Peter Riley Bahr

Peter Riley Bahr is an associate professor of education with the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education in the Marsal Family School of Education at the University of Michigan. He was formerly an education researcher in the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and a research program specialist with the California Department of Education. His research focuses on the role of community colleges and other nonselective or minimally selective public postsecondary institutions in creating and advancing educational and economic opportunities for socioeconomically disadvantaged students, older/adult/post-traditional students, and marginalized students. Central concerns of his research are identifying obstacles to academic progress, strategies to build students' momentum toward graduation, and factors that contribute to maximizing students' labor market outcomes and return on investment. Bahr collaborates with state policymakers to ensure that the research directly informs policy development. Dr. Bahr received his PhD in sociology from the University of California, Davis.

updated 2004