The College of Education and Michigan State University would like to congratulate Katharine O. Strunk, director of the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC), professor of Education Policy and, by courtesy, Economics and the Clifford E. Erickson Distinguished Chair in Education, on her appointment as dean of the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
“From the very first day of meeting Katharine, I was impressed by her commitment to research, to supporting learners and to improving education for all,” said Jerlando F. L. Jackson, dean of the College of Education and MSU Foundation Professor of Education. “Her leadership in EPIC has been tremendous and has helped shape policies and practices across Michigan and beyond. We are incredibly proud of her and congratulate her on her new role.”
Strunk joined the College of Education in 2017 with the goal of establishing EPIC as an education policy research center focused on fulfilling the land grant mission of Michigan State University to conduct research of the highest caliber that seeks to answer questions and create solutions to make a positive difference in the lives of the students of Michigan.
Since then, the EPIC has become a trusted independent, non-partisan research center that operates as the strategic research partner to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI). EPIC is devoted to “research with consequence” and the idea that rigorous evidence can be brought to bear on policy decisions for the most critical enduring and emerging education issues in the state. These lessons can be applied throughout the country to improve conditions for the most vulnerable students and advance efforts toward equitable educational opportunities and outcomes.
In her time at MSU, Strunk has grown EPIC to include eight staff members, four postdoctoral researchers, 14 graduate students, and 15 affiliated faculty from MSU and across the country. EPIC has raised $20 million in external support to work in collaboration with partners at MDE on co-constructed projects of importance to their research agenda. Over the past several years, this has included persisting in core lines of research and adding new studies to help inform policy and practice in response to the pandemic.
“While I am excited by the opportunity to join the Penn Graduate School of Education, I will of course miss the amazing faculty, staff, and students here at Michigan State University,” said Strunk. “I am proud of the committed and excellent team we have built at EPIC and of the important work EPIC has done. I am confident EPIC will continue to inform education policy and practice in Michigan and nationally. I am grateful to our many partners across the state and will continue to applaud Michigan’s important advances toward educational equity and excellence.”
EPIC’s research has had substantial impacts on education decisions, including the adoption and implementation of policies and programs, and is widely cited by the media, policymakers, and practitioners. EPIC’s work was instrumental during pandemic-related school building closures to guide decisions on operations and recovery efforts. In the most recent legislative session, EPIC research and testimony informed deliberations regarding changes to policies central to public education in the state, such as the Read by Grade Three early literacy law.
College of Education Dean Jerlando F. L. Jackson will work with faculty and state partners to establish a timeline for the for EPIC’s next director in the coming weeks. In the interim, EPIC’s managing director, Emily Mohr will lead the staff and affiliated faculty through the transition.
“Katharine has accomplished so much in her time at MSU and has assembled an impressive team to carry on EPIC’s work,” Mohr said. “EPIC is committed to continuing to pursue ‘research with consequence’ in service of our partners at MDE, CEPI, and throughout the state. The EPIC team is excited to build on our past success and will continue to serve as a crucial resource to decision-making in Michigan.”
To learn more about EPIC’s research, visit epicedpolicy.org.