Jenny is a senior research scientist at NORC where she evaluates educator pathways and teacher diversification initiatives and provides expertise on educational ecosystems in rural America. With over a decade of research experience, Jenny works regularly with state and local partners to develop qualitative and mixed methods studies that evaluate a variety of educator pipeline programs. Her approach to research is asset-based and informed by her six years as a high school teacher.

Jenny currently serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) for a study of Educators Rising programs in rural Wisconsin, which encourage middle and/or high school students to become educators in rural communities to address teacher shortages. She is Co-PI on a study to develop an equity-centered rural education research agenda based on a comprehensive literature review of the last 20 years of rural education and qualitative interviews with rural community members across the country. She is also PI for an impact evaluation of the Engaging Youth for Positive Change civic engagement program in rural communities. She also serves as Project Director on a study that examines how institutions of higher education, working as part of a collaborative, confront structural barriers that inhibit the graduation of Black and Latinx students through organizational change.

Prior to joining NORC, Jenny served as an associate program officer at the Spencer Foundation and assistant director at the Rural Education Research & Implementation Center at the University of Wisconsin.