PRESIDENT
Presiding the 2024 Conference in Charlotte, NC
Christine Rienstra Kiracofe is Professor and Head of the Educational Studies Department at Purdue. Her research focuses on the intersection of education law and finance and touches on Constitutional issues in K-12 and Higher Education settings as well as school funding litigation. She is the current President of the National Education Finance Academy and the co-editor of Education Law Into Practice.
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Presiding the 2025 Conference
Delia Allen
VICE PRESIDENT
Presiding the 2026 Conference
Henry Tran is an Associate Professor in the area of Education Leadership at the University of South Carolina who studies issues related to education human resources (HR). He has published and taught extensively on the topic including several with students, holding the Professional in Human Resources Certification, SHRM Certified Professional credential, and the SHRM Inclusive Workplace Specialty Credential. He has served on the Board of Advisors and Board of Trustees for the National Education Finance Academy, and will serve in executive leadership roles (e.g., Vice President and President) for the organization in 2024-25 to 2027-2028.
In addition, Tran is the lead editor for the books: Leadership in Turbulent Times: Cultivating Diversity and Inclusion in the P-12 Education Workplace; Leadership in Turbulent Times: Cultivating Diversity and Inclusion in the Higher Education Workplace (Co-Editor) and How did we get here? The Decay of the Teaching Profession. He is also lead author of the book: Strategic Human Resources Management in Schools: Talent-centered Education Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement: Improving Education through Multi-level Community Relations, the editor of the Journal of Education Human Resources and the Director of the Talent Centered Education Leadership Initiative. He is also the program coordinator for the Ed.D. with a concentration in Education Systems Improvement. Prior to his professorship, Tran served as an HR practitioner in both the private sector and in public education.
In addition, Tran is the lead editor for the books: Leadership in Turbulent Times: Cultivating Diversity and Inclusion in the P-12 Education Workplace; Leadership in Turbulent Times: Cultivating Diversity and Inclusion in the Higher Education Workplace (Co-Editor) and How did we get here? The Decay of the Teaching Profession. He is also lead author of the book: Strategic Human Resources Management in Schools: Talent-centered Education Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement: Improving Education through Multi-level Community Relations, the editor of the Journal of Education Human Resources and the Director of the Talent Centered Education Leadership Initiative. He is also the program coordinator for the Ed.D. with a concentration in Education Systems Improvement. Prior to his professorship, Tran served as an HR practitioner in both the private sector and in public education.
PAST PRESIDENT
Eric A. Houck is an Associate Professor of Leadership and Policy in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He holds a PhD in educational leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University, a master’s degree in educational policy studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently past-president of the National Education Finance Academy.
A former public school teacher and central office administrator, Dr. Houck has conducted and published research in the areas of state funding mechanisms, intra-district school finance and resource allocation, as well as the fiscal implications of school de- and re- segregation at both the state and district levels. He has published this research in outlets such as the Journal of Education Finance, the Peabody Journal of Education, Education and Urban Society, and Leadership and Policy in Schools. He is a coauthor of a school finance textbook, Modern Education Finance and Policy and co-editor of Funding Public Schools in the United States, Indian Country, and US Territories. He has also written publicly on school finance issues for the (Raleigh) News and Observer and School Business Affairs, as well as appeared as an expert and interviewee for multiple media outlets.
A former public school teacher and central office administrator, Dr. Houck has conducted and published research in the areas of state funding mechanisms, intra-district school finance and resource allocation, as well as the fiscal implications of school de- and re- segregation at both the state and district levels. He has published this research in outlets such as the Journal of Education Finance, the Peabody Journal of Education, Education and Urban Society, and Leadership and Policy in Schools. He is a coauthor of a school finance textbook, Modern Education Finance and Policy and co-editor of Funding Public Schools in the United States, Indian Country, and US Territories. He has also written publicly on school finance issues for the (Raleigh) News and Observer and School Business Affairs, as well as appeared as an expert and interviewee for multiple media outlets.
Graduate Student Representative
Rayanna Campbell is a Student Advocate for the University of Miami, Graduate Student Representative for NEFA's Board of Trustees, and President of NEFA's Graduate Student Council. Her work surrounds creating policies and practices that increase access to opportunities within NEFA and academia at large. Beyond NEFA, Rayanna is Co-Director and Lead Aerialist for a multidisciplinary arts production heightening awareness of geographic rights in her hometown.
MEMBERS: THREE YEAR TERM (2022-2025)
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Paul Bruno is an assistant professor of education policy, organization, and leadership in the College of Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He uses quantitative methods to study school finance, school choice, resource allocation in schools, and teacher quality. In addition to writing policy briefs and reports for policymakers and practitioners, his research has been published in a variety of peer-reviewed journals, including Review of Public Personnel Administration, Educational Administration Quarterly, Journal of Education Finance, American Educational Research Journal, and Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis.
Paul completed a PhD in urban education policy and a MA in economics at the University of Southern California. Prior to enrolling at USC he earned a MA in science and math education and BAs in philosophy and molecular biology from the University of California, Berkeley and taught middle school science in Oakland and Los Angeles, California. Karen J. DeAngelis is an associate professor of Educational Leadership in the Warner School of Education and Human Development at the University of Rochester. Between 2014 and 2020, she also served as department chair and associate dean. Her research primarily focuses on the utilization and distribution of K-12 educational resources, particularly human resources including teachers, administrators, and school support personnel. In addition, she is interested in decision making by K-12 educational leaders, most recently with regard to policies and practices related to AI. She was named a Distinguished Research and Practice Fellow of NEFA in 2021. Arvin Johnson |
MEMBERS: THREE YEAR TERM (2023-2026)
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David Knight
Carlee Simon is the Interim Dean of the School of Education at the University of Alaska Southeast and an experienced leader in educational administration and policy. She holds a PhD in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Florida, specializing in public school finance. Dr. Simon is a former superintendent and public school educator with expertise in strategic planning, community engagement, and educational innovation. Dr. Simon’s work focuses on state and district-level education finance, equity in resource allocation, and policies supporting teacher preparation and recruitment, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities. She has been featured in national outlets such as The Washington Post, NPR’s All Things Considered, and cable news programs, where she has shared insights on education policy and leadership. Her publications and presentations highlight her commitment to transparency, community engagement, and collaboration, including research on school finance and leadership. She also brings experience in creating partnerships that bridge public and private sectors to enhance workforce development and educator preparation. Dr. Simon’s leadership has earned her recognition as an innovator and advocate for educational equity at both local and national levels. Toni Templeton |
MEMBERS: THREE YEAR TERM (2024-2027)
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Iris BenDavid-Hadar is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Bar-Ilan University, Israel. She specializes in Education Finance Policy, with particular emphasis on equity, social justice, and the economics of education. Her research examines the relationship between educational resource allocation (from both central and local governments) and educational outcomes. She focuses on reconceptualizing equity and developing innovative funding formulae and resource allocation mechanisms to improve educational systems.
Dr. BenDavid-Hadar currently leads the LEAD Project (Learning for Strategic Development), funded by the Israeli Science Foundation (ISF), which explores the reconceptualization of education finance policy for state competitiveness and social cohesiveness. She is a Distinguished Research and Practice Fellow of the National Education Finance Academy and serves on its Board of Trustees. As an international leader in her field, she founded the Economics and Finance of Education Special Interest Group in the Comparative International Education Society (CIES). She also serves on the Board of International Higher Education in Belt and Road Countries (IHE-B&R) at the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), China. Dr. BenDavid-Hadar serves as a member of several national committees and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) Survey. She provides expert consultation to the World Bank and UNESCO on equity reports. Her research has been published in prestigious journals including the International Journal of Educational Development, Compare, and Management in Education. Her recent book, "Education Finance, Equality, and Equity," was published by Springer. Oznat Zaken Amy Dagley |