Dr. Cecile Dietrich
Head of Research Design & Analysis
Professional Background:
Dr. Dietrich serves as the Head of Research Design and Analysis for College Essentials, where she leads all research and evaluation activities. She guides continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring programs are grounded in evidence and best practices. Her goal is to measure and improve impact year-over-year until no student is left behind.
Educational Research Experience:
- Extensive Career: Cecile has over 20 years of experience managing rigorous educational research projects for state agencies and large school systems.
- Regional Impact: She has led significant projects across Virginia and Illinois, specifically with the Illinois Education Research Council (IERC).
Key Research Findings:
- The “Community College Penalty”: Her research (co-authored with Eric Lichtenberger) debunked the myth that starting at a two-year college reduces the chance of earning a bachelor’s degree. She found that transfer students were just as likely to graduate as their four-year peers within six years.
- Economic Advantage: Her studies revealed that community college transfer students often earned initially higher wages post-graduation compared to those who only attended four-year institutions.
- CTE & Graduation Rates: Her findings demonstrate that Career and Technical Education (CTE)participation significantly reduces dropout rates and increases on-time high school graduation.
- Certification Impact: Cecile’s research highlights that earning industry certifications while in high school exerts a “meaningful influence” on graduation likelihood, particularly for at-risk or economically disadvantaged students.
- Postsecondary Readiness: She found that CTE students are more likely to earn associate’s degrees or certificates compared to students in general curriculum programs, providing a faster and more direct path to workforce entry.
Education
- Advanced Degree: Dr. Dietrich holds a PhD with expertise in longitudinal data analysis and applied statistics.