Melissa Clark
About Melissa Clark
Melissa Clark serves as the Deputy Director of Education Research and Senior Researcher at Mathematica Policy Research, where she has worked since 2017. With a strong background in economics and education research, she specializes in evaluating education interventions and supporting educators.
Current Role at Mathematica Policy Research
Melissa Clark serves as the Deputy Director of Education Research and Senior Researcher at Mathematica Policy Research. She has held this position since 2017, contributing to the organization’s focus on education evaluation. In her role, she oversees evaluation work for the U.S. Department of Education, ensuring that educational interventions are effectively assessed and analyzed.
Previous Experience at Mathematica
Prior to her current role, Melissa Clark worked at Mathematica Policy Research from 2003 to 2017. During this time, she held the position of Senior Researcher for ten years and worked as a Researcher for four years. Her extensive experience at Mathematica has equipped her with a deep understanding of education research and evaluation methodologies.
Education and Academic Background
Melissa Clark earned her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Economics from Princeton University, where she studied from 1998 to 2003. She also holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Political Science from Swarthmore College, which she completed from 1992 to 1996. Her educational background provides a strong foundation for her research in education policy.
Research Experience at Federal Reserve and White House
Before her tenure at Mathematica, Melissa Clark gained valuable research experience as a Research Assistant at the Federal Reserve Board from 1996 to 1997 and at the Council of Economic Advisers in The White House from 1997 to 1998. These roles contributed to her expertise in economic research and policy analysis.
Specialization in Education Interventions
Melissa Clark specializes in the design, analysis, and management of large-scale evaluations of education interventions. Her research focuses on promising approaches to training and supporting teachers and school leaders, contributing to the improvement of educational outcomes.