Mary M. Smith

I am a Ph.D. candidate in the department of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations at Vanderbilt University, Peabody College and a research affiliate with the Tennessee Education Research Alliance. I am a recipient of an AERA-NSF Dissertation Grant for the 2024-25 academic year.

I use mixed-methods research to study students' transitions from high school to college and career. My research explores how policies, programs, and organizations can better support students as they enter postsecondary education and the workforce. I work directly with practitioners through research-practice partnerships in order to ensure that my research directly addresses the needs of stakeholders. My current and prior work has explored K-12 career and technical education (CTE) finance, early postsecondary opportunities for high school students, and community college support programs for non-traditional students. 

Before starting my graduate degree, I was a research assistant at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) where I worked on federal contract work for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). I received my B.A. in Psychology and Management and Society with a minor in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.