KC Deane is a program manager at The Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program. Previously, she was a research associate at the American Enterprise Institute’s Center on Higher Education Reform. Her research focuses on workforce readiness and financial aid and admission practices in higher education. Previously, she worked for 2 years as an assistant dean of admission at Reed College. Deane graduated from Reed with a bachelor’s degree in economics, and from the University of Pennsylvania with a master’s degree in education policy. She wrote her undergraduate thesis on enrollment and financial decision-making processes at liberal arts colleges during periods of economic decline.