Ben always knew that he would end up in Washington, DC, but his path to get here took a few turns along the way. After a transformative college study abroad opportunity, Ben began his career in international education and international student support services at the University of Georgia, where he led a team that supported international students in their transition to college life in the US. His experience working at the intersection of student support and helping international students navigate the complex policy environment sparked an interest in federal higher education policy and a deep desire to ensure that higher education works for all students. As Deputy Director of Higher Education Policy at Third Way, Ben works on higher education issues and policies that elevate value and return on investment for students and taxpayers, including accountability, loans, grants, and transparency. Ben also leads the Third Way Education Program’s extensive public opinion research portfolio, where he’s a leading voice on public perceptions of higher education value and accountability. His analyses and commentary have been featured in prominent outlets, including USA Today, Inside Higher Education, Forbes, Money, and The Hechinger Report. 

Ben’s driving belief is that higher education is the key that unlocks social and economic mobility for students around the country. Before joining Third Way, Ben was an Associate Analyst at the American Council on Education and worked in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Georgia. Ben is a Georgia native and proud Double Dawg, having earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education and his bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the University of Georgia. He also earned a master’s degree in Higher Education from Florida State University in Tallahassee.