Erik C. Ness

Erik C. Ness serves as Director and Professor of Higher Education at the McBee Institute of Higher Education, part of the University of Georgia's College of Education. He previously held positions as an assistant professor and coordinator of the Higher Education Management program at the University of Pittsburgh and worked as a policy analyst for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Ness has an impressive educational background:

• Ph.D. in Education Policy from Vanderbilt University
• M.A. in Comparative and International Education from Loyola University Chicago
• B.A. in Political Science from North Carolina State University

Professor Ness is a leading scholar in higher education politics and policy, with research focusing on two primary pathways: (1) public policy effects on students, institutions, and state systems, and (2) the policy-making process, particularly research utilization and political dynamics in state-level higher education policy adoption. His work examines how intermediary organizations shape how policymakers use evidence in crafting policy, particularly regarding college completion strategies and merit-based scholarship programs. Ness has developed innovative courses such as "Research Evidence, Alternative Facts, and Fake News," which earned him a UGA First-Year Odyssey Teaching Award in 2021.

Ness's recent publications reveal a strong focus on comparative higher education politics, state authorization processes, and the role of intermediary organizations in policy diffusion. His work spans multiple continents and examines governance structures, policy framing, and interest group influence in higher education systems. A significant portion of his recent research centers on state authorization of postsecondary education, where he leads the State Postsecondary Authorization Research Team analyzing processes across all 50 states.

Among his notable recognitions:

• UGA First-Year Odyssey Teaching Award (2021)

Ness has successfully secured substantial research funding from prestigious organizations including Arnold Ventures, SHEEO, Lumina Foundation, William T. Grant Foundation, Ford Foundation, Spencer Foundation, and multiple U.S. government agencies. He has mentored numerous graduate students who have gone on to successful careers in higher education research and policy, including Paul G. Rubin (PhD 2017), Denisa Gándara (PhD 2016), Sean Baser, and Matt Dean. His current research examines state authorization of postsecondary education with support from SHEEO, Arnold Ventures, and the Lumina Foundation.

As director of the McBee Institute (effective July 2024), Ness leads an organization that hosts international collaborations, supports undergraduate research through CURO, and engages with global higher education partners including institutions in Côte d'Ivoire. The institute serves as a hub for comparative higher education policy research and international scholarly exchange.