CALDER has a core team of researchers at AIR and affiliate scholars at 13 universities. CALDER’s researchers and university-based affiliates are national experts on a range of critical issues, including teacher preparation and teacher labor markets, specialized teaching areas (e.g., special education), student outcomes and achievement, post-secondary transitions and pathways, education systems and policies. Research assistants are also an important part of our work—search AIR's job listings for "CALDER" to see if we have any current RA openings.
Current Experts

Benjamin Backes
CALDER Principal Economist
American Institutes for Research
American Institutes for Research

David Blazar
Associate Professor of Education Policy
University of Maryland
University of Maryland

Sade Bonilla
Assistant Professor
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania

Meagan Comb
Executive Director | Wheelock Educational Policy Center
Boston University
Boston University

James Cowan
CALDER Principal Economitrician
American Institutes for Research
American Institutes for Research

Michael DeArmond
CALDER Director of Policy
American Institutes for Research
American Institutes for Research

Elise Dizon-Ross
CALDER Researcher
American Institutes for Research
American Institutes for Research

David Figlio
Gordon Fyfe Professor of Economics and Education
University of Rochester
University of Rochester

Kevin Fortner
RMS Program Coordinator | Associate Professor Educational Policy Studies
Georgia State University
Georgia State University

Dan Goldhaber
CALDER Director | Vice-President
American Institutes for Research
American Institutes for Research
Thomas Goldring
Director of Research
Georgia State University
Georgia State University

Eric Hanushek
Paul and Jean Hanna Senior Fellow in Education
Stanford University
Stanford University

Steven Hemelt
Professor of Public Policy
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Harry Holzer
John Lafarge Jr. SJ Professor of Public Policy | AIR Scholar
Georgetown University
Georgetown University

Scott Imberman
Professor
Michigan State University
Michigan State University

Kirabo Jackson
Abraham Harris Professor of Education and Social Policy | IPR Fellow
Northwestern University
Northwestern University

Tara Kilbride
Interim Associate Director
Michigan State University
Michigan State University

Cory Koedel
Professor of Economics and Public Policy
University of Missouri
University of Missouri

Constance Lindsay
Assistant Professor
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Melissa Arnold Lyon
Assistant Professor Department of Public Administration and Policy
University at Albany, State University of New York
University at Albany, State University of New York

Josh McGee
Associate Professor
University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas

Emily Morton
CALDER Researcher
American Institutes for Research
American Institutes for Research

Ben Ost
Associate Professor
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago

Michael Podgursky
Chancellor's Professor
University of Missouri
University of Missouri

Steven Rivkin
Department Head | Professor Economics
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago

Matthew Springer
Managing Partner
Basis Policy Research
Basis Policy Research

Elizabeth Steiner
Senior Policy Researcher
RAND Corporation
RAND Corporation

Katharine O. Strunk
Dean | George and Diane Weiss Professor of Education
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania

Roddy Theobald
CALDER Deputy Director | Managing Researcher
American Institutes for Research
American Institutes for Research

Zeyu Xu
CALDER Managing Economist
American Institutes for Research
American Institutes for Research

Gema Zamarro
Professor of Education Reform and Economics | Endowed Chair in Teacher Quality
University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
Emeritus Experts

Charles Clotfelter
Professor Emerita of Public Policy
Duke University
Duke University

Jane Hannaway
Affiliate Faculty
Georgetown University
Georgetown University

Helen Ladd
Professor Emerita of Public Policy
Duke University
Duke University

Tim Sass
Distinguished University Professor
Georgia State University
Georgia State University