Research Associate
PhD, University of Arkansas
Elise Swanson is a research associate in the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the USC Rossier School of Education. Trained in Education Policy and econometric techniques, she uses quantitative and mixed methods to evaluate programs and policies aimed at increasing students’ access to and success in postsecondary education. She has studied the effect of place-based scholarships, early exposure to college campuses, student support services, comprehensive college transition programs, and developmental education reforms. Currently, she is a Senior Research Manager at Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research. For an updated profile, visit her Harvard CEPR page.
Swanson completed her PhD at the University of Arkansas under Dr. Gema Zamarro. Her dissertation was titled “To and Through College: Investigating Attitudes Towards, Enrollment in, and Graduation from College.” Before earning her doctorate, Swanson taught eleventh grade English in the Arkansas Delta.
Projects
Promoting At-Promise Student Success (PASS) Project
The Promoting At-Promise Student Success Project aims to explore, document, and better understand whether the Thompson Scholars Learning Communities (TSLC) program experiences translate into greater student success.