Jennifer Ash is the Director of the National Center for Rural Education Research Networks at the Center for Education Policy Research. Prior to joining the Center for Education Policy Research, Jennifer served as an education researcher at Abt Associates, where she held leadership roles on studies of programs designed to promote college enrollment and success. Previously, Jennifer served as the Managing Director of the Office for Education Policy at the University of Arkansas, where managed the production of research reports, policy briefs, and blog posts about rural education policy issues in Arkansas. While at the University of Arkansas, Jennifer participated in a number of projects focused on rural school districts, including serving on the selection committee of a program that trains and places teachers in rural districts with teacher shortages, and leading a study of a college scholarship program based in a rural district. She also taught middle school language arts and served on the board of Young Education Professionals-Boston. Jennifer received a Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas.