Her research centers on the effects of neoliberal ideology and public policy on the democratic purpose of higher education, the role of open access universities in facilitating opportunity and regional civic life, and the phenomenon of ideal-centered organizational change in higher education as well as the failure of organizational change. Prior to her doctoral program, she directed the American Democracy Project (ADP), a national multi-campus initiative of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The 240 regional comprehensive universities involved with ADP focus on higher education's role in educating informed, engaged participants for U.S. democracy. Cecilia holds a PhD in higher education from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree in political science from Portland State University.