Institute for Higher Education Policy Names Higher Education Leader Sandy Baum a Senior Associate
Published May 13, 2014
Washington, D.C., Feb. 8, 2011—The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) announced today the appointment of acclaimed higher education expert Sandy Baum, Ph.D., as a senior associate. While continuing to serve as an independent higher education policy analyst and consultant, Baum joins the nonpartisan research and policy organization’s highly esteemed group of veteran researchers and thought leaders who are committed to increasing access and success in postsecondary education.
As an IHEP Senior Associate, Baum plays an instrumental role in expanding the organization’s growing research portfolio and, as such, will deeply engage in work aiming to improve higher education opportunity for underrepresented student populations. Baum will also contribute to forthcoming and longstanding projects focused on college access, college pricing, student aid policy, student debt, affordability, and other aspects of higher education finance.
"I am pleased to welcome Sandy to IHEP. She has a proven track record of delivering excellent work and understands both the higher education and policy worlds,” said IHEP President Michelle Asha Cooper, Ph.D. "We look forward to harnessing Sandy's great knowledge of postsecondary education finance to ensure IHEP continues to release products most impactful to increasing college access and success."
A prominent figure in higher education, Baum serves as a senior fellow at the George Washington University School of Education and Human Development and professor emerita of economics at Skidmore College. She is also an affiliated consultant for HCM Strategists. Baum has managed and co-authored the annual publications, Trends in Student Aid and Trends in College Pricing for the College Board since 2002. She also developed and co-authors Education Pays: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society for the College Board. She co-chaired the Rethinking Student Aid study group, which developed a comprehensive set of reforms for the federal financial aid system.
“IHEP’s work increases our understanding of important issues relating to educational opportunities and outcomes,” said Baum. “I look forward to working with the IHEP staff to improve the evidence base necessary for more effective public policy in this area.”
In addition, Baum has worked with numerous organizations including the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Association of Governing Boards, Canada Student Loans Program, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Baum earned her B.A. in sociology at Bryn Mawr College and her Ph.D. in economics at Columbia University.
Other IHEP Senior Associates include Clifford Adelman, Ann Coles, Thomas Parker, Patti McGill Peterson, Ronald Phipps, and Thomas Wolanin.
For more information about the IHEP Senior Associates, visit the organization’s Web site at www.ihep.org.
