Roberto V. Peñaloza

Dr. Roberto Peñaloza earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Vanderbilt University, Roberto and his wife, Maria, lived in Ecuador for a few years before returning to the states. Roberto now serves as a research scientist and is a core contributor to CREO as well as the IEI's Research Center on Educational Policy (RCEP). His current research focuses on statistical methodology and data analysis techniques for examining student achievement in U.S. schools, as well as the relationships among school, principal, and teacher practices and policies. His extensive experience using a variety of quasi-experimental methods analyzing Northwest Evaluation Association data dates back to his work for the National Center on School Choice (NCSC) at Vanderbilt as part of the "What Makes Schools Work" project, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Previously, Roberto served as visiting assistant professor of economics in the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics at Washington and Lee University. He has also collaborated in multiple and diverse research projects in economics, education, psychology, sociology, law, health, medicine, and marketing.