Connecting Researchers and Decision Makers

Ruth N. López Turley is a professor of Sociology at Rice University, and her work aims to connect research and policy/practice. She founded the Houston Education Research Consortium (HERC), a Research-Practice Partnership (RPP) between Rice University and the Houston Independent School District (HISD). Funded by the Houston Endowment and the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, this partnership aims to close the economic and racial/ethnic gaps through a jointly developed research agenda, with the goal of informing local decision-making. Ruth helped to launch the National Education ResearchPractice Partnerships (NERPP), a national network that supports and develops RPPs, facilitates communication and collaboration across partnerships, and coordinates efforts to connect research and policy at the local, regional, and national levels. This work is funded by the William T. Grant, Laura and John Arnold, Wallace, and Annie E. Casey foundations.
Additionally, Ruth has served on various elected and appointed positions in the American Educational Research Association, the American Sociological Association, the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness, and the National Research Council of the National Academies, as well as the editorial boards of Sociology of Education and Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. Ruth completed her undergraduate work at Stanford University (1996) and her graduate work at Harvard University (1999, 2001).
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Additionally, Ruth has served on various elected and appointed positions in the American Educational Research Association, the American Sociological Association, the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness, and the National Research Council of the National Academies, as well as the editorial boards of Sociology of Education and Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. Ruth completed her undergraduate work at Stanford University (1996) and her graduate work at Harvard University (1999, 2001).
View Ed-Talk Factsheet here.