Research Assistants

Christopher Tyler Burks is a Charles Levine Doctoral Research Fellow in public administration and policy at American University’s School of Public Affairs and a former Founders’ Fellow for the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA). He teaches Introduction to Public Administration and Governance (PUAD-343), and he works in the Metropolitan Policy Center where his research addresses social equity in urban policy and regional governance. Chris holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While there, he founded Urban Analysis, a consulting firm for changemaking through policy, planning, and politics.

Grace Cerand is a second-year Master of Public Administration candidate at American University. Her research interests center on how to advance equity through urban policies touching upon intersecting issues of housing, transportation, climate resiliency, and social safety nets. Outside of MPC, Grace serves as Policy Research Intern at AARP. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from American University in International Studies and Communication Studies.

Sarah Edwards is a second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Public Policy at American University. Her research interests include social inequality, urban policy, and immigration. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Politics from Whitman College and is currently a Policy Research Intern at the National Association of Counties. Sarah is passionate about utilizing research to uplift communities and advocate for equitable policies on both national and local levels.

Katie Ferguson is a first-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Public Policy at American University. Her research interests include wealth and education inequality, public health, and social policy. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Government, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The College of William & Mary. Katie is passionate about bridging urban neighborhood disparities through public policy, particularly by assisting impoverished children and families.