Senior Leadership

Terry Vaughan III

Vice President, Research

Terry Vaughan III, PhD is the Vice President of Research at the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education. His research focuses on education theory and philosophy, education policy, equitable career pathways, and career development strategies for first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students. He received his BA in Philosophy from DePaul University and…
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Erick Montenegro

Associate Director, Pell Institute

Erick Montenegro is the Associate Director at the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education. His research interests include equity-minded and culturally responsive assessment and evaluation practices in higher education, education policy, equitable pathways to careers, and access to higher education for low-income, first-generation, marginalized, and underrepresented populations. In 2017, Erick helped…
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Senior Fellows

Margaret Cahalan

Senior Research Fellow, Pell Institute

Margaret Cahalan is a Senior Research Fellow for the Pell Institute at the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE). Dr. Cahalan joined COE in 2011, after serving as the division leader for the Secondary-Postsecondary Cross-Cutting (SPCC) Team within the Policy and Program Studies Services (PPSS) at the U.S. Department of Education (ED). She also served…
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Nicole Brunt

Research Associate

Nicole Brunt is a research associate and has worked for the Postsecondary Education OPPORTUNITY (PEO) research newsletter since 2003 and in conjunction with the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education since 2013. Nicole assists Tom Mortenson and the Pell team with the collection, organization, analysis, and reporting of education, demographic, economic,…
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Staff Directory

Career Opportunities

Interested in working on behalf of first-generation and low-income students? View current openings at the Council for Opportunity in Education and beyond and apply today!

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