Erin Dunlop Velez

Erin Dunlop Velez, vice president of research at the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), leads IHEP’s research portfolio, conducting policy-relevant research to support IHEP’s core policy priorities: data and transparency, strong outcomes for all students, evidence-based completion, need-based aid, and equitable admissions.

Before joining IHEP, Velez was a director of education research at RTI International, where she led several large federal projects including the Digest of Education Statistics, the Condition of Education, and the Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study. At RTI, Velez also conducted numerous research projects for nonprofit and foundation clients and served in management and organizational leadership roles. Prior to RTI, Velez was a researcher at the American Institutes for Research.

Velez earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Virginia and her B.A. in economics from the College of William & Mary (VA).