Dr. Martha Mac Iver

Biography

Martha Abele Mac Iver is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Research at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. With a political science background, she has transitioned to focusing on educational policy research for over a decade. Her research primarily addresses the effectiveness of high schools and various educational interventions aimed at enhancing student achievement, particularly through a five-year, IES-funded study that evaluated the impact of professional development programs to equip high school teachers with strategies to motivate students. Her recent work includes studies on adolescent literacy interventions and early warning systems designed to improve ninth-grade attendance and course passing rates. In addition, she serves as co-Principal Investigator on a U.S. Department of Education-funded study addressing social emotional learning for eighth graders. Previously, she led evaluations of innovative educational projects funded by the National Science Foundation and contributed to understanding dropout predictors in urban settings. Mac Iver has also authored academic articles and serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR). Her research interests include absenteeism, dropout prevention, family engagement, and K-12 educational reform.

Research Interests