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Who We Are

Brian Zucker

President

 

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

Consultants & Project Leaders

Brian Christensen

Vice President

B.S., Psychological Services

Northwestern University

M.S.Ed., Higher Education Administration and Policy

Northwestern University

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

Christina Roellig

Analyst Consultant

B.A., Statistics, Sociology

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Brad West

Analyst Consultant

B.A., Psychology, General Studies in Business

Bowling Green State University

M.A., Industrial & Organizational Psychology

Michigan State University

Keith Christensen

Analyst Consultant

B.S., Mathematics, Statistics

Winona State University

John Nelson

Consultant

B.A., History

Binghamton University

Master of Public Affairs

University of Texas at Austin

Tyler Saenz

Analyst Consultant

B.A., Psychology

Northern Illinois University

M.A., Educational Psychology, Program Evaluation and Research

West Virginia University

Steve West

Analyst Consultant

B.A., Business, Mathematics

Bowling Green State University

M.A., Experimental Psychology

Wake Forest University

Matthew Eging

Vice President

B.A., Sociology

College of Wooster

M.A., Sociology

Loyola University Chicago

Johanna Peterson

Analyst Consultant

B.A., Sociology

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Master of Public Policy

University of Chicago

Jamie Swartzer

Analyst Consultant

B.A., English

University of South Dakota

M.P.P., Advanced Policy Analysis

University of Minnesota

Analysts

Amanda Algarra

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

 

Sarah Light

Research Analyst

B.S., Environment and Natural Resources

Ohio State University

M.S., Applied Economics

Ohio State University

Sandra Mazlagic

Research Analyst

B.A., Romance Languages

University of Pennsylvania

M.P.A., International Development

London School of Economics

Mark Nicholson

Analyst

B.A., Economics, American Culture Studies

Washington University

LaNette Urbin

Research Analyst

B.S., Psychology

University of Evansville

M.A., Psychology 

Loyola University Chicago

 

Oscar Andrade

Senior Survey Analyst

B.S., Psychology

San Diego State University

M.S., Industrial & Organizational Psychology

University of Baltimore

David Gosz

Research Analyst

B.A., Economics

University of Chicago

Eleanor Marshall

Research Analyst

B.S., Mathematical Sciences

DePaul University

M.S., Applied Statistics

DePaul University

Luke McCarty

Research Analyst

B.S., Supply Chain Management; Business Analysis

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Rebecca Rachan

Research Analyst

B.A., Mathematics

North Central College

M.S., Statistics

University of Iowa

Brianna Whitfield

Research Analyst

B.S., Mathematics

Duke University

M.S., Public Policy

University of 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

Alana Labelle-Hahn

Research Analyst

B.A., Comparative Culture and Politics

James Madison College

M.A., Sociology

University of Chicago

 

Tamara Marz

Research Analyst

M.B.A.

Simmons College

Timothy Minich

Research Analyst

B.S., Mathematics, Statistics

University of Texas at Dallas

M.S., Economics

University of North Texas

Robert Starr

Research Analyst

B.S., Psychology, Economics

Boston College

 

Slate Services

Chris Browning

Executive Director, Slate

B.A., Political Science, History

Washington and Lee University

Lance Duddlesten

Senior Integrations & Technology Consultant

Computer Science

University of California Riverside

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

 

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

Rob Galarza

Director, Slate

B.A., Spanish, Theology

Elmhurst University

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

 

Benjamin Costello

Director, Slate

B.S., Musical Direction

Ithaca College

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

Support Staff

Jeanne Dillon

Administrative Assistant 

Justine Perez

Associate Business Manager

B.A., Graphic Design

St. Norbert College

Jen Helle

Director of Financial Operations

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

Dresden Lawler

Executive Assistant to the President

B.A., Psychology
Fordham University

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