Sarah Cohodes

Sarah Cohodes is an Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). She specializes in quantitative causal inference methods to evaluate education policies, with influential work on charter schools, school choice, and programs for high-achieving students.

Education:

• PhD in Public Policy, Harvard University
• EdM in Education Policy and Management, Harvard University

Research Focus: Her work examines systemic drivers of educational access and quality, including:

• Charter school effectiveness through lottery-based designs
• Interventions to improve high school choice processes
• Teacher incentive programs and coaching models
• STEM pipeline development for underrepresented youth
• Education's role in fostering civic engagement

Professional Affiliations:

• Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research
• Co-editor, Journal of Public Economics
• Faculty Affiliate, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)
• Research Affiliate, CESifo
• Faculty Affiliate, Blueprint Labs

She leads research through the Education Policy Initiative, conducting applied studies to improve educational outcomes through evidence-based policy solutions.