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My formal educational background is in public
administration and policy, with an emphasis in public finance. I
am particularly interested in issues of adequacy, equity, and
productivity as they relate to PK-12 education. My overriding
concern revolves around notions of fairness, and I’m always
cognizant of the potentially differential impact of educational
policies on different groups. We as policy makers and analysts
need to ensure that student failure is not policy related. [See
An equal
opportunity education?]
Much of my research relies on quantitative
analysis of large data sets. I look at policies in terms of
their impact on society as a whole, entire student populations,
and specified student groups. The nice thing about using large
data sets is that the information can be generalized to a
broader community, and can provide useful insights to policy
makers. It is essential for me to feel as if I have made a
difference and that my research is being used to help children.
I’m originally from Jamaica, so I was initially
wary of facing those famous Minnesotan winters. However, moving
to the University of Minnesota has enabled me to align my
research interests more closely with my teaching. I enjoy the
interaction of teaching and seeing students become excited about
learning and gaining a new perspective. I’ve also enjoyed
developing an online distance learning course for international
educators, which proved interesting in terms of learning new
pedagogical approaches. The Department of Educational Policy and
Administration is dynamic and is supportive of my research,
teaching and desire to contribute to the broader community—and
that’s a great thing.
Selected publications
Alexander, N. A. (2003). Considering equity
and adequacy: An examination of the distribution of student
class time as an educational resource in New York State,
1975-1995.
Journal of Education Finance, 28(3), 357-381.
Alexander, N. A. (2002). Race, poverty, and
the student curriculum: Implications for standards policy.
American Educational Research Journal, 39(3), 675-694.
Alexander, N. A. (2000). The Missing Link:
An Econometric Analysis on the Impact of Curriculum Standards on
Student Achievement. Economics of Education Review, 19,
351-361.
Alexander, N. A. (1997). The growth of
education revenues from 1982-83 to 1991-92: What accounts for
differences among states? Journal of Education Finance.
Vol. 22, no.4.
Education
- Ph.D., public administration
Concentration: public finance, Graduate School of Public
Affairs, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy.
University at Albany. State University of New York.
Dissertation: The Impact of Curriculum Standards on
Student Achievement: Implications for Public Policy
- Master of arts in public policy. May 1992. GPA
3.9. Certificate in Latin American and Caribbean studies
Graduate School of Public Affairs, Rockefeller College of
Public Affairs and Policy. University at Albany. State
University of New York.
Thesis: A Question of Choice—Education Reform in the
United States.
- Bachelor of arts in international relations. May
1988. Concentration: Latin America and the Caribbean.
Minors: French and Spanish. magna cum laude.
College at New Paltz, State University of New York.
- Besançon Centre de la Langue Appliquée. Fall
1987. Besançon, France. Studies in liberal arts.
Fields of expertise and teaching interests
- Education finance
- Policy studies
- Foundations of public administration
- Public sector economics/public budgeting/cost-benefit
analysis
- Research design and methods/statistical analysis
- State and local public finance/fiscal federalism
Research experience
- Consultant, Management Analysis & Planning, Inc.
Sacramento, CA (3/98 - 8/98)
Conducted research on instructional programs and school
reform models, focusing on strategies relying on curriculum
standards. Provided report based on findings.
- Graduate assistant, Department of Public
Administration, University at Albany, Albany, NY (9/92 -
12/96)
Conducted research on education and finance issues.
- Research assistant, Nelson A. Rockefeller
Institute of Government, Albany, NY (Summer 1992)
Designed survey to facilitate analysis of legislative
features of cities in New York State; wrote descriptive
report summarizing findings.
- Summer scholar/intern, New York State Assembly,
Legislative Commission on State Relations, Albany, NY
(Summer 1991). Compiled report on general revenue sharing in
New York State.
- Project coordinator, Austrian Trade Commission,
New York, NY (1/89 - 6/89)
Researched products and services of Austrian and American
companies; coordinated meetings between Austrian and local
firms for possible joint ventures.
- Summer Intern, New York City Department of Ports,
Office of International Trade, New York, NY (Summer 1987)
Identified key industries in New York City that were
compatible with the investment strategies of the United
Kingdom and Germany; wrote report based on findings.
Teaching experience
- Assistant professor, Florida Atlantic University,
Fort Lauderdale, FL (January 1997 - 1999)
Comparative Budgeting:
Graduate course in the College of Urban and Public Affairs.
Public Budgeting Processes and Techniques:
Undergraduate course in the Public Management program.
Seminar in Public Budgeting:
Graduate core course in the public administration program.
- Instructor, University at Albany, Albany, NY
(Summers 1994, 1995, and 1996)
Economics for Public Affairs:
Graduate core course in the Master of Public Administration
and Master of Arts in Public Policy programs.
Working papers and conference presentations
The Impact of Curriculum Standards on
Student Outputs: A Question of Resource Allocation. Guest
Lecturer. 2nd Annual National School Finance
Institute. Graduate School of Education at Fordham University.
New York, NY (July 1998).
Productivity, Incentives, and Open
Enrollment.
Discussant. The 23rd Annual Conference of the
American Education Finance Association. Mobile, AL (March 1998).
The Missing Link: An Econometric Analysis
on the Impact of Curriculum Standards on Student Achievement—A
Modification. Presented at the 23rd Annual
Conference of the American Education Finance Association.
Mobile, AL (March 1998).
The Missing Link: An Econometric Analysis
on the Impact of Curriculum Standards on Student Achievement.
Prepared for the 1997 Educational Finance Symposium sponsored by
the New York State Board of Regents, Albany, NY (October 1997).
The Missing Link: An Econometric Analysis
on the Impact of Curriculum Standards on Educational Outcomes.
Presented at the 21st Annual Conference of the American
Education Finance Association. Jacksonville, FL (March 1997).
Race, Poverty, and the Student
Curriculum, 1975-1995: Implications for Public Policy.
Presented at the Annual Summer Conference of the National Center
for Education Statistics. Washington, DC (July 1996).
The Flow of School Resources and its
Implications for Student Achievement. Presented at the 20th
Annual Conference of the American Education Finance Association.
Salt Lake City, UT (March 1996).
The Growth of Education Revenues From
1982-83 to 1991-92: What Accounts for Differences Among States?
Presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the American
Education Finance Association. Savannah, GA (March 1995)
[submitted to the Journal of Education Finance].
Racial Diversity in Public Policy
Institutions—Faculty Diversity. Presented at the 16th Annual
Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy
Analysis and Management (October 1994).
The Growth of School Spending During the
Past Decade: What Accounts for Differences Among States?—Preliminary
Results (with Steve Gold). Presented at the Annual Summer
Conference of the National Center for Education Statistics.
Washington, DC (July 1993).
Publications
"Race, Poverty, and the Student Curriculum,
1975-1995: Implications for Public Policy." Submitted to the
American Educational Research Journal.
"The Missing Link: An Econometric Analysis
on the Impact of Curriculum Standards on Student Achievement."
Published as a NYS Board of Regents policy report. (Modified
version to appear in Economics of Education).
"The Growth of Education Revenues From
1982-83 to 1991-92: What Accounts for Differences Among States?"
Journal of Education Finance. vol 22, no. 4, Spring 1997.
"Race, Poverty, and the Student Curriculum,
1975-1995: Implications for Public Policy." Developments in
School Finance, 1996. William J. Fowler, Jr., ed. National
Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC.
The Growth of Education Revenues From
1982-83 to 1991-92: What Accounts for Differences Among States?
Selected Papers in School Finance, 1995. William J. Fowler,
Jr. ed. National Center for Education Statistics. Washington,
DC.
Honors
- Departmental honors for overall excellence in education,
University at Albany, SUNY
- Pi Alpha Alpha (Public Administration Honor Society)
- American Education Finance Association Research
Initiative
- Outstanding Student Award, University at Albany, SUNY
- Spellman Achievement Award
- Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish Honor Society)
- Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society)
- Outstanding Senior, College at New Paltz, SUNY
Professional affiliations
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