There have been few research findings related to what specific characteristics or attributes might predict whether students who graduate from programs are likely to secure employment after graduation. The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative study was to identify the characteristics that differ between community college students who…

This dissertation comprises three chapters. The first two address issues within the education system, focusing on strategies to attract and retain high-quality teachers in the public sector. The third chapter, a collaborative effort with Martin Martinez and Miguel Saldarriaga, explores the application of machine learning tools for nowcasting…

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) outcome data from the Rehabilitation Services Administration were used to examine age as a predictor of employment outcomes for transition-age youth with significant disabilities. Employment outcomes were examined with regard to type of VR case closure achieved and wages earned. Age at application for VR services was…

This research explores the relationship between place and the career experiences of STEM-educated recent college graduates in the U.S. over the 2000-2010 decade. Specifically, it seeks to understand how these graduates' early career outcomes (earnings, odds of unemployment and underemployment) are contingent on the location where they received…