School of Education Scholars Contribute to UC Irvine’s Center for Population, Inequality, and Policy

By Sofia Del Fine
November 18, 2025

The UC Irvine Center for Population, Inequality, and Policy (CPIP)—now officially recognized as an Organized Research Unit (ORU)—continues to expand its role as a cross-campus hub for research on today’s most pressing social challenges. The School of Education is proud to have seven faculty members, one postdoctoral scholar, and one graduate student serving as active affiliates for FY 2025.

Education faculty play an important part in advancing CPIP’s mission to connect population science with meaningful policy solutions. Associate Professor Jade Jenkins, who serves as CPIP’s Associate Director for Faculty and Research Development, leads efforts to strengthen research collaboration across the center and support CPIP-affiliated scholars in building their research capacity.

Di Xu

Additional School of Education affiliates include Distinguished Professor Greg Duncan; Professor Di Xu; Assistant Professors Andreas de Barros, Lena Shi and Paola Andrea Guerrero; Associate Professor Emily Penner; Postdoctoral Scholar Enrique Eduardo Valencia López; and graduate student Winnie Yee. Together, they bring expertise in educational inequality, economic mobility, and policy analysis—contributing to projects that bridge research, data, and real-world decision-making.
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Their involvement underscores the School of Education’s leadership in evidence-driven approaches to reducing inequality and improving outcomes for diverse communities. As CPIP continues to grow, these scholars are helping shape conversations and policies that extend well beyond campus.