Jacob Kirksey

Jacob Kirksey is an assistant professor in the College of Education at Texas Tech University and associate director of the Center for Innovative Research in Change, Leadership, and Education. He is also a faculty affiliate with the STEM Center for Outreach, Research, and Education (STEM-CORE). His research focuses on the intersection of education and public policy to improve educational and economic outcomes for historically underserved populations. His work examines student well-being in preK–12 public schools, college and career readiness, and educator labor markets, with an emphasis on absenteeism, students with disabilities, and the ripple effects of immigration enforcement. Kirksey has published extensively on these topics, and his research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Education Week, The Hechinger Report, The Texas Tribune, and other national outlets. Kirksey earned his BA in economics and education from Colorado College and an MA and PhD in education from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

updated 2025