Who We Are
Brian Zucker
President & CEO
B.A., Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.A., Urban Affairs and Policy Analysis, The New School for Social Research
M.A., Regional Science, University of Pennsylvania
Brian Zucker, the founder and president of HCRC, is a recognized national expert on the financing of college education, enrollment strategy, financial aid, and higher education reform. He has designed and developed some of the profession’s most robust analytical tools and approaches for understanding the higher education market, promoting access and opportunity, achieving enrollment and revenue goals, assessing educational outcomes, and improving institutional performance, productivity and profitability. His experience, perspective and insights have led hundreds of college and university presidents, trustees, provosts, CFOs and chief enrollment officers to engage his services, seek his support and trust his counsel.
Prior to founding HCRC in 1991, Brian served as Vice President for Research and Policy Development at the Minnesota Private College Council, Research Foundation and Fund; Senior Economist, Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development; Special Projects Coordinator for the South Bronx Development Corporation; and Research Fellow for the University of Pennsylvania under contract with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
TEAM PROFILE
Principals & Consultants
Brian Christensen
Vice President
B.S., Psychological Services
Northwestern University
M.S.Ed., Higher Education Administration and Policy
Northwestern University
David Gosz
Consultant
B.A., Economics
University of Chicago
Sandra Mazlagic
Consultant
B.A., Romance Languages
University of Pennsylvania
M.P.A., International Development
London School of Economics
Johanna Peterson
Principal
B.A., Sociology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Master of Public Policy
University of Chicago
Jamie Swartzer
Principal
B.A., English
University of South Dakota
M.P.P., Advanced Policy Analysis
University of Minnesota
Matthew Eging
Vice President
B.A., Sociology
College of Wooster
M.A., Sociology
Loyola University Chicago
David Kalsbeek
Consultant
B.A., Philosophy
Muskingum College
M.A., Higher Education Administration
The Ohio State University
Ph.D., Public Policy Analysis
Saint Louis University
Timothy Minich
Senior Consultant
B.S., Mathematics, Statistics
University of Texas at Dallas
M.S., Economics
University of North Texas
Christina Roellig
Principal
B.A., Statistics, Sociology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Brad West
Principal
B.A., Psychology, General Studies in Business
Bowling Green State University
M.A., Industrial & Organizational Psychology
Michigan State University
Keith Christensen
Principal
B.S., Mathematics, Statistics
Winona State University
Rebecca Koth
Consultant
B.A., Mathematics
North Central College
M.S., Statistics
University of Iowa
John Nelson
Consultant
B.A., History
Binghamton University
Master of Public Affairs
University of Texas at Austin
Tyler Saenz
Principal
B.A., Psychology
Northern Illinois University
M.A., Educational Psychology, Program Evaluation and Research
West Virginia University
Steve West
Principal
B.A., Business, Mathematics
Bowling Green State University
M.A., Experimental Psychology
Wake Forest University
Analysts
Amanda Algarra
Senior Research Analyst
B.A., Psychology, English
University of Illinois Chicago
M.A., Industrial & Organizational Psychology
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Benedetto Frigo
Research Analyst
B.S., Statistics, Managerial Economics
Illinois State University
M.S., Economics
University of Illinois
Eleanor Marshall
Senior Research Analyst
B.S., Mathematical Sciences
DePaul University
M.S., Applied Statistics
DePaul University
Robert Starr
Research Analyst
B.S., Psychology, Economics
Boston College
Oscar Andrade
Senior Survey Analyst
B.S., Psychology
San Diego State University
M.S., Industrial & Organizational Psychology
University of Baltimore
Alana Labelle-Hahn
Research Analyst
B.A., Comparative Culture and Politics
James Madison College
M.A., Sociology
University of Chicago
Tamara Marz
Senior Research Analyst
M.B.A.
Simmons College
LaNette Urbin
Senior Research Analyst
B.S., Psychology
University of Evansville
M.A., Psychology
Loyola University Chicago
Liz Colavita
Survey Analyst
B.A., Public Policy Analysis
Duke University
M.S., Computational Analysis & Public Policy
Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago
Sarah Light
Senior Research Analyst
B.S., Environment and Natural Resources
Ohio State University
M.S., Applied Economics
Ohio State University
Mark Nicholson
Senior Research Analyst
B.A., Economics, American Culture Studies
Washington University
Slate Services
Chris Browning
COO and Executive VP
B.A., Political Science, History
Washington and Lee University
Benjamin Costello
Director, Slate
B.S., Musical Direction
Ithaca College
Trevor Johnson
Director, Slate
B.A., Theater Arts
Beloit College
Dan Pellegrini
Director, Slate
B.M., Music Performance
Indiana University
M.B.A.
University of Connecticut
Rob Galarza
Senior Director, Slate
B.A., Spanish, Theology
Elmhurst University
Lance Duddlesten
Senior Integrations & Technology Consultant
Computer Science
University of California Riverside
Colby Moss
Senior Slate Consultant
B.A., Communications
California State
University-Sacramento
M.Ed., College Student Affairs Administration
University of Georgia
Mark Perillo
Senior Slate Consultant
B.S., Computer Science
DePaul University
Noelle Cavacchioli
Senior Slate Consultant
B.A., Human Development
Boston College, Lynch School of Education
M.Ed., Educational Research, Measurement & Evaluation
Boston College, Lynch School of Education
Emma Hayek
Senior Slate Consultant
B.S., Chemistry
Creighton University
M.S., Business Intelligence and Analytics
Creighton University
Lauren Nickel
Senior Software Engineer
B.S., Computer Science
Oklahoma State University
Technology Team
Ed Kahler
Vice President, Technology
B.S., Computer Science
University of Illinois at Chicago
M.S., Computer Science
University of Illinois at Chicago
Rich Krupa
System Administrator
Brian Hampson
Principal Software Engineer
B.S., Computer Science
University of Washington
Ross Kraynak
Data Engineer
B.S., Computer Science
Oregon State University
B.A., Accounting
Michigan State University
Finance & Operations
Jen Helle
Senior Vice President, Finance
B.A., Economics
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
MBA, Finance
Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management
Tish Ritter
Executive Assistant
B.A., English
Marquette University
Justine Perez
Finance Manager
B.A., Graphic Design
St. Norbert College
Jeanne Dillon
Finance & Facilities Administrative Assistant
Kris Butler
Executive Assistant to the President and the Director of Slate Services
B.A., Sociology
Ohio University