Daniel Sparks

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania • Research Affiliate, CCRC

Daniel Sparks is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where he focuses on access and equity in higher education. Much of his research looks at the role of information and financial aid in improving academic and labor market outcomes, particularly for community college students. Sparks holds a BA in political economy and a BS in environmental studies from the University of California, Berkeley, an MSc in education from Dominican University, and a PhD in economics and education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

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Publications by Daniel Sparks

November 2023

How Community Colleges Can Help Address Teacher Shortages
Using administrative data from CUNY, this brief explores the role that community colleges play in contributing to degrees awarded in education, and it considers how the transfer experience for students interested in pursuing careers as teachers can be improved.
October 2023

Toward a Practical Set of STEM Transfer Program Momentum Metrics
Drawing on administrative records from transfer-intending community college starters across three states, this paper develops a set of early STEM momentum metrics that are useful indicators of subsequent STEM transfer and bachelor’s degree attainment.

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