Principal Research Scientist, American Institutes for Research

Carlos Rodriguez

Dr. Carlos Rodríguez is nationally recognized for his expertise and insight on issues of equity, access and educational attainment of minority populations across the education spectrum. His research and evaluation expertise focuses on minority student success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the post-secondary arena. Currently, Dr. Rodríguez is leading AIR study teams conducting the Boadening Particpation in STEM project and the Longitudinal Study of the Alliance for Graduate Education Program (AGEP). Priouviously led NSF projects include the National Evluation of AGEP, a pilot study of AGEP in two states, Michigan and North Carolina, and a previous study of AGEP impact in the Colorado Diversity Initiative. As PI and Project Director, he also led three recently completed NSF projects: the Short Term Impact Study of the Model Institutions for Excellence (MIE-NSF), the Follow-On Study of the MIEs and an “Expanding the Pool” project to build partnership with middle schools and high schools to increase minority student’s interest and pursuit of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Over the past 18 years at the American Institutes for Research, he has led AIR research teams examining the effects of the Equity 2000 Project of the College Board, Project GRAD in the Houston Independent School District, the evaluation of the Partnerships for Health Professions and he conceived and led the development of cultural competency curriculum modules for family physicians for the Department of Health and Human Services. He has ongoing work with the NSF on evaluation issues related to underrepresented minorities in STEM including the Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, the role of cultural contexts in evaluation projects and has chaired NSF proposal review committees. Among his accomplishments, in 1997, Dr. Rodriguez authored the national report, “America on the Fault Line: Hispanic American Education” which informed the enactment of the Hispanic Education Action Plan (HEAP) that serves to guide federal agencies in Hispanic educational initiatives. He participated in the White House Strategy Session on Improving Hispanic Student Achievement convened by President Clinton and delivered prepared remarks at the White House in 1999 at the First White House Conference on Hispanic Children and Youth convened by First Lady Hilary Clinton. Dr. Rodríguez holds an appointment as Scholar-In-Residence at American University in Washington DC where he received the Most Outstanding Teacher Award in the College of Arts and Sciences. He received his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Arizona and his Master’s degree in Bicultural and Bilingual Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a Spencer Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation for his research: Minorities in Science and Engineering: Patterns for Success.