ELIZABETH BURLAND

Welcome! I'm Elizabeth Burland, an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Connecticut's School of Public Policy. I am a mixed-methods sociologist, conducting research at the intersection of social policy, wealth and income inequality, and educational decision-making. 

My current work focuses on how wealth and income inequality shape the decisions individuals make postsecondary education or career decisions; how federal, state and local financial aid policies affect college going; and how public policies can intervene to reduce inequality. For example, some of my work uses experimental and qualitative research to understand the mechanisms driving decisions to attend an elite college or university. My other work studies the causal effects of state-wide financial aid policies. In addition to research, I teach public policy students about equitable use of data for policy research and analysis, access and equity in higher education, and how to write professionally for public policy audiences.