Lillian (Lily) Fesler
520 Galvez Mall, Stanford, CA 94305 ● lfesler@stanford.edu
EDUCATION
Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Degree:
Doctoral Student in Economics of Education
Awards:
Stanford Graduate Fellowship in Science and Engineering
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
Degree:
BA in Economics (Certificate in International Relations); GPA: 3.69
Honors:
2015-2020 (expected)
2007-2011
Horace White, Jr. Prize (awarded to the top Wesleyan economics students)
John M. Plukas Teaching Apprentice Award
Universidad Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
Program:
Vassar-Wesleyan Program in Madrid – all courses in Spanish
Lexington High School, Lexington, MA
2009
2003-2007
RESEARCH AND WORK EXPERIENCE
Abt Associates – Social and Economic Policy Division, Cambridge, MA
7/ 2012 – 4/2015
Programmer Analyst (9/2014 – 4/2015), Analyst (11/2013 – 9/2014) and Associate Analyst (7/2012 – 11/2013)
Responsibilities: Evaluate education programs, participating in every stage of the research process:
• Perform data analysis, using linear regression models, hierarchical linear models,
Mahalanobis distance matching, mediation analysis, and cost-benefit analysis;
• Lead and implement survey sample selection process (using stratified random
sampling) and conduct extant data collection; and
• Write technical sections of papers and reports.
• Presented at the American Educational Research Association’s Annual Meeting.
Project types:
• Project designs include randomized control trials and quasi-experimental designs.
• Evaluations are of alternative middle and high school models, early childhood Pre-K
curricula, and statewide teacher evaluation systems.
• Clients include federal and state agencies as well as non-profit organizations.
Honors:
• Received Exceptional ratings by supervisor and project directors both years at Abt
(at most, given to top 15 percent of staff).
• Awarded Spot Recognition Awards for exceptional work by three independent
project directors.
Compass Lexecon, Boston, MA, Analyst
Supported Joseph P. Kalt’s economic testimony in international arbitration cases by cleaning and
analyzing data in SAS, Stata and Excel, researching in academic journals and trade press, and
presenting complicated analyses to clients in person and in reports through easily understood
figures and tables.
6/2011 - 7/2012
Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), Boston, MA, Evaluation and Research Intern
Summer 2010
Collected, reviewed and analyzed energy efficiency survey data for CEE’s annual report, and regularly
communicated with survey respondents via email and phone.
Wesleyan Economics Department, Middletown, CT, Course Assistant
Ran weekly review sessions and graded problem sets for students in Wendy Rayack’s course
“Quantitative Methods in Economics,” and won the John M. Plukas Teaching Apprentice Award.
Spring 2010
Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Washington, DC, Research Associate
Researched and wrote articles on Latin American and Canadian affairs that were later
published by various news sources, and edited other research associates’ articles.
Summer 2009
Industrial Economics, Cambridge, MA, Intern
Researched and analyzed climate mitigation technologies, created binders on financial assurance,
and organized large volumes of research.
Summer 2008
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
Power Lunch, Boston, MA, Reading Mentor
Read with a first grader for whom English was a second language every other week.
Let’s Get Ready, Middletown, CT, Verbal SAT Coach
Taught a weekly three-hour verbal SAT and college preparatory class to underprivileged
high school students.
Wesleyan Individual Tutoring, Middletown, CT, Tutor
Helped two elementary school students work on their math and reading skills.
2012-2013
Spring – Fall 2010
2007-2009
PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS
Unlu, F., Fesler, L., Edmunds, J., Schwartz, G. & Glennie, B. “Design Parameters for Commonly Used Outcome
Measures in Research on High Schools and Postsecondary Institutions.” Association for Public Policy Analysis and
Management, Albuquerque, NM. November 2014.
Layzer, C., Unlu, F., Fesler, L.,* Germeroth, C., Sarama, J. & Clements, D. “Self-Regulation Impacts (Executive
Function, Working Memory) of an Intervention Synthesizing Early Mathematics and Make-Believe Play.”
American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA. April 2014.
Unlu, F., Edmunds, J.A., Fesler, L., & Glennie, E. "Costs and Benefits of the Early College High School Model."
Association for Education Finance and Policy, San Antonio, TX. March 2014.
Bernstein, L., Edmunds, J., & Fesler, L. "Closing the Performance Gap: The Impact of the Early College High
School Model on Underprepared Students." Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness, Washington, DC.
March 2014.
Unlu, F., Layzer, C., Clements, D., Sarama, J., Fesler, L., & Cook, D. "Approaches to Incorporating Late Pretests in
Experiments: Evaluation of Two Early Mathematics and Self-Regulation Interventions." Society for Research on
Educational Effectiveness, Washington, DC. September 2013.
Unlu, F., Smith, A., Fesler, L., Bernstein, L., & Edmunds, J. “Structural Equation Modeling and Principal
Stratification for Mediation Analysis.” Welfare Research and Evaluation Conference, Washington, DC. May 2013.
Edmunds, J. A., Unlu, F., Smith, A. V., Fesler, L., Glennie, E., & Bernstein, L. "The Impact of Early College High
Schools on Low-Income Students." American Educational Research Association Conference, Washington, DC.
April 2013.
Fesler, L. “The Students Left Behind: Policy Alternatives to Decrease the Achievement Gap in Massachusetts.”
Paper presented at Global Education Leadership Opportunities Conference, Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Cambridge, MA. January 2013.
*L. Fesler co-presented.
TECHNICAL AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS
Technical:
Experienced programmer in Stata and SAS; proficient in R.
Foreign Language:
Proficient in Spanish.