Emily R. Persons
Senior Director of Research

As an education researcher, Emily believes in making data and research accessible to empower stakeholders as they improve practice and performance. She has worked with districts, states, and edtech companies to evaluate interventions and policies determining their effects on student engagement and academic outcomes. Emily brings expertise in research design and methods, program evaluation, and quantitative data analysis.

Currently based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Emily earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from Duke University, her Master of Arts in Education Policy and Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Princeton University. When she is not deep diving into data, Emily enjoys trying out new recipes, deadlifting, and finding cozy coffee shops.