Experts

Dr. Finney is an expert in public financing of higher education, as well as access and accountability in higher education. She has worked for more than 20 years with state leaders to improve public policies that govern higher education.

She can discuss increasing the number of college graduates and investing in community colleges.

Dr. Finney pioneered the development of the nation's first report card on higher education, Measuring Up. She currently researches state policy and its relationship to state performance; she also assists states in developing public policies to increase educational attainment and reduce gaps in performance. Most recently, working with colleagues across the nation, Finney co-authored Financing American Higher Education in The Era of Globalization (2012) published by Harvard Education Press. She has also written two other books: Public and Private Finance of Higher Education: Shaping Public Policy for the Future and Designing State Higher Education Systems for a New Century.

She teaches graduate courses in the public finance of higher education, public policy and higher education, and an advanced public policy seminar in higher education. 

Dr. Finney served as the vice-president of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education from 1997-2007. She has also held senior policy positions at the California Higher Education Policy Center and the Education Commission of the States. For over twenty-five years, Dr. Finney has worked with state and national leaders on improving public policy for higher education.

Dr. Finney has testified before state and federal legislative bodies and is a frequent speaker and resource for media. She has also advised presidential and gubernatorial campaigns and not-for-profit policy organizations.