Dr. Michael Asher is a postdoctoral fellow in Carnegie Mellon University's Human-Computer Interaction Institute. His research uses a mixture of laboratory experiments, field experiments (i.e., classroom interventions), data analysis, and observational work to study factors that facilitate academic motivation and student achievement. He received his PhD in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before this, Dr. Asher taught high school math in the South Bronx of New York City.

Dr. Nikki Holland, a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Education Policy, directs performance assessment for MCIEA and ECP, coordinating professional development for educators and leading a campaign for a new state accountability system. With extensive experience in teaching and grant administration, Nikki has worked across various educational settings to improve writing instruction and expand opportunities for underserved populations. She holds a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Arkansas and lives in southern Vermont with her family.

Dr. Jonathan Downey is an educational researcher who investigates the application of latent variable models to large-scale assessment student data for measuring high-level social outcomes, such as gaps in socioeconomic equity. He holds a PhD in Education from the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California Santa Barbara and an MA in Language Acquisition from the University of the Basque Country. Jonathan has also taught English, Spanish, and statistics in the United States, Spain, and Saudi Arabia. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys playing chess, learning foreign languages, and being outdoors.