Dissertation Research:
My dissertation work explores how regulations and government programs in the child care and education space affect children, families, and educators. I apply econometric tools and use quantitative data to conduct policy analysis and answer causal questions. Specifically, I am currently working on three separate but related questions in my dissertation: (1) What is the effect of the adoption of child care quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS) on child care the quantity and price of home- and center-based child care? (2) What is the effect of QRIS adoption on accidental injuries among children?, and (3) What is the effect of child care subsidy rates on the availability of home- and center-based subsidized care? (in collaboration with Drs. Lauren Jones and Zhiling Shea). All these projects are in the context of the U.S., use administrative datasets—such as Vital Statistics records, the American Community Survey, and County Business Patterns—and make use of traditional and novel quasi-experimental techniques to estimate these effects.
Graduate Institutions and Major
Master of Public Policy – Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University
Undergrad Institution and Major
Bachelor in Economics - Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Dominican Republic
Research Interests:
I study early care and education policy. Specifically, my work explores how regulations and government programs in the child care and education space affect children, families, and educators. I apply econometric tools and use quantitative data to conduct policy analysis and answer causal questions.
Funded Appointments:
- Instructor of record for course “PA2120- Public Service and Civic Engagement”
- Presidential Fellowship, The Ohio State University, 2024-2025 cohort
- Graduate Research Assistant at Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Autumn 2022-present
- Inclusive Excellence Fellowship, The Ohio State University, 2021-2022
Relevant Professional Experience
I am an experienced policy evaluation researcher. My previous roles include applied researcher positions various research and government settings, including the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, Duke University’s Center for Advanced Hindsight, and MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). In these roles I have conducted qualitative and qualitative analyses with the goals of assessing program effectiveness, informing program design, and answering partners’ research needs. I have also worked as a public servant in data-analysis roles in the Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic.
Professional Service Activities
Doctoral Student Organization, President, 2022-23
Professional Affiliations
- Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM)
- Population Association of America (PAA)
Honors & Awards:
- Dough N. Jones Research Award ($1,000 to fund data acquisition), Spring 2025
- OSU Presidential Fellowship 2024-25
- Inclusive Excellence Fellowship, The Ohio State University, 2021-2022
- INICIA Educación Scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in the United States, 2014-2016
