Jake Burns

Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana
IU Advisor: Christopher Lubienski
Research Interests: Longitudinal analysis of education and workforce data, student pathways across K–12, postsecondary, and workforce systems, effects of enacted and emerging state and federal education policy
Hobbies and Personal Interests: Family and friends, my golden retriever Tommy, CrossFit, Beyoncé, and service through leadership and volunteering
Future Goals: Lead data-intensive policy research that evaluates and informs how interconnected K–12, higher education, and workforce systems shape governance and student outcomes

Moaaz Hamid

Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
IU Advisor: Christopher Lubienski
Research Interests: Global education policy, marketization and privatization, policy transfer, and socio-spatial analysis of education policy, policy research methods
Hobbies and Personal Interests: Cooking, DIY projects, exploring new technologies, traveling, reading philosophy and history
Future Goals: Work at the nexus of practice and theory, bridging research and practice through active participation in both academic and non-academic practices and processes in the field of education policy

Steffi Thomas

Hometown: Kerala, India
IU Advisor: Christopher Lubienski
Research Interests: Critically examine the role of non-state actors in influencing education policy through a social justice lens
Hobbies and Personal Interests: Cooking and painting as stressbusters, avid movie and TV series viewer (although still catching up on the Bollywood classics)
Future Goals: Studying (research) or teaching the mechanisms and ideological underpinnings that shape education policies

Chris McCrackin

Hometown: Homer, GA
IU Advisor: Christopher Lubienski
Research Interests: Child participation, interests, and rights in education; Fourteenth Amendment protections for students; special education law and policy
Hobbies and Personal Interests: Watercolor painting; hiking; coaching
Future Goals: Become a professor or staff member in center focused on special education/disability policy