Jennifer Stephan, a doctoral student in the Human Development and Social Policy program, recently won a Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship. Her dissertation research focuses on the transition from high school to college for low-income students.According to the Spencer Foundation, which is dedicated to improving education worldwide, the Dissertation Fellowship Program seeks to encourage a new generation of scholars from a range of fields to undertake research relevant to the improvement of education. These $25,000 fellowships support people whose dissertations show potential for bringing fresh and constructive perspectives to education.
Stephan's dissertation is entitled "Gaps in the College Enrollment Process and the Role of High Schools in Reducing Them." Her work addresses the lower rate of college enrollment among low-income students, as well as the "less dependable pathways" that low-income students often pursue, such as attending two-year colleges, enrolling part-time, discontinuing or delaying studies, and combining school with long work hours.
"Using survey and enrollment data from all graduating seniors in Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and interview data from four CPS high schools, my dissertation analyzes the role of high schools in reducing the gap between college plans and enrollment and in promoting dependable college pathways for economically disadvantaged youth," says Stephan.
After she completes her doctoral studies, Stephan plans to pursue a research position related to higher education and the high school to college transition. "I plan to focus my research on the college choice process and on college success with a particular emphasis on understanding the experiences of economically disadvantaged youth," she says.
Stephan appreciates the opportunity the Spencer Dissertation Fellowship offers. "In addition to generous financial support, the Spencer fellowship provides an exciting opportunity to share my research with and learn from other graduate students and also leading scholars in the field of education," she notes.
A fellow in the Multidisciplinary Program in Education Sciences at Northwestern, Stephan holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Vassar College and a master's degree in economics from Princeton University. She has published several articles on the high school to college transition with professor James Rosenbaum.
Last Modified: 11/19/09