Senior Researcher (Health Policy and Economics),
Mathematica Policy Research, Princeton, N.J.,
Visiting Lecturer, Woodrow Wilson School
(teaching WWS 515b/c Program and Policy Evaluation)

As a Princeton University undergraduate, Debbie Peikes knew a graduate degree from WWS would provide a strong foundation in economics, econometrics, and political analysis. She developed an interest in health policy when she was a Fulbright Scholar in New Zealand, and applied to the M.P.A. program to pursue that interest.

Debbie decided to pursue a Ph.D. degree as a result of rewarding experiences conducting research for her undergraduate thesis and her M.P.A. classes. “Ceci Rouse’s applied labor economics class is a perfect example of a class that piqued my interest in research. The class gave me a theoretical framework as well as the hands-on experience of rigorously analyzing data to answer policy questions. It was exciting to work with another student to reanalyze data used in a contentious book about race and social policy and reach very different conclusions.”

Advancing into the School's doctoral program was a clear choice for Debbie. “I already knew from my experience as an M.P.A. student at WWS that the School’s Ph.D. program combined academic excellence, diverse and socially committed students, proactive career services, and an active and engaged alumni network. The program is exceptional in the resources it provides to train students, its interdisciplinary nature, and the feeling of community among students and faculty.”

Debbie credits the Ph.D. program for providing the training she needed to pursue a career in research that supports policymaking. “The courses I took in econometrics, economics, health policy, and U.S. politics provided me with outstanding skills in conducting and presenting analyses, including the ability to boil down technical findings into clear, easy-to-understand language for policymakers, and specific substantive knowledge in the health field. This has proven invaluable in my career as I design, conduct, and report the findings from research studies that test innovative solutions to pressing social issues. “Among the faculty, I owe a special thanks to Burt Singer, my dissertation advisor, for mentoring me and providing a model of using unconventional quantitative tools to conduct highly relevant policy research.” Now a visiting faculty member herself, Debbie draws upon her graduate experience to inform her own teaching practice.