Laura W. Perna

Laura W. Perna is the Vice Provost for Faculty and the GSE Centennial Presidential Professor of Education at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE). She also serves as Executive Director of the Penn Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy (Penn AHEAD). Her roles include past chair of Penn’s Faculty Senate and leadership in national associations like ASHE and AERA. Perna holds a BA from UPenn, and MA and PhD from the University of Michigan.

Her research focuses on equity in higher education, particularly college access, affordability, and success for underrepresented groups. Key areas include College Promise programs, faculty diversity, and policy impacts on student outcomes. Perna has authored influential books and contributed to policy through congressional testimony and media engagements. Her awards include the Lindback Award for Teaching, AERA Fellowship, and National Academy of Education membership.

Perna’s grants and funding come from the U.S. Department of Education, Lumina, and Gates Foundations. Her work emphasizes bridging research and practice, with Penn AHEAD as a hub for policy advocacy. Current projects address equity gaps and free college initiatives. She advises on federal policies and has shaped institutional strategies to support diverse student populations.