Beth Hart, Ph.D.

Beth is a Research Associate II on WestEd’s Postsecondary Pathways and Career Mobility team. She is an experienced researcher with expertise in community college success, student decision-making, postsecondary transitions and pathways, and education policy. Beth leverages a variety of methods including interviews, focus groups, and surveys to investigate the barriers community college students face to upward mobility. Prior to joining WestEd, Beth was a Research Associate at the Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research where she provided research on emerging economic trends and technical assistance that shaped career and technical education (CTE) program development at the California Community Colleges. Beth holds an MA and PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Davis. She attended Berkeley City College before transferring to the University of California, Santa Cruz where she earned a BA in Psychology summa cum laude.