Liliane J. Nienstedt, MPP, MEd

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Education Policy at Vanderbilt University, where I research the intersections of education, health, and social policy.

During my five years as a teacher in Kentucky, I saw firsthand how gaps in social supports, such as inconsistent access to food and mental health services affect student well-being, behavior, attendance, and learning. I am pursuing a Ph.D. in education policy to apply quantitative methods to study the link between anti-poverty programs, family well-being, and educational equity.

Specifically, my research uses quantitative and mixed methods, and leverages administrative, survey, and qualitative data to explore school-based health services, children's mental health, and the effects of safety net programs on student outcomes. 

I received a master's in public policy from the Goldman School at UC Berkeley, a master's in education from the University of Louisville, and a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Williams College. Prior to graduate school, I was a middle school science teacher.