She received her PhD candidate in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern. Her research research examines how factors outside of students’ control – e.g., neighborhood violence, biological stress responses, or lead exposure – affect human capital development and achievement gaps. She crosses disciplinary boundaries, using econometric methods to study psychobiological measures. Jenni has previously worked at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and as a consultant for institutions of higher education. Jenni holds a BA in Economics and Sociology from the University of Notre Dame and an MPP from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.