Andrea Thurston

Andrea Thurston is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in higher education policy and advocacy. Currently serving as a Senior Higher Education Policy Analyst at The Education Trust since December 2022, Andrea previously held the roles of Implementation Strategist and Policy and Advocacy Fellow at Mental Health America from September 2020 to December 2022. Andrea's career also includes a position as a 6th Grade English Language Arts Teacher and Reading Interventionist at Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools from July 2017 to June 2020, along with a Policy and Advocacy Summer Fellowship at the Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy Inc. in mid-2019. Prior experience includes working as a Youth Development Specialist at the Boys and Girls Club of Columbia and serving as Activities Chair for the Legion of Black Collegians. Andrea holds a Master of Science in Education from The Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia.