Dr. Toby Park-Gaghan

Dr. Toby Park-Gaghan is the college's Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and a Professor of Education Policy. He formerly served as Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Interim Director of the School of Teacher Education, and Associate Director of the Center for Postsecondary Success.

Dr. Park-Gaghan's primary research utilizes quasi-experimental methods and large statewide data sets to investigate student outcomes in postsecondary education and explore potential policy initiatives that could improve student success, with a particular focus on non-traditional students. He explores the non-traditional student defined by individual characteristics (race, economic disadvantage, and academic preparation) as well as by the higher education context in which they enroll (community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic Serving Institutions). Previously, he utilized the state database in Texas to examine the impact of beginning at a community college on baccalaureate degree attainment. In addition, he has collaborated on work examining student success within the context of the higher education landscape of Florida, with a particular focus on pre-college preparation, developmental education, community colleges, and minority serving institutions. He was a Co-PI on a multi-year project investigating developmental education reform in Florida, funded in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).

In his ongoing research, Dr. Park-Gaghan is examining the relationship between corequisite developmental education delivery strategies and student success following significant developmental education legislation in Texas. He is PI on a $1.5M grant from IES entitled “Exploring Corequisite Developmental Education Models.

Dr. Park-Gaghan teaches courses on the economics of education, large-scale database management, and advanced quantitative methods. He has recently published articles in Educational Research, the American Journal of Education, the Journal of Higher Education, and Research in Higher Education. Dr. Park-Gaghan’s work also been featured in USA Today, Reuters, The National Journal, Inside Higher Education, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.