Team
The Education Research Alliance for New Orleans includes an internal team of expert researchers, a National Research Team of experts from across the country, partners within Tulane, and a Board of Advisors that includes local community groups, teacher unions, and local and state government agencies.
Leadership and Staff

Doug is our founding Director, Tulane Professor of Economics, and Schlieder Foundation Chair in Public Education. His research has helped inform and influence national debates over a range of education policies, especially in charter-based school reform, teacher evaluation, accountability, and college access.

As our Associate Director of Communications and Operations, Sara Slaughter oversees all aspects of ERA-New Orleans' organizational operations, communications, and finances.

Lindsay Bell Weixler is our Associate Director of Research, and her research interests include early childhood education and child and adolescent development in educational settings.

Beth is a Senior Research Fellow at the Education Research Alliance for New Orleans.

Lihan Liu is a Senior Research Fellow, and her research interests include labor economics, public economics, economics of education, and applied econometrics.

Daniel Oliver is a Senior Research Fellow at the Education Research Alliance for New Orleans. His research interests include economics of education, labor economics, and public policy.

Deanna Allen is our Senior Administrative Program Coordinator, and she manages the office's day-to-day operations, tracks organizational budgets, and coordinates internal communications and meetings.

Cathy Balfe is a Research Analyst, and her research interests include parent choice within a decentralized enrollment system, particularly within early childhood education.

Olivia Carr is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow for Research-Practice Partnerships at the Education Research Alliance for New Orleans.

Alica Gerry is a Senior Research Analyst, and her research interests include the pre-K programming in New Orleans' decentralized education system.

Lan Nguyen is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Education Research Alliance for New Orleans.
Graduate Research Associates



Non-Resident Research Fellows









National Research Team












Advisory Board
Institutional Members
- Adrienne Dixson, United Teachers of New Orleans
- Marlin Hollins, Urban League of Louisiana
- Thomas Lambert, New Orleans Public Schools
- Tia Mills, Louisiana Association of Educators
- Kunjan Narechania, Louisiana Department of Education
- Rachna Puthottu, New Schools for New Orleans
- Caroline Roemer, Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
- Steven Sheffrin, Murphy Institute at Tulane University
- Nahliah Webber, Orleans Public Education Network
Individual Members
- Julie Lause, School Leader Representative (Board Vice Chair)
- Liz Marcell Williams, Community Member Representative
- Luis Miron, University Representative (Board Chair)
- Mckenzie Parkins, Teacher Representative
- Tory Taylor, Parent Representative
Bylaws
Partner Organizations
Funders
- Laura and John Arnold Foundation
- The Murphy Institute at Tulane University
- The School of Liberal Arts at Tulane University
- William T. Grant Foundation
- Spencer Foundation
- Institute for Education Sciences
- Louisiana Center for Children's Rights