic achievement for high-need student groups. Iwunze
holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics from the
University of California, Santa Barbara.
Jackson Yan, PhD Student, School of
Education
Jackson is a Ph.D. student in the School Organization and
Educational Policy at the University of California, Davis. His
research interests are focused on community college students and
their transfer pathways to a four-year college. Jackson has
previously taught English composition as an adjunct faculty
member at Foothill-De Anza and Skyline Community Colleges. He
holds a master’s degree in English from San Francisco State
University and a bachelor’s degree from UC Davis.
Alumni and Affiliated Researchers
Michel Grosz, PhD, Senior Analyst, Abt
Associates
Michel Grosz is a Senior Analyst at Abt Associates in Rockville,
Maryland. He received his Ph.D. in Economics in 2017 from
the University of California, Davis. Michel is a labor economist
whose research primarily focuses on community colleges and
career-technical education. Previously, Michel worked as a
research associate at the Urban Institute in Washington D.C. and
earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Pomona College.
Jacob Jackson, PhD, Research Fellow, Public Policy
Institute of California
Jacob Jackson is a research fellow at the Public Policy Institute
of California in the Higher Education Center. His research work
includes college access, college outcomes, and higher education
finance. He earned a Ph.D. in Education from University of
California, Davis. Before his career in research Jacob was a
middle school and high school mathematics teacher. He earned a
bachelor’s degrees in secondary education and mathematics, as
well as his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, from
the University of Missouri.
Kelsey Krausen, PhD, Senior Research Associate, West
Ed
Kelsey Krausen is a Senior Research Associate at WestEd.
Kelsey is an education policy researcher with expertise
in accountability systems, school finance, education
leadership, continuous improvement and systems reform. She
has worked on a range of research projects including statewide
research for Senator Kamala D. Harris on truancy and chronic
absence in California’s elementary schools, an evaluation of
district systems transformation led by Dr. Michael Fullan, and
research on the implementation of California’s new local
accountability policy by county and district leaders. Previously,
she worked as the Assistant Director of Policy at the National
Writing Project and taught college writing at San Quentin Prison.
Kelsey has a Ph.D. in School Organization and Educational Policy
from the University of California, Davis, a master’s degree in
Public Administration from San Francisco State University, and a
bachelor’s degree in Literature from the University of
California, San Diego.
Lester Lusher, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of
Hawaii at Manoa
Lester Lusher is an Assistant Professor in the Department of
Economics and Public Policy School at the University of Hawaii at
Manoa. Lester’s research centers around a broad array of topics
in education, including understanding the importance of monetary
incentives, commitment devices, teaching assistants, and sleep
cycles on student achievement. Lester’s studies leverage both
natural and experimental variation. His work has received support
from several external foundations, including the Russell Sage
Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the Abdul Latif
Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) North America. He earned his
Ph.D. in Economics in June 2017 from the University of
California, Davis. He also holds a master’s degree and a
bachelor’s degree in Economics, and a bachelor’s degree in
Statistics, from University of California, Davis.
Matt Naven, PhD, Assistant Professor, Washington and
Lee University
Matt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at
Washington and Lee University. His primary research interests are
public economics, labor economics, and the economics of
education. His research focuses on the effects of institutions,
public policies, and external forces on student outcomes, with
particular interest in increasing college access for low-income
students. Prior to earning his Ph.D. in economics from the
University of California, Davis, Matt grew up in Omaha, Nebraska
and completed bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Spanish at
Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Carolina Ramirez, PhD, Qualitative Researcher, The
Education Trust
Carolina is a Qualitative Researcher at The Education Trust. Her
research interests are post-secondary persistence among
underrepresented students, where she examines the experiences of
undergraduates at broad-access four-year universities and is also
interested in undergraduate mobility and how transfer pathways
impact persistence. Carolina worked as a community organizer in
New York City. Prior to earning her Ph.D. with a concentration in
School Organization and Educational Policy at the University of
California, Davis, Carolina earned a master’s degree in Education
Leadership: Policy and Advocacy from New York University and a
bachelor’s degree in Political Economic Theory from University of
California, Berkeley.
Juliet Wahleithner, PhD, Assistant Professor, Fresno
State University
Juliet Michelsen Wahleithner is an Assistant Professor in the
Literacy, Early, Bilingual, and Special Education Department at
Fresno State University where she teaches courses focused on
literacy and writing instruction. She also serves as the
co-director of the San Joaquin Valley Writing Project, the local
site of the National Writing Project, and is an affiliate faculty
member of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at
Fresno State. Juliet’s research focuses on the teaching and
learning of literacy in secondary schools and teacher development
for teaching English Language Arts at the secondary level. Prior
to earning her Ph.D. in Education from University of California,
Davis, Juliet taught high school English and journalism and
served as a district level instructional coach in Lodi Unified.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Aydin Schwartz, Economics, Class of 2020
David Correa, Class of 2019
Kristen Cui, Class of 2019
Joseph Melkonian, Class of 2019
Grace Beattie, Managerial Economics, Class of 2018
