Julie Harris

Overview

Julie Harris, PhD, is a Principal Research Associate for Education Studies with 15 years of experience in educational research, quantitative analysis, and program evaluation. She was an Institute of Education Sciences (IES) pre-doctoral fellow in the Economics of Education and has completed IES training in cluster randomized trials and cost-benefit analyses. She is also certified in What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Group Design Standards and Advanced Group Design Standards, Version 5.0. Throughout her career, Harris has applied her expertise in designing and conducting rigorous studies, often employing randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs that meet WWC standards. She is an expert at evaluating educational programs and initiatives, particularly those centered on high school completion, career and technical education, postsecondary readiness and success, and labor market alignment.

Harris has extensive experience leading large-scale research efforts for ED, which often involve comprehensive stakeholder engagement and outreach. She has designed and led quantitative evaluations for multiple Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grants, showcasing her expertise in statistical analysis. Additionally, she is skilled in survey design, data collection—including interviews, site visits, and focus groups—data cleaning, analysis, and report writing. Harris also works to translate research into practice by providing training and technical assistance to researchers and educators.

Education

• PhD, Educational Policy, Michigan State University
• MS, Economic Research, University of North Texas
• BA, Economics, University of North Texas