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Maria Fitzpatrick named BCTR associate director for data for evidence-based policy

Portrait of Maria Fitzpatrick

Maria Fitzpatrick

BCTR researcher Maria Fitzpatrick accepted a new position this fall as the center’s associate director for data for evidence-based policy.

Fitzpatrick’s research focuses on the economics of education, specifically childhood education policy, higher education and teacher compensation, benefits and labor supply. She is an associate professor in the Department of Policy and Management, Milman Fellow at the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research and research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.

BCTR Director Christopher Wildeman explained that Fitzpatrick is filling a new role at the BCTR that he believes is essential for the future of the center.

“One of my goals as BCTR director is to establish stronger ties with state agencies and to leverage those connections to start a flagship social science dataset that serves the citizens of the state of New York and the research community,” he said.

“The reality is that Maria is far and away the best person to drive these efforts. She has already rapidly built rapport with key officials in the state, she has the quantitative skills and ability to direct a research team that are essential for serving the state and she has expertise in both using administrative data and survey design,” Wildeman said. “She is perfectly suited for this role, and I am incredibly grateful that she has been willing to sign on.”

In Fitzpatrick’s new position, she will share existing evidence that is underutilized with state and local officials to inform their decision making in real time.

“I’m thrilled to be taking on this new role in BCTR,” she said. “The BCTR has a strong history of conducting translational research and working with partners throughout the state. If policymakers, state agencies, and researchers work together, there’s a lot of potential for policy making to have a more positive influence on the citizens of New York State.”