Expertise

• Immigration policy
• Education policy
• Social Equity

EDUCATION

B.A., History, Goshen College
M.A., International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
Ph.D., Public Policy and Administration, Virginia Commonwealth University

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Local responsiveness to immigration, education policy, social equity, peace and conflict resolution in public administration

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Dr. Grant Rissler started as Assistant Director of OPPO in December 2017.  Previously he served as Assistant Director of Programs for the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute (CEPI).  He began coordinating communications and special projects for CEPI in the fall of 2012 while working on his Ph.D. and became assistant director in 2015. Rissler received his Ph.D. from the Wilder School’s public policy and administration program in August 2017.  His research focuses on local immigration policy and its intersection with education.

He holds a master’s degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, a graduate certificate in conflict transformation from Eastern Mennonite University’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and a bachelor’s degree in history from Goshen College.

Prior to joining the Wilder School, Rissler coordinated fundraising for Mennonite Central Committee – East Coast, directed communications for The Faith & Politics Institute and served two and one-half years in three positions through Mennonite Voluntary Service.