Robert Jason Cottrell

Background

About Robert Jason Cottrell

A higher education professional with over twenty-five years of experience in a variety of functional areas. I have worked for several diverse organizations where I have been able to support the mission of leadership in order to improve opportunities for student access and success. For the past nine years, I have served the American people at the U.S. Department of Education. My main professional focus has been on student transitions for new undergraduate students. Specifically, I am interested in improving outcomes at post-secondary institutions through data-driven practices. I completed my Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education with the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia. My dissertation, The Role of a University College on Student Engagement, focused on how environmental factors affect student engagement variables using data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) during the first year of college. I have also served with various organizations, including with ACPA - College Student Educators International. I have also been recognized with the ACPA Presidential Citation and as an ACPA Diamond Honoree.