As an education economist, Jessica Kripalani enjoys analyzing the implications of various educational policies on graduation rates, labor markets and student success. Her research interests include policies that affect education at every level, from early childhood through postsecondary levels. Most recently, she has studied the effects that community colleges have on graduation rates, wages and the labor market. She is also interested in pedagogical research related to economics education as well as collaboration with students. Recent publications include “Education Decisions and Labor Market Outcomes,” published in Applied Economics and “The Path to a Bachelor’s Degree: The Effect of Starting at a Community College,” published in The Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice.

Kripalani earned her Ph.D. in economics from Rutgers University (2016). Prior to that, she earned her master’s in mathematics at the University of Vermont (2007), and her bachelors in mathematics and economics at Saint Michael's College (2005). She has also taught high school mathematics at a Boston charter school from 2007-2011, and after earning her Ph.D., she most recently earned tenure at the University of Lynchburg.

This year, she will be joining the Department of Economics department and will teach intermediate microeconomics and econometrics.