Laura Hawkinson is a Ph.D. candidate in the Education Policy program at the University of Pennsylvania, and she is an Institute of Education Sciences Pre-Doctoral Fellow. Ms. Hawkinson is currently a visiting fellow at New York University, while working to complete her dissertation with UPenn in the 2011-2012 program year. At NYU, she is working with Dr. Pamela Morris on large-scale early childhood education studies, including a new research institute that will test the most promising early childhood education interventions in New York City preschools through a partnership between MDRC and the Robin Hood Foundation. Ms. Hawkinson’s research interests are focused on the effectiveness of early childhood education programs and policies, particularly for disadvantaged children. Her dissertation research investigates the effects of child care subsidies on child development. Previously, Ms. Hawkinson conducted research on state-funded pre-kindergarten programs at the National Institute for Early Education Research, and worked on several Head Start studies at Mathematica Policy Research. She taught in an early education program for homeless children, and worked as a volunteer in a Head Start classroom. She holds an M.P.A. from Columbia University with specialization in social policy.
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