Ben always knew that he would end up in Washington, DC, but the path he took to get here took a few turns along the way. After starting his career in international education and international student support services at the University of Georgia, Ben brought his student-centered expertise and campus-based experiences to higher education research and policy in Washington. At Third Way, Ben works on issues in higher education policy that elevate value and return on investment for students and taxpayers, including accountability, loans, grants, and transparency. Additionally, Ben leads the Third Way Education Program’s extensive public opinion research portfolio, uncovering what students and voters think about higher education. His analyses and commentary have been featured in outlets like USA Today, Inside Higher Education, Forbes, and The Hechinger Report. 

Prior to joining Third Way, Ben was an Associate Analyst at the American Council on Education and a student affairs professional at the University of Georgia. Ben holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in Higher Education from Florida State University, and a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the University of Georgia.