Doctorate in educational leadership from Oakland University. Master’s in educational leadership from Saginaw Valley State University. Bachelor’s degree in social science education from Bowling Green State University.
Daniel J. Quinn, Ph.D., is a project manager with PPA who is an accomplished public speaker, organizational leader, and facilitator with experience coordinating qualitative and quantitative research studies on a variety of issues in collaboration with academics, policymakers, and local and organizational leaders. He has experience leading focus groups and town hall meetings, as well as gathering stakeholder input in public settings. Prior to joining PPA, Dr. Quinn served as executive director for the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice, where he oversaw a nationally recognized research agenda. He also taught secondary-level social studies for 19 years, with emphasis on economics, before focusing his career on policy.
Dr. Quinn recognizes the importance of promoting equitable policies, research, and practices, and has managed projects related to racial equity and closing the opportunity gap. His knowledge and experience in education align well with efforts to build healthy, equitable, and sustainable communities. Currently, Dr. Quinn leads the Student Voice project, an initiative that captures input from students about their experience in schools and the issues they face as students of color. He recently contributed to Phase II parent focus groups for the Parent Dashboard for School Transparency, and moderated and collected feedback at statewide listening sessions for the proposed Michigan Social Studies Standards.
He has also been an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville and Oakland University teaching policy analysis and action research methods. His current research interests include education policy implementation, leadership development, and teacher working conditions. Dr. Quinn has been named an emerging leader by Phi Delta Kappa International; attended the David L. Clark National Graduate Student Research Seminar; and served as a policy associate for the University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA).
His background includes strategic planning for nonprofit organizations, program and policy evaluation, and organizational leadership development. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Mid-Western Educational Research Association (MWERA), and is a member of the Michigan Association for Evaluation (MAE) and the American Educational Research Association (AERA).