Mike Hoa Nguyen

Dr. Mike Hoa Nguyen is an Assistant Professor of Education at New York University’s Steinhardt School, with affiliations at the Asian/Pacific/American Institute and the Steinhardt Institute for Higher Education Policy. His research focuses on racialized public policies and their impact on educational systems, particularly for underserved populations. He leads the Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI) Data Project and specializes in Asian American & Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). His work is funded by organizations like the National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

Dr. Nguyen holds a BA from UC Berkeley and PhD from UCLA. He previously served in the U.S. Congress, managing education initiatives, and taught at the University of Denver. He sits on boards for APAHE and SEARAC, and advises federal agencies like the EPA. His research informs policy through amicus briefs in landmark cases like SFFA v. Harvard.

Research Interests:

• Racial equity in education policy
• MSI institutional capacity-building
• AA&NHPI student success strategies
• Affirmative action legal frameworks

Awards:

• NAEd/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship (2024)
• AERA REAPA Early Career Award (2024)
• UCLA Don T. Nakanishi Award (2019)

Grants & Leadership:

• Principal Investigator: MSI Data Project
• Member: EPA’s HBCU/MSI Federal Advisory Council
• Advisory boards for UC Berkeley, College Promise, and Coalition for Asian American Children & Families

He co-authored amicus briefs for SFFA v. Harvard, influencing Supreme Court deliberations on race-conscious admissions. His work bridges academia and policy, emphasizing equity-centered strategies in education systems.