Fed Event: Brody Public Policy Series Hosts Paul T. Decker

12:15-1:30 PM, Atrium in Van Munching Hall

*Pizza Provided*

The Norman and Florence Brody Public Policy Series hosts Paul T. Decker | President & CEO of Mathematica

"Public Policy Research: The View From the Private Sector"


Paul Decker is president and chief executive officer at Mathematica. He is a nationally recognized expert in the design, implementation, and analysis of experimental studies on education and workforce development programs.

Since 1988, he has played a leading role in research designed to provide rigorous, objective information to help mediate debate over controversial policy issues.

Decker directed Mathematica’s evaluation of the Teach For America (TFA) program, which assessed the impact of TFA teachers on student learning. He also oversaw a national study of the efficacy of different teacher preparation methods in contributing to students’ academic achievement. In other areas, he directed studies related to education and worker productivity, employment and training programs, training vouchers, and unemployment insurance.

Decker has served in many roles during his tenure at Mathematica. He joined the firm’s Princeton office in 1988 as a new researcher and moved into a management role in 1997 as associate director of research. He continued to take on broader management responsibilities and became vice president of human services research in 2002 and managing director of human services research in 2005. He joined the senior management team in 2006 as senior vice president. In July 2006, Decker was named vice president and chief operating officer.

Decker has testified before Congress and served on advisory boards for government and academic institutions. He publishes widely in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Journal of Human Resources, Economic Studies Quarterly, and others. He has a Ph.D. in economics from the Johns Hopkins University.