My research is cited widely, has received national awards, and is featured in outlets such as The New York Times, Foreign Policy, and National Public Radio. I’ve always been driven not only to produce rigorous, high-impact research, but also to communicate insights in ways that resonate beyond academic audiences. 

After nearly two decades as a professor at Texas A&M University, where I taught thousands of students and led an independent research program, I am proud to bring my expertise to the public sector. I now serve as an Education Research and Evaluation Consultant with the California Department of Education, where I work on large-scale assessment and policy initiatives that directly impact students, families, and schools across the state. My work focuses on  using data to answer complex questions and inform decisions about education policy and practice.

My career has brought me great satisfaction, however I am most proud of my family and the life my two teenage daughters and I have built together. At home, my daughters and I love playing analog games, reliving the 80s through movies and music, and spending time with friends and family.  As a native California girl, I love introducing my native Texan girls to all that the area has to offer, with frequent trips to Yosemite, Tahoe, Napa and the coast.  We enjoy hiking, swimming and paddleboarding together.

As my daughters have grown more independent, I now have more time to explore what interests me. These days, I enjoy working out at the gym, deepening my knowledge of investing and catching up with friends in the Bay Area.