Richard Davis Jr. is a policy analyst in the Higher Education program at New America. His work explores how federal and state policy choices shape student access to and success in affordable, high-quality education beyond high school.
At New America, Richard leads and contributes to research, coalition-building, technical assistance, and policy analysis that support the organization’s work on higher education affordability, student basic needs, and equity. His portfolio has included research and advocacy related to parenting students and access to child care, while also engaging broader questions about higher education funding and the interaction between state and federal policy decisions. Across these areas, he examines how higher education systems respond to policy constraints shaping student access and institutional capacity.
Richard’s analysis and commentary on higher education policy and its impact on students have been cited and featured by outlets including The Hechinger Report, The 19th, The Boston Globe, WWNO – New Orleans Public Radio, The Louisiana Illuminator, and The Lens NOLA.
Before joining New America, Richard worked in federal and state policy roles at the intersection of higher education, student basic needs, and public finance. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Louisiana State University and a bachelor’s degree in middle school education from Southeastern Louisiana University. A proud product of Louisiana’s public education system, his interest in higher education policy is shaped by his experience navigating the real-world effects of state fiscal policy decisions as an undergraduate student.