Elizabeth Burland

Elizabeth Burland

Degree: 2015, B.A. and M.A.

Job Title: Assistant Research Professor at the University of Connecticut's School of Public Policy

Elizabeth Burland​ is an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Public Policy. She received her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Sociology from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. At UConn, Elizabeth teaches in the Master's of Public Policy and Master's of Public Administration program, including Introduction to Public Policy and Management, Cases in Public Policy and Management, and Social Equity in Public Policy and Higher Education Policy. Elizabeth’s research focuses on educational stratification, economic inequality, and public policy design. Her research investigates how students make academic decisions, how local, state, and federal financial aid policies affect college-going, and how educational inequality contributes to social stratification. 

While at the Biden School, Elizabeth received her honors, a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy, and a ​Master of Arts in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware in 2015. As a master’s student, Elizabeth worked at the Institute for Public Administration (IPA) on the Wilmington Education Advisory Committee and wrote her thesis, “Governing Wilmington Public Education: Legal Legacy, Community Impacts, Policy Recommendations.” Dr. Dan Rich chaired her committee.

Before moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan, Elizabeth worked as a researcher for IPA and the Administrative Coordinator for the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission (WEIC). IPA serves as the support staff for the WEIC, which was created through HB148 during the 2015 Delaware Legislative Session. Through this work, Elizabeth worked directly with educators, school and district leadership, and policymakers at both the state and local levels to make strategic and important policy changes.