Departments and Research Centers

Education Policy Initiative

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Showing 1 - 30 of 645 results
Staff

Lauren O'Hair

Research Analyst
Lauren O'Hair is a Research Analyst at the Education Policy Initiative. Her work at EPI has primarily focused on evaluating elementary education grants, education governance structures, and the implementation of early literacy curricula. Prior to…
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Staff

Joseph Payovich

Web Developer, Office of Communications & Outreach
Joe Payovich is a web designer at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, where he supports the web and digital projects needs of the Education Policy Initiative, Program for Practical Policy Engagement, Poverty…
Joe Payovich
Staff

Stacey Rzeszut

Administrative Coordinator
Stacey Rzeszut is the administrative coordinator for EPI and provides fiscal, operational and administrative support to the EPI team, predoctoral candidates, and the Michigan Education Data Center. Stacey also manages the Education Policy Speaker…
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Staff

Anne Taylor

Senior Project Manager, Education Policy Initiative
Annie Taylor is a senior project manager focusing on early childhood with the Education Policy Initiative. Her work at EPI includes designing and implementing research agendas and studies for universal preschool programs around the county. She joined…
Annie Taylor_directory
Staff

Qia Yang

Data Programmer
Qia Yang is the data programmer at the Education Policy Initiative. His primary work is to maintain the Michigan Education Data Center, import data from the State of Michigan and export data to MERI researchers. He also optimizes the code in MEDC to…
Qia Yang profile
Staff

Rachel Barra

Research Assistant
Rachel Barra is a first-year Master's student in Public Policy and Business Administration and a research assistant at the Education Policy Initiative. Prior to attending graduate school, she worked at Chegg as an Academic Relations Content…
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Staff

Paige Foster

Student Graphic Designer
Paige Foster is a senior pursuing a BFA in art and design at the University of Michigan’s Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design, concentrating on graphic design and visual communication, and a History of Art minor at LSA. Paige is interested in…
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Staff

Kate Lyons

Research Assistant
Kate Lyons is a first-year Master of Public Policy student and a research assistant at the Education Policy Initiative. Prior to graduate school, she worked as a program associate for the Council of Chief State School Officers, where she supported…
kate-lyons-profile-pic
Staff

Luz Mayancela

Research Assistant
Luz Mayancela is an undergraduate student at the Gerald Ford School of Public Policy and a research assistant for the Education Policy Initiative. As a Chicago native and a product of public schools, she is passionate about early childhood education…
luz-mayancela-caho
Affiliated faculty

Deborah Rivas-Drake

Professor, School of Education; Professor Psychology, College of Literature, Science and the Arts
[email protected]
(734) 647-0614
Deborah Rivas-Drake, is a Professor of Education and Psychology at the University of Michigan. Together with the Contexts of Academic + Socioemotional Adjustment (CASA) Lab, she examines how school, peer, family, and community settings can support…
Debbie_Rivas-Drake_profile
In the Media

Stange comments on cuts to education research funding

Mar 21, 2025 Bridge Michigan
Following the recent executive order designed to dismantle the Department of Education, the Ford School's Kevin Stange spoke with Bridge Michigan about what this means for education research. Strange shared that his biggest concern is the fate of...
Stange comments on cuts to education research funding
In the Media

No easy answer to tech use in classrooms - Jacob

Jan 22, 2025 The Wall Street Journal
"I just don’t think we know yet" says Brian Jacob, Ford School professor, on the effectiveness of technology use in classrooms. As screen time has increased in classrooms research still shows mixed results on student...
No easy answer to tech use in classrooms - Jacob
News

Cohodes' research "helped define" education in 2024

Dec 22, 2024
Research conducted by the Ford School's Sarah Cohodes has been cited for "defining education in 2024." The 74 network, a non-profit education news service, highlighted Cohodes' research among 11 other studies as some of the "biggest discoveries from...
Cohodes' research "helped define" education in 2024
State & Hill

Greater than its sum: an update on the Kohn Collaborative

Dec 17, 2024
Six years ago, Harold and Carol Kohn approached the Ford School with a vision. Their goal was to help build a vibrant research community dedicated to promoting social equity and inclusion. Today, the Kohn Collaborative for Social Policy is poised to...
Greater than its sum: an update on the Kohn Collaborative
News

Sarah Cohodes testifies before New Jersey Senate

Dec 17, 2024
On December 16, 2024, Ford School Associate Professor Sarah Cohodes testified before the New Jersey Senate Higher Education Committee. She was called on to speak at a public hearing to assist lawmakers in evaluating the status of charter schools...
Cohodes' research "helped define" education in 2024
In the Media

Cohodes on disparate school of choice system in Michigan

Nov 22, 2024 Bridge Michigan
In Michigan, 1 in 4 K-12 students attend either a charter school or a school of choice district. Nearly all of Michigan's 532 public school districts participate in school choice. The Trump administration is shown to be an advocate for school of...
Cohodes' research "helped define" education in 2024