Prior to Bellwether, Priyanka was a doctoral researcher in the Department of Education at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. There, she designed and conducted multiple randomized controlled trial studies primarily focused on the efficacy of tech-based interventions to support children’s literacy development. She also has experience as an independent research consultant and has taught multiple courses on quantitative research methods. Before moving to Finland in 2016, Priyanka spent two years in Ahmedabad, India as a Teach For India fellow where she taught third and fourth grade to underserved children from the surrounding slum community. During her time as a teacher, she spearheaded a project to build awareness and greater support for the lowest-performing children in classrooms across the city.

Priyanka is currently finishing a doctorate in education from the University of Jyväskylä. She holds a master’s degree in educational sciences with a minor in special education from the University of Jyväskylä and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Davis. She currently resides in Sacramento, California.

Why I do this work:

As a first-generation college graduate, I see the opportunities that my education has afforded me on a daily basis. But I’ve always felt that I only made it because I was one of the lucky ones. I am passionate about working towards a world where all children, and not just the lucky ones, have access to an excellent education.

Experience at Bellwether:

Program Evaluation/Evaluation Capacity-Building; Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis; Survey Research; Data Collection and Analysis; Analysis; Research