About me

I’m currently a research scientist at the Center for Economic and Social Research at the University of Southern California, though I’m based out of Austin, TX, where I am co-director of the Center for Applied Research and Evaluation (CARE). Prior to CESR, I was a senior research scientist at Gibson Consulting Group.

My primary interests lie in the application of statistical methods to explore descriptive, quasi-experimental, and experimental questions about the efficacy of educational interventions for helping kids learn and thrive, and to develop a deeper understanding of structural inequities that contribute to disparities in student outcomes. I am also interested in statistical programming and visualization, and in using large administrative files to understand behavior and the impact of social policy.

I’ve worked as an education researcher for nearly 20 years, starting as an evaluator at Austin Independent School District. While there, my work on the correlates of graduates' transition to college was recognized by the American Education Research Association. My CV has a more current list of projects, but I continue to be interested in the factors that inhibit or improve students' successful transition from high school and into college and the workforce.

My academic background is in Political Science, where I started an unfinished dissertation in Political Economy at Texas Tech University. There, my concentration was in research methodology with a strong focus on panel data methods and econometrics. I applied these methods to investigate politicians' incentives to obfuscate their political positions in some contexts, and to explore the association between electoral rules and foreign investment.

I’m a native Texan and grew up in a rural community north of Houston. I’m a first generation high school graduate, and this experience has motivated much of my work in education. I live in Austin, TX, with my wife and son, but try to escape to the mountains whenever I can. When in Austin, you may find me on a trail, on a basketball court, at a concert, or somewhere else.