Joy Polk

Joy Polk (she/her) is a Ph.D. student specializing in Educational Statistics and Research Methods at the University of Delaware. She earned her B.A. from Villanova University and holds an M.Ed. in Quantitative Methods from Vanderbilt University. Before beginning her doctoral studies, Joy worked as a freelance research consultant, collaborating with organizations such as Assessment for Good and the Center for Rural School Health & Education. Her projects focused on psychometrics, data visualization, and culturally responsive evaluation practices.

Currently, her research examines how research use, policy, and practice intersect to influence educational decision-making. More broadly, she is interested in advancing equity through the development of culturally responsive, methodologically rigorous approaches to educational measurement, data analysis, and program evaluation.

Education

• M.Ed., Quantitative Methods, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 2023
• B.S., Psychology, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 2021

Professional Experience

• Founder and Principal Investigator, Elevating Analytics for Strategic Exploration, LLC, 2023-Present
• Teacher and Mentor, Fusion Academy, 2023-2024

Recent Honors and Awards

• Fontana Family Graduate Scholarship, University of Delaware, 2025-2029