My name is Samuel Dunietz and I’m very pleased to join the Advance CTE team as the new Senior Associate for Federal Policy. In my role, I will directly support and advance Advance CTE’s federal policy and implementation strategy, and work to build partnerships with other stakeholders and coalitions. I will represent our members and policies throughout Capitol Hill and other agencies in Washington, D.C. I’m also focused on supporting policies that help states equip learners and instructors with the tools they need for success.

My research and policy interests are especially focused on the role of secondary-postsecondary partnerships, postsecondary CTE programs and best practices for effectively using federal and state data sources for policy implementation.

Prior to joining Advance CTE, I spent my career working in higher education and postsecondary policy and research. Most recently I worked as a consultant focused on postsecondary institutional research issues like enrollment, faculty compensation and federal legislative advocacy consultation. Prior to that, I worked as a researcher at a faculty association, where I directed the government relations program and helped to run the largest survey of faculty compensation in the country. I began my work in higher education and postsecondary policy at MaryPIRG focused on textbook affordability while I studied at the University of Maryland, College Park, where I received my bachelor’s degree.

I’m a native of Maryland and have spent the majority of my adult life in the Washington, D.C. area, although I also lived briefly in New York, Iceland and Sweden. In my personal life, I’m an avid photographer, cook, musician and former Cessna pilot.