Monica Reid Kerrigan

Dr. Monica Reid Kerrigan is a Professor in the Educational Services and Leadership Department at Rowan University’s College of Education, serving as the Community College Leadership Initiative (CCLI) liaison. She specializes in educational policy, community college leadership, and research methods, with a focus on institutional structures and policies impacting low-income students and students of color in higher education and labor markets. Her work emphasizes student access, success, and equity in postsecondary education.

Dr. Kerrigan earned an Ed.D. and teaches in the Educational Leadership EdD and PhD in Education programs. Her research explores how colleges use labor market information (LMI) to align curricula with workforce needs, methodological innovations in mixed-methods studies, and barriers faced by marginalized student populations. Notable projects include evaluations of the Forman S. Acton Educational Foundation’s initiatives and New Jersey’s College Readiness Now programs.

• Key Research Themes: Labor Market Alignment, Data-Driven Decision Making, Community College Reform, Educational Equity

Her funded projects include baseline evaluations of student success initiatives and program evaluations for community colleges. Dr. Kerrigan’s work bridges policy analysis with practical institutional strategies, aiming to improve student outcomes and institutional effectiveness.

Recent articles highlight her contributions to understanding LMI usage in higher education, methodological pivots during crises, and the role of communities of practice in building institutional research capacity. Her scholarship underscores the intersection of policy, practice, and equity in transforming educational systems.