Francesca Purcell

Francesca Purcell has a diverse work experience in the field of education policy. Francesca currently serves as a Senior Lecturer and Faculty Director of the Higher Education Program at Harvard University Graduate School of Education since August 2019. Prior to that, they worked as a Program Director of Education and the Development of Knowledge and later as the Director of the Commission on the Future of Undergraduate Education and Program Officer of Education Policy at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences from 2016 to present. Francesca also has experience as a Consultant at the World Bank Group from 2015 to January 2017. Francesca served as the Provost/Chief Academic Officer at Massachusetts Bay Community College from 2012 to 2015. Their earlier roles include being an Associate Commissioner for Academic and P-16 Policy, Director for Academic Policy, Associate Director for Academic Policy, and Policy Analyst at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education from 2004 to 2012.

Francesca Purcell's education history began with their Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Political Science and Women's & Gender Studies from Amherst College, which they completed between 1985 and 1989. Francesca then pursued a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in College Student Development and Counseling from Northeastern University from 1994 to 1996. Francesca furthered their academic pursuits by obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Higher Education Administration from Boston College, where they studied from 2000 to 2004.