About

Matt S. Giani, Ph.D., is a Research Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is also a Faculty Affiliate of the Texas Behavioral Science and Policy Institute, the Population Research Center, and the Texas Center for Equity Promotion. His research examines how K–12 and postsecondary education systems can better support students from underrepresented backgrounds, with a focus on dual enrollment, career and technical education, industry-recognized credentials, transfer pathways, and the policies that shape them.

He has led or co-led more than $10 million in funded research from sponsors including the National Science Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Arnold Ventures, the Spencer Foundation, Ascendium Education Group, the Joyce Foundation, the Greater Texas Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences. His work has been published in American Educational Research Journal, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Review of Higher Education, Research in Higher Education, Educational Policy, AERA Open, and Educational Researcher, among others.

Matt serves as an Associate Editor of Educational Researcher, on the editorial board of Research in Higher Education, and as Co-Chair of the Postsecondary Division of the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness. He is also Principal of Giani Consulting & Evaluation, LLC.

He earned his Ph.D. in Education Policy and Planning from UT Austin, his M.A. in Educational Policy from Stanford University, and his B.A. in English (Minor in Sociology) from UT Austin.

Education

• Ph.D., Education Policy and Planning, The University of Texas at Austin (2014) — Graduate Portfolio in Applied Statistical Modeling
• M.A., Educational Policy, Organization and Leadership Studies, Stanford University (2009)
• B.A., English (Minor in Sociology), The University of Texas at Austin (2008)

Current roles

• Research Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, UT Austin (2022–present)
• Faculty Affiliate — Texas Behavioral Science and Policy Institute, Population Research Center
• Faculty Affiliate — Texas Center for Equity Promotion
• Principal, Giani Consulting & Evaluation, LLC (2015–present)

Service & editorial roles

• Associate Editor, Educational Researcher (2024–present)
• Editorial Board, Research in Higher Education (2020–present)
• Co-Chair, Postsecondary Division, Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (2025–present)
• Independent Advisory Panel, National Assessment of Career and Technical Education, U.S. Department of Education (2024–2026)
• Education Systems and Broad Reform Panel Member, Institute of Education Sciences (2019–2024)
• Education Committee, Austin PBS (2024–present)
• Research PI, Summer Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program, College of Liberal Arts, UT Austin (2026–27)
• Ad hoc reviewer for American Educational Research Journal, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Journal of Higher Education, Social Forces, Social Science Research, Sociology of Education, and others