Our TeaM
StrategyForward Advisors brings the expertise and skills to help you succeed.
Dr. Julie Johnson
Founder and Principal
Dr. Julie Johnson
Founder and Principal
Dr. Julie Johnson is founder and principal of StrategyForward Advisors, a postsecondary policy, strategy, and intermediary firm that is committed to transforming postsecondary education to help learners achieve their goals. Julie serves as a strategic partner to national foundations, policy organizations, associations, states, and institutions to drive meaningful change in higher education that will strengthen our communities. Julie is a higher education leader with 20 years of institutional, policy, and entrepreneurial expertise. She oversaw state higher education policy and advocacy for 42 states as Vice President of Strategy for Complete College America. She helped launch and lead a new community college as Deputy CEO of the University of the District of Columbia Community College. While at the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance in the U.S. Department of Education, she conducted policy research on college access, success, and affordability for Congress and the Secretary of Education. She helped develop and launch a new education-to-business venture to close industry skill gaps at Strayer Education and co-founded Faculty Guild, an ed-tech startup, to help college faculty improve their teaching. Julie is a long-time board member and former board chair for Maya Angelou Schools, serving opportunity and system-impacted youth and young adults. Julie has also served as a professorial lecturer at The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development, a community college adjunct instructor at UDC Community College, and a guest speaker at institutions such as Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Maryland. She received her Ed.D. in Educational Policy from The George Washington University, Ed.M. in Higher Education from Harvard University, and B.A. in English from Azusa Pacific University. She lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two children.
Dr. Kylah Torre
Senior Director, Policy & Research
Dr. Kylah Torre
Senior Director, Policy & Research
Kylah Torre, Ph.D. is the Senior Director, Policy & Research at StrategyForward Advisors. Prior to that, she served as Senior Director of Digital Learning at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the state agency charged with oversight of universities and community colleges. With over 15 years of experience in education, she has led initiatives such as the creation of OERTX, a digital library of open educational resources that attracted over 500,000 users worldwide and was recognized by OE Global and the 88th Texas Legislature. Dr. Torre also has experience in educational research and teaching at the K12 and postsecondary levels. She has received numerous accolades for her work, including Texas Digital Learning Association’s 2021 Outstanding Commitment to Excellence in Distance Learning Award and the 2024 Sally M. Johnstone Award for thought leadership from WCET. She holds a Ph.D. in Urban Education from the City University of New York Graduate Center and a B.A. in International Development from McGill University.
Dr. Adrian K. Haugabrook
Senior Director, Strategy
Dr. Adrian K. Haugabrook
Senior Director, Strategy
Dr. Adrian K. Haugabrook is a strategic advisor, systems thinker, and equity-driven innovator with over three decades of executive leadership in higher education, nonprofit, and social impact sectors. He has committed his career to expanding access, equity, and opportunity by leading innovative initiatives that align vision, strategy, and measurable impact. He brings a rare blend of organizational insight, strategic foresight, and a deep commitment to transforming organizations to be more inclusive, future-ready, and mission-aligned. is a nationally recognized leader in strategy, growth, policy, and transformational change across global higher education and the nonprofit sector.
Throughout his career, Dr. Haugabrook has held senior roles at nationally recognized institutions and organizations, leading enterprise-level strategy, equity-centered change initiatives, and strategic partnerships. He is the Founder and Principal of Quinta Essentia Ventures, a consultancy dedicated to equipping social sector organizations with the tools and strategies needed to achieve meaningful impact, optimize performance, and build long-term capacity. Previously, Dr. Haugabrook served as Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Social Impact at Southern New Hampshire University, where he led initiatives that advanced equity and social mobility through innovations such as competency-based education, technology-enhanced learning, and cross-sector collaboration.
A frequent speaker and thought leader on topics related to educational equity, systems change, innovation, and institutional resilience, Dr. Haugabrook was featured at TED 2021, where his talk, “3 Ways to Lower the Barriers to Higher Education,” received over one million views within its first six weeks of its release. Dr. Haugabrook currently serves on the board of directors of Upswing International (education technology company) and Complete College America, including its Equitable Artificial Intelligence National Advisory Council. His past leadership includes board roles with the Postsecondary National Policy Institute, Ascend at the Aspen Institute, and was selected into the inaugural cohort as Designer in Residence with the Education Design Lab (2021–2022).
In addition to his professional commitments, he is a devoted husband, father of two, grandfather, and Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Haugabrook holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Massachusetts Boston, M.S. in Social Administration from Georgia Southwestern University, and B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of West Georgia.
Brigid Torres
Director of Operations
Brigid Torres
Director of Operations
Brigid Torres leads operations for StrategyForward Advisors. With over a decade of experience in higher education administration, Brigid brings her expertise in operations, systems, and planning to SF. She began her career working for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. For nine years, Brigid worked at the University of San Francisco (USF), culminating in her role as Director of Administrative Services for the Office of the Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences. After relocating (back) to the Washington, DC region, she worked as Assistant Director for Mission Engagement at Georgetown University. She earned a BA in History from Santa Clara University and a Master of Public Affairs from USF. Brigid’s capstone project, “The Path Forward: Fixing California’s Failed Sentencing,” focused on criminal justice reform in the state. She lives in Falls Church, Virginia with her husband and three daughters.
Chauncey Alexander
Communications Specialist
Chauncey Alexander
Communications Specialist
Chauncey T. Alexander serves as the CEO of the Ascension Commission. He currently splits his time living in both his hometown, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. He previously served on the Communications team at the U.S. Department of Education, as well as serving as the Associate Speechwriter for Vice President Kamala D. Harris. He holds a PhD in Instructional Management and Leadership from Robert Morris University.
Jesse DiPietro
Project Management & Environmental Policy Collaborator
Jesse DiPietro
Project Management & Environmental Policy Collaborator
Jesse DiPietro is a consultant at StrategyForward Advisors, where he focuses on advancing sustainability initiatives and developing green job pathways within post-secondary education institutions. He is motivated by a mission-driven commitment to creating practical solutions that make a lasting impact. Before joining StrategyForward, Jesse worked as a management consultant supporting the U.S. Department of Transportation on clean energy projects, with the José Andrés Group on sustainable farming/restaurant supply chain research, and with a venture capital firm investing in ESG-focused businesses and B Corporations. Earlier in his career, Jesse served as Program Manager at the George Washington University Language Center and worked as a K–12 educator, teaching Social Studies and English in both the United States and Japan.
He holds an M.A. in Anthropology and an M.B.A. from George Washington University, as well as a B.A. in Secondary Education and History from Roger Williams University.
Gaith Hijazin
Director of Project Management
Gaith Hijazin
Director of Project Management
Gaith Hijazin serves as Director of Project Management for StrategyForward. He brings extensive experience designing and scaling PMO structures, governance frameworks, and portfolio management practices that enable executive leaders to prioritize initiatives, allocate resources effectively, and deliver measurable outcomes.
Gaith has overseen complex, cross-functional portfolios spanning digital learning, student success, workforce development, and operational transformation across the public and nonprofit sectors. He is widely recognized for his inclusive leadership style, facilitation expertise, and ability to translate strategic vision into disciplined, execution-focused delivery.
He holds an MBA in Conflict Management from Hamline University, a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management with a concentration in organizational leadership, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
Beyond his professional work, Gaith is deeply committed to addressing issues impacting individuals experiencing homelessness. He currently serves on the board of The Listening House and is the founder of Austin One Bag at a Time, a community-based initiative dedicated to providing essential care items and fostering dignity, connection, and support for people experiencing housing insecurity.
Dr. Stephanie Erdmann
Strategy & Policy Collaborator
Dr. Stephanie Erdmann
Strategy & Policy Collaborator
Dr. Stephanie Erdmann is the CEO of Great Falls College Montana State University, where she provides strategic leadership focused on student success, academic innovation, and community engagement. Since 2021, she has led efforts to strengthen the college’s brand identity. One highlight includes the introduction of Mo the River Otter as the college mascot, an initiative designed to build school spirit and community pride. This effort was part of a broader brand strategy following Great Falls College’s recognition as a Top 10 finalist in the Lumina Foundation’s Million Dollar Community College Challenge in 2022. These initiatives have contributed to increased enrollment and improved student retention rates.
With more than 25 years of experience in higher education, Erdmann has served in leadership, faculty, and administrative roles at public, private, and tribal colleges. Her expertise spans academic administration, curriculum development, teaching and research, and student engagement. Her leadership approach is rooted in participatory governance, using collaboration and data-driven decision-making to establish a clear strategic vision and guide the activities needed to achieve it.
Beyond her work on campus, Erdmann has been an active contributor to statewide efforts that advance innovative policies, programs, and initiatives strengthening the value of validated skills training and short-term credentials. She has also built national partnerships to bring unique training opportunities to rural communities, including the Goldman Sachs Foundation’s 10KSB Small Businesses in Rural America initiative. Locally, she serves on numerous boards dedicated to expanding career pathways, supporting entrepreneurship, and promoting educational opportunities for all.
Erdmann’s leadership and expertise have been recognized in various media outlets, including the Lumina Foundation’s Community College Roundtable and The Hidden Gem Podcast. Earlier in her career, she owned and operated a consulting firm and authored annual reports to Congress on the impact of Health and Human Services in Indian Country for the Administration for Native Americans.
She earned her Ph.D. in Business Administration–Management from Northcentral University, her M.S. in Administrative Science from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, and her B.A. in Communications from the University of Montana.
Dr. Jhenai Chandler
Policy & Research Collaborator
Dr. Jhenai Chandler
Policy & Research Collaborator
Dr. Jhenai Chandler is a Policy & Research Collaborator at StrategyForward Advisors. She is the lead education consultant at Chandler Solutions LLC, an organization that provides data-driven and equity-centred solutions to improve higher education and human resources systems. Dr. Chandler also serves as the Director for College Completion at The Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS) where she oversees the direction and implementation of TICAS’ College Completion advocacy and policy strategy. A significant part of Dr. Chandler’s focus is on the expansion of state and federal support for evidence-based student support programs that have been demonstrated by researchers to help more students graduate. She also leads coalition efforts to advance state policies that will support college completion efforts. Dr. Chandler has 16 years of higher education experience as a campus practitioner, researcher, and consultant.
As a former college student parent and Pell grant recipient, Dr. Chandler is committed to advocating for more college accessibility, affordability and comprehensive support that foster success for all students no matter their personal or financial circumstances. A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, Dr. Chandler is a first-generation college graduate with a Ph.D. in Higher Education Policy from Florida State University. She also earned a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University, a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and an associate degree from Florida A&M University.
Renee Faulkner
Policy & Research Collaborator
Renee Faulkner
Policy & Research Collaborator
Renee Faulkner has 20 years' experience in direct student services, program management, and partnership development across the education spectrum. She has served in roles at highly selective liberal arts colleges, national non-profit organizations, and state and federal government agencies. Her professional experiences have focused on smoothing the transitions between high school, postsecondary education, and the workforce, particularly for underrepresented learners and workers. Renee most recently served as a director in the division of student life at Carleton College (Northfield, MN) where she designed strategic programs centered on the BIPOC student experience. She also worked cross-functionally to inform institutional-level DEI policy. Prior to Carleton, Renee was an associate director at Jobs for the Future, a national non-profit focused on improving education and workforce systems. In that role she coached leaders of school systems, county offices of education, and community colleges on developing initiatives, networks, and partnerships that promote economic advancement. Renee holds a bachelor's degree in public policy from Pomona College and a master's degree in higher education from Harvard University.
Dr. Jodut Hashmi
Evaluation Collaborator
Jodut Hashmi
Evaluation Collaborator
Jodut has worked in education as a practitioner, researcher, and most recently as a data strategy leader for various non-profit organizations. Jodut uses impact modeling and data strategy to support program evaluation and reporting. She has spent her career working to advance educational and economic opportunities for low-income students and students of color. More specifically, she has evaluated college access and retention programs, K-12 initiatives that aim to propel students to achieve their math and literacy goals, principal preparation programs, and postsecondary programs and graduate programs that support the retention of students of color in STEM fields. Jodut holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education and an M.Ed. in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduation School of Education.
Annie Khoa
Policy & Research Collaborator
Annie Khoa
Policy & Research Collaborator
Shaped by her experiences as a first-generation, low-income college student and the daughter of Cambodian refugees, Annie Khoa is passionate about closing equity gaps in higher education and accelerating socioeconomic mobility. Most recently, she served as Senior Advisor to the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education, spearheading high-profile policy initiatives, including leading the review of the State’s performance-based funding formula, crafting an interagency effort to reengage students with some college but no degree, and directing legislative outreach to advance State priorities. Annie also has extensive experience working with institutions of higher education to recruit prospective students, amplify thought leadership, and deepen relationships with alumni and donors. She earned both her Bachelor’s degree and Master in Public Affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.
Dr. Dawn Y. Matthews
Advising Collaborator
Dr. Dawn Y. Matthews
Equity & Advising Collaborator
Dawn Y. Matthews, Ph.D. is a skilled higher education administrator with experience across functional areas including student transition, academic advising, success coaching, first & second year experience, residential life, curriculum design, and retention. She has also developed expertise in scaling student success initiatives and strategic priorities at both predominantly white institutions and historically Black institutions.
She currently serves as an Associate Dean in University College at North Carolina Central University where she supports the institutions strategic priorities around student success and holistic development by standardizing processes, evaluating academic technology efficiencies, and producing unit wide assessments. Prior to joining NCCU, Dr. Matthews served as the Associate Director of the Advising First department at Florida State University. In this role, she managed a team of 75 staff members in advising and college life coaching.
Dr. Matthews’ research has primarily focused on supporting underserved and marginalized student populations in higher education, with an emphasis on employing anti-deficit approaches toward student success, examining the experiences of Black college women, and promoting the continued relevance of HBCUs. She has published articles, reports, book chapters, and presented at numerous conferences. Dr. Matthews received both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Virginia State University and earned a Doctor of Philosophy from Florida State University.
Leah Moschella
Digital Credential Collaborator
Leah Moschella
Digital Credential Collaborator
Leah Moschella is a strategic innovator focused on modernizing education systems for today’s economy. With 18 years in national education leadership, she specializes in learner-centered strategies and education innovation.
At the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE), Leah leads the Leaders Collaborative and Superintendents Alliance, helping education leaders and policymakers navigate the future of work.
Previously, at Jobs for the Future, she scaled college and career pathways within the Pathways to Prosperity network, codifying processes for competency mapping, dual enrollment, and short-term credential expansion. At the Education Design Lab, she leveraged human-centered design to drive community college transformation, introducing micro-credentials and strengthening industry partnerships.
She founded and led Girls’ Leadership, Organized Women (GLOW), a nonprofit empowering thousands of women and girls through entrepreneurship and civic engagement training. An advocate for youth entrepreneurship and cultural exchange, she has been a Shafik Gabr Diplomatic Fellow (Egypt) and an Entrepreneurial Diplomacy Fellow (Tunisia) and sits on the board of Hostelling International USA.
Leah has been recognized as a White House United State of Women Changemaker and honored for social impact by the City of Boston, she was also part of the 2023 Women inPower cohort at NYC’s 92nd Street Y. She earned her Master of Science in Human Science from Northeastern University.
Dr. Purvi Parikh
Policy and Research collaborator
Dr. Purvi Parikh
Policy and Research Collaborator
Dr. Purvi Parikh, Ph.D., is a higher education strategist with 18 years of experience as a researcher, faculty member, and program manager. In her previous role as program manager for the Emerging Leaders Program at Muhlenberg College, she led a comprehensive evaluation of the 2-year college transition program, developed and implemented data-driven strategies, and built cross-campus partnerships to advance college persistence and success for historically underserved students. Prior to that, Purvi taught 35 undergraduate courses, served on the President’s Diversity Advisory Council where she co-authored a new institutional DEIB statement, organized campuswide initiatives to advance DEIB, and advised several student affinity groups, working closely with students of color to foster a stronger sense of belonging on campus.
Purvi’s practitioner experience as faculty and advisor to students of color, first-generation students, and students from low-income backgrounds, coupled with her lived experience as a first-generation, lower-income college student, drives her to address systemic barriers and advance educational equity and economic mobility for those furthest from opportunity. She is a proud daughter of a South Asian working class immigrant family with a Ph.D. in South Asia Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was awarded the 5-year Benjamin Franklin Fellowship, and a bachelor’s degree in math and philosophy from Rutgers University.
Colleen Pawlicki
Editor
Colleen Pawlicki
Editor
Colleen Pawlicki, PhD is a career educator, writer, researcher, and editor. As the owner of Troy Street Professional Services, Dr. Pawlicki provides qualitative research, copy editing, and writing coaching services to researchers, authors, and businesses. Before opening Troy Street, Colleen taught high school English in Chicago Public Schools and served in the Office of Special Education at the Indiana Department of Education. Colleen holds a PhD from Indiana University in Education Policy.
Andrés Quintanilla
Strategy & Policy Collaborator
Andrés Quintanilla
Strategy & Policy Collaborator
Andrés Quintanilla is passionate about ensuring our higher education systems create opportunities for all students and institutions to be successful.
Andrés currently serves as the Director of Student Success and Institutional Transformation at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) where he supports Regional public universities as they better support students. Prior to AASCU, he served in different capacities at various national organizations to include Achieving the Dream, The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP,) and Excelencia in Education. He has worked on various projects spanning diverse topics such as how to best support MSIs, adult reengagement strategies, holistic advising, and others by viewing higher education through unique perspectives.
Andrés is a DMV native and grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He is an avid D.C. sports fan and a proud son of immigrants from El Salvador and Honduras.
Raymond Rodriguez
Justice & Education Collaborator
Raymond Rodriguez
Justice & Education Collaborator
Raymond Rodriguez is a Justice & Education Associate at StrategyForward Advisors, focusing on justice and postsecondary education projects. He previously served as an advocate at Maya Angelou Academy located inside the Youth Services Center where he supported academic progression and developmental growth of incarcerated youth.
Raymond serves as Division Manager for the Petey Greene Program where he oversees the weekly operations of several tutoring programs for the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students in DC. As a Bilingual Credible Messenger with the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services in DC, he provides literary arts and education programming, intensive reentry services, workforce development, and trauma healing for individuals in the DC Jail, federal prison system, and returning individuals. As a Lead Facilitator Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshops, Raymond facilitates weekly book club programs for incarcerated teens that are charged as adults, and he developed and implemented a curriculum introducing incarcerated youth to the life-changing power of reading and writing. In addition, he continues to contribute at Integrated Community Services, Inc., which creates group home settings for adults diagnosed with mental illnesses in the D.C. area, where he has served since 2013. His role assists with supporting daily life tasks, personal goal setting, community engagement, and medical distribution.
Raymond earned his Master of Public Administration (MPA) and BS in Public Health from the University of Maryland, College Park, and he has an Associate of Arts in General Studies from Howard Community College.
Heidi Rupke
Environmental Policy & Practice Collaborator
Heidi Rupke
Environmental Policy & Practice Collaborator
Heidi Rupke has spent the last four years working for Clean Memphis, a local environmental and educational nonprofit. While there, she built local partnerships to reduce food waste through prevention, donation, and increased composting. Heidi has worked with national organizations such as the Natural Resources Defense Council to strategize messaging and to share learning with other U.S. cities. As part of this work, she has written successful grant proposals to local and national funders. Earlier in her career, she taught children and adults in the U.S. and in China. Heidi holds an M.A. degree in International Training and Education from American University. Her academic paper "Country Roads to Globalization" has been cited more than 150 times. In her spare time, Heidi enjoys writing for local publications such as Edible Memphis.
Andy Sherman
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Andy Sherman
Creative Director
Andy Sherman leads all design projects for StrategyForward Advisors. After 10 years working with design studios and advertising agencies in Denver, Creative Director Andy Sherman decided to build upon his experience and start Can of Creative. Andy has worked with national corporate leaders such as Microsoft, Qwest Communications, Vail Resorts, and Western Union, Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group, MARS, Dunkin’ Donuts, as well as with a variety of small businesses and startups. With a passion for distilling information and simplifying complex communication, he has carved a niche in the education space, helping his clients create professional reports and communication. Andy believes that graphic design is not simply a marketing tool, it’s an extension of a brand and the essence of communication. “It is imperative to gain insights into the language (both tone and visual) the audience speaks, and apply it across the brand and creative.”
Katie Simonian
Designer
Katie Simonian
Designer
Katie Simonian is a policy researcher with a Master of Public Policy degree from UC San Diego, specializing in inequality and social policy. Her research has centered around education systems, immigration rights, and utilizing data-driven analysis to develop equitable, evidence-based solutions. She holds a certificate in Spatial Analysis and is passionate about using GIS software to translate complex quantitative data into accessible, visual narratives. Originally from California, Katie currently resides in Washington, DC, and also works as a concert photographer in the area.
Hannah Smith
Policy & Research Collaborator
Hannah Smith
Policy & Research Collaborator
Hannah is a passionate advocate for educational equity and has extensive expertise in state and regional postsecondary policy, coaching on the use of tech-enabled advising solutions, and developing effective student support infrastructure at the institutional, regional and state level. Hannah leverages her counseling and coaching background to support inclusive facilitation and provide collaborative, authentic strategic planning support to institutions and organizations.
Prior to her consulting work, Hannah served as the Vice President of Partnerships at Moneythink, an ed-tech nonprofit focused on making college more accessible for low-income and first generation students. Hannah also led the partnership and technical assistance strategy for the nonprofit managing the state of California’s official college and career platform, CCGI.
Hannah’s own journey navigating the overly complicated community college system is what propelled her into this field and that humble but life-changing experience is what keeps her grounded in the work day-to-day. She holds a Bachelors of Arts from UC Berkeley and a Masters Degree in Prevention Science and Practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two spirited kids.
Dr. Stacy Townsley-Kestin
Strategy & Policy Collaborator
Dr. Stacy Townsley-Kestin
Strategy & Policy Collaborator
Dr. Stacy Townsley-Kestin has over 20 years of experience as a higher education leader and strategist. She served as the inaugural Associate Commissioner for Adult Strategy at the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, where she led key initiatives, including the development of the state’s first credit for prior learning (CPL) model policy guidance and a statewide initiative recognizing military student support efforts.
Previously, at Ivy Tech Community College, she spearheaded strategic statewide initiatives to enhance adult learner success. Her work included leading the Achieve Your Degree employer partnership program, developing ‘micro-pathway’ skills delivery models in advanced manufacturing, IT, and supply chain logistics, and overseeing learner outreach initiatives that leveraged federal, state, and grant funding in collaboration with community and employer partners.
Beyond her institutional roles, Townsley-Kestin has actively contributed to national policy and practice frameworks supporting adult learners, particularly in expanding CPL awareness and utilization, fostering stakeholder engagement across the education and workforce ecosystem, and improving data quality and capture to generate deeper insights into workforce development program effectiveness.
She has also held roles in research, academic administration, and as an adjunct faculty member working with adult learners. Her academic and professional interests center on effective cross-sector collaboration. She is a member of the Education Design Lab’s inaugural Designer in Residence program and CivicLab’s Systemness Leadership Academy and has been actively involved with the Indiana Talent Network, focused on workforce talent development.
Townsley-Kestin holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Systems from Saybrook University, where she studied how community partnerships are developed and sustained. She also earned a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Takeshi Yanagiura
DATA & POLICY COLLABORATOR
Dr. Takeshi Yanagiura
Data, Research & Policy Collaborator
Takeshi Yanagiura is a Data, Research & Policy Collaborator StrategyForward Advisors. He is an expert higher education policy analyst with many years of experience in a wide variety of programming, data manipulation, and statistical analyses, including quasi-experimental techniques. Takeshi’s strengths are in helping institutional, state, and national clients develop sustainable, research-based strategies to serve more students, increase their rates of success, and manage costs. He is well attuned to policy issues and can express complex ideas effectively in a practical context at national, state, and institutional levels.
Takeshi developed the institutional research office for the new community college of the University of the District of Columbia and contributed to the improved capacity of analysis and reporting in the college. Prior to that, he served as Research Director for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, where he was instrumental in the development of the research base for the state’s outcomes-based funding formula, master plan for higher education, and state scholarship reforms. He has also worked for the State Higher Education Executive Officers, where he compiled the State Higher Education Finance study. He also has spoken and consulted on higher education data and research issues both nationally and internationally. Takeshi has a Ph.D. in Education and Economics from Teacher’s College at Columbia University, a master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Soka University, Japan.
StrategyForward Advisors includes a roster of highly experienced education, workforce, and strategy professionals and can build collaborative teams to meet your unique needs.
Connect with us to learn more.