A research team based in UMD's Economics Department wins a competitive grant from the  Student Upward Mobility Initiative. The research team is composed of current economic doctorial candidate Cameron Conrad, economic alumn George Zuo who works at the RAND Corporation, and associate professor Nolan Pope. The work entitled, "Which Skills Are Linked with Future Academic Success and Economic Mobility?", seeks to fill gaps in the existing research by exploring which skills most strongly predict future academic success and economic mobility. The research team helps quantify specific competencies in math, reading, science, and social studies that best predict postsecondary attainment and economic outcomes, such as earnings and employment. Using statewide data from Maryland, the study will measure skills using subscores on state exams in each of these subjects. The announcement of their grant can be found here and to learn more about the Student Upward Mobility initiative visit their website.

This work is made possible through the support of the Student Upward Mobility Initiative, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in partnership with the Urban Institute. Initiative funders include the Walton Family Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Joyce Foundation.