Blog
Dr. Sidhu is a socio-behavioral scientist with an interest in using research evidence to influence policy and regulatory practices. She recently completed her postdoctoral studies at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where she pursued research at the intersection of regulatory science, health communication, and program evaluation.
This year’s proposals include partnerships that will examine programs, policies, or practices that seek to reduce racial and economic disparities in K-12 educational outcomes; improve college enrollment, attendance, and completion among youth of color and youth from low-income families; divert youth from the juvenile justice system; and advance economic mobility for youth from low-income families and youth who are disconnected from education and employment.
We are proud to announce four new research grants, including three to support studies on reducing inequality in youth outcomes and one to support a study on improving the use of research evidence. Approved at the Foundation’s October Board meeting, these grants will build theory and empirical evidence in our two focus areas. Sign up […]
In 2018, when we launched our study, Putting Immigration and Education in Conversation Everyday (PIECE), it was a time of crisis for immigrant communities. Anti-immigrant policies, aggressive enforcement, and xenophobic discourse were causing upheaval for students, families, and the educators serving them. As scholars committed to improving the educational experiences of immigrant-origin students, we designed […]
Understanding why an intervention produces statistically significant outcomes requires moving away from studies that treat participation as the main variable of interest and toward those that analyze the materials and activities within an intervention as malleable factors that influence youth outcomes.
Local policymakers often lack rigorous data and analysis about which programs are most effective. But too often academics do not apply their knowledge to the most pressing policy issues in these local contexts. This creates a “valley of death” between knowledge and practice that leaves many local policy problems unadressed. As local institutions, universities have […]
The William T. Grant Foundation is pleased to announce the finalists for the William T. Grant Scholars Program class of 2028. Eleven early-career researchers were selected from a pool of 43 applicants after a rigorous review by our staff and Selection Committee. Melissa Wooten, the program officer managing the program, said, “It’s very promising to […]
Letters of Inquiry to Propose Research on Reducing Inequality: Identifying the Lever for Change
As you prepare your LOI, ask yourself: what strategy might reduce unequal outcomes among youth ages 5-25 in the United States? Simply, put, what can be changed to make things better?
Some of the most impactful contributions universities make to society stem from faculty members’ external engagement—i.e., researcher engagement with policymakers and practitioners. A faculty member’s meeting with a CDC official can lead to new public health guidelines. A faculty member’s op-ed on student debt forgiveness can catalyze executive action. A faculty member’s congressional testimony on […]
The William T. Grant Foundation is pleased to welcome Alex Doñé and Elizabeth Birr Moje to our our Board of Trustees. Alex Doñé is a Managing Director at Platinum Equity, where he is responsible for global functions related to strategic planning, investor capital development, and other firm leadership initiatives. Previously, he was the Deputy Comptroller […]
Four New Research Grants to Build Theory and Evidence on Ways to Reduce Inequality in Youth Outcomes
We are pleased to announce four new research grants for studies in our reducing inequality focus area. Approved at the Foundation’s June Board meeting, these awards will help build theory and empirical evidence on promising strategies for reducing inequality in the outcomes of young people ages 5-25 in the U.S. Sign up for the Foundation’s […]
The Foundation is pleased to announce that three research grantees have been awarded grants to support their development as mentors to junior researchers of color. The awardees will mentor promising doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows in enhancing their methodological skills, publication records, and career networks. The mentoring grants program is designed to help William T. […]
We are pleased to announce that Rosanna Aybar has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration. In this role, Rosanna will continue to lead finance, human resources, and IT, and will also provide expanded support and strategic planning for overall strategy, legal matters, and grants management operations. “This promotion recognizes Rosanna’s momentous contributions […]
Someone asked me recently what I will miss the most about my time at the Foundation. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I will miss the relationships and communities we have built together.
In recent years, research interest in knowledge brokerage has expanded across disciplines as scholars and practitioners alike seek to better understand the mechanisms that impact use of research evidence in policymaking processes. With funding from the William T. Grant Foundation, we endeavored upon a multi-year process to bring together scholars from health, education, psychology and […]