Seth Gershenson

Seth Gershenson is a Professor of Public Policy in the School of Public Affairs (SPA) at American University, where he serves as Ph.D. Program Coordinator for the Department of Public Administration and Policy (DPAP) and directs the SPA Analytics and Management Institute (SAMI). He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Michigan State University (2011) and a B.S. in Economics from Drexel University (2005). His academic affiliations include being a Faculty Affiliate at AU's School of Education, Research Fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), and Senior Technical Advisor to Johns Hopkins University's Education Policy Institute.

• Ph.D. in Economics, Michigan State University (2011)
• M.A. in Economics, Michigan State University (2007)
• B.S. in Economics, Drexel University (2005)

Gershenson's research centers on the economics of education, with specific focus on teacher labor markets, student absences, summer learning loss, racial disparities in education, time use patterns, and the role of expectations in educational outcomes. His work applies economic methodologies to practical policy questions in public education, particularly examining how teacher behavior and demographic representation affect student achievement and school discipline. He has pioneered research on same-race teacher effects, unconscious bias in classrooms, and the causal impact of community traumatic events on student performance.

His publication trends reveal deep engagement with racial equity in education, teacher diversity impacts, and methodological innovations in measuring educational outcomes. Recent work increasingly examines teacher mental health, grading standards, and the spillover effects of teacher diversity on colleagues' racial competency.

• Scholar-Teacher of the Year (2025, AU School of Public Affairs)
• Thomas A. Downes Award (2016, best article in Education Finance & Policy)
• Pre-Doctoral New Scholar Award (2010, Association for Education Finance & Policy)
• Multiple AERA Outstanding Reviewer Awards (2017-2024)

Gershenson has advised over 15 Ph.D. students to completion, including notable scholars like Stephen B. Holt and Michael Hayes. His research has secured over $1.5 million in external funding from organizations including the Spencer Foundation, W.E. Upjohn Institute, Institute of Education Sciences (IES), and Google Inc. He currently serves as Co-Editor of the Journal of Policy Analysis & Management and hosts the JPAM's Closer Look podcast.

As director of SAMI, he leads an innovative program offering graduate students workshops in GIS mapping, causal inference, data visualization, and policy writing through partnerships with DC-area experts. His work on teacher diversity has directly informed policy discussions at federal and state levels.