Julie Marsh

Dr. Julie Marsh is a Professor of Education Policy at the University of Southern California, holding dual appointments in the Rossier School of Education and the Sol Price School of Public Policy. She serves as Faculty Director of Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) at USC and co-director of the Center for Education Policy, Equity and Governance. Her work centers on K-12 policy, governance, equity, and accountability, with a focus on urban educational settings.

Dr. Marsh earned a BA and PhD from Stanford University and an MPP from UC Berkeley. Her research integrates education, sociology, and political science to examine:

• Accountability systems (e.g., No Child Left Behind)
• Teacher incentives and evaluation
• Data-driven reforms
• School choice and decentralization
• Equity in resource allocation and community engagement

Her recent publications analyze trends in equity-centered policy implementation, COVID-19 responses in education, racial dynamics in governance, and the role of data in instructional reforms. Articles frequently address tensions between accountability mandates and local autonomy, with consistent emphasis on advancing educational justice.

Awards & Honors:

• USC Rossier Faculty Teaching Award (2019)
• USC Faculty Mentoring Award (2018)

Dr. Marsh leads multiple large-scale grants, including projects funded by the U.S. Department of Education (e.g., the REACH Center) and private foundations (Spencer, Smith Richardson). She directs interdisciplinary teams studying portfolio management models, local finance reforms, and pandemic-era governance.

As co-director of USC EdPolicy Hub, she oversees collaborative research initiatives aimed at translating academic insights into actionable policy frameworks for equitable school systems.