#  PIER Public Seminar Series 

 



##  PIER Public Seminar Series 

The PIER Public Seminar Series is designed to explore important questions and insights in education research and policy. For the 2025-2026 academic year, seminars will take place on Tuesdays from 4-5:30 p.m in person in Eliot Lyman Room, Longfellow Hall and via livestream. Contact [pier\_fellowship@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:pier_fellowship@gse.harvard.edu) with questions.

[View previous seminars in the video archive.](/archived-video-recordings)



 

 

 

       ![PIER fellows interacting](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-05/pier%20pic.jpg?itok=LQVfkXwQ) 

 

 



 

 



 

## [**Watch the PIER Seminar livestream of "What Schools Want Versus What Evidence Can Deliver" with Beth Tipton.**](https://prod-cepr.drupalsites.harvard.edu/event/pier-public-seminar-beth-tipton?occ_id=0)



 

### November 18: Why Have Girls’ Test Scores Declined Relative to Boys’ in Recent Years? 

 

**sean reardon**

Professor of Poverty and Inequality in Education; Professor (by courtesy) of Sociology, Stanford University



 [ Learn More arrow\_circle\_right ](https://prod-cepr.drupalsites.harvard.edu/event/pier-public-seminar-sean-reardon?occ_id=0) 

 



      ![Sean Reardon](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-10/sean%20reardon%20headshot%20%282%29.jpg?h=0a57496a&itok=h6AxoZPb) 

 

 

  

 



### December 2: Activating Parental Managerial Capital in Education 

 

**Mahounan Yedomiffi**

Provost Faculty Fellow; Lecturer; Assistant Professor of Economics, Dartmouth College



 [ Learn More arrow\_circle\_right ](https://prod-cepr.drupalsites.harvard.edu/event/pier-public-seminar-mahounan-yedomiffi?occ_id=0) 

 



      ![Mahounan, Yedomiffi](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-10/Mahuounan%2C%20Ydomiffi.jpg?h=7a8ba37f&itok=5RJaTGvz) 

 

 

  

 



### February 3: Easy A's, Less Pay: The Long-Term Effects of Grade Inflation 

 

**Jeff Denning**

Associate Professor, LBJ School of Public Affairs and Educational Leadership and Policy University of Texas at Austin



 [ Learn More arrow\_circle\_right ](https://prod-cepr.drupalsites.harvard.edu/event/pier-public-seminar-jeff-denning?occ_id=0) 

 



      ![Jeff Denning](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-10/Jeff%2C%20Denning.jpg?h=dd4cd8d0&itok=MrN3qT6z) 

 

 

  

 



### March 3: The Impact of a Two-Generation College Pipeline Program 

 

**Lesley Turner**

Associate Professor, Harris School of Public Policy University of Chicago



 [ Learn More arrow\_circle\_right ](https://prod-cepr.drupalsites.harvard.edu/event/pier-public-seminar-lesley-turner?occ_id=0) 

 



      ![Lesley Turner](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-10/LTurner%20headshot.JPG?h=c354572b&itok=ohY1snAB) 

 

 

  

 



### April 28: What Schools Want vs. What Evidence Can Deliver 

 

**Beth Tipton**

Co-Director, Statistics for Evidence-Based Policy & Practice (STEPP) Center Professor of Statistics and Data Science; Faculty Fellow, Institute for Policy Research Northwestern University



 [ Learn More arrow\_circle\_right ](https://prod-cepr.drupalsites.harvard.edu/event/pier-public-seminar-beth-tipton?occ_id=0) 

 



      ![beth tipton headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum9881/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-10/Beth%2C%20Tipton.jpg?itok=LpKUUs63) 

 

 

  

 



 

 

 

##  Contact Us 

Email [pier\_fellowship@gse.harvard.edu](mailto:pier_fellowship@gse.harvard.edu).



 

##  Stay Informed 

For the latest seminars, workshops, and/or fellowship information:  
[Subscribe](https://prod-cepr.drupalsites.harvard.edu/subscribe)