David Blazar is a Research Assistant for the Community College Research Center’s Gates Foundation Virginia study. He received his bachelor’s degree in History and Literature from Harvard University. Prior to CCRC, he worked for three years as an English teacher at the High School for International Business and Finance in Washington Heights. As part of the New York City Teaching Fellowship, he received his master’s degree in teaching from Fordham University. David expects to return to school to earn a Ph.D. in Education Policy. His research interests include the academic transition from high school to college and the efficacy of new-teacher programs on urban education.