معرفی
Dr. Thomas (Tom) Brock is a Research Professor and Director of the Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Teachers College, Columbia University, within the Graduate School of Education, Health & Psychology and affiliated with the Department of Education Policy & Social Analysis (EPSA). With over 30 years of experience in education and social welfare research, he leads a broad portfolio of studies aimed at improving community college outcomes, advancing educational equity, and shaping national policy.
- PhD in Social Welfare, UCLA
- MPA, Columbia University
- BA in Anthropology, Pitzer College
Dr. Brock's research is centered on transformative reforms in postsecondary education. He has pioneered work in developmental education reform, advocating for corequisite remediation and multiple measures assessment to replace outdated prerequisite models. His leadership in developing the guided pathways framework has influenced hundreds of colleges nationwide. Current projects span dual enrollment, transfer pathways, and sector-based training for green jobs, reflecting a deep commitment to economic mobility and equity.
The recent publications led or influenced by Dr. Brock reveal a consistent focus on evidence-based policy, institutional reform, and student success. Themes include remedial education innovation, college completion strategies, workforce alignment, and equity-centered interventions. His work bridges academic research with real-world application, emphasizing scalable models that improve outcomes for underserved populations.
Dr. Brock has received significant recognition through leadership roles, including:
- Commissioner, National Center for Education Research (NCER), IES
- Acting Director, Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
- U.S. Representative, OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI)
- Board of Trustees, Pitzer College
He actively mentors doctoral students through research apprenticeships at CCRC, collaborating with EPSA to train the next generation of education policy scholars. His grants and projects often involve large-scale evaluations, such as the Opening Doors Demonstration and Achieving the Dream initiative, supported by federal agencies like IES, NSF, and the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Brock champions interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging connections across Columbia University and New York City to address complex educational challenges.
He is deeply embedded in research teams and centers, most notably leading CCRC—a national hub for postsecondary education research. The center functions as a lab for policy innovation, conducting rigorous evaluations and disseminating findings to practitioners, policymakers, and researchers. Ongoing work includes refining guided pathways implementation and exploring the role of community colleges in the emerging green economy.
