Dr. Christopher Avery

Biography

Christopher Avery is the Roy E. Larsen Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Graduate School of Education. His research primarily focuses on rating selection mechanisms in the college admissions system. He coauthored the book 'The Early Admissions Game' with Andrew Fairbanks and Richard Zeckhauser, which was published by Harvard University Press in March 2003. Avery studies patterns in college applications and enrollment choices among high school students. His current project examines the enrollment impacts due to the Covid-19 pandemic at the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) from 2022 to 2026. The study evaluates the effects of the pandemic on enrollment, which saw a significant drop of 30% from Fall 2019 to Fall 2020, and the subsequent efforts made by LACCD to enhance remote and hybrid course offerings. The aim is to assess how these changes impact psychosocial and academic outcomes for students and to develop support structures that may improve their academic performance. Avery holds a Ph.D. in economic analysis from Stanford Business School and has prior degrees from Harvard and Cambridge universities.

Research Interests