Resume

Washington, D.C. · breyon.contact@gmail.com · Download (.docx)

Experience

Chief Economist — Groundwork Collaborative

July 2025 – Present

Conducts rigorous research to build the public and policy case for fair prices, worker outcomes, and accountable corporate power.

Lead original quantitative research on consumers, workers, and market power, producing the empirical foundation for Groundwork products
Develop economic commentary around major economic metrics and developments, including inflation, employment, and Federal Reserve decisions, driving Groundwork's press footprint on policy

Senior Consultant — Independent

March 2025 – Present

Provide research and strategic advisory support on Gates Foundation–funded initiatives via partnerships with Tyton Partners and a research collaboration led by Carnegie Mellon University.

Contributed to the development of a research plan to examine an AI-enabled digital learning product across its design, implementation, and efficacy phases
Led the redesign and analysis of three national surveys to assess field adoption and use of an education-to-workforce data framework

Researcher — Mathematica

August 2020 – March 2025

Led data collection and analysis tasks across multiple education and workforce development evaluations, translating complex data into actionable insights for policymakers, funders, and program leaders.

Led data analysis across major evaluations using DiD and matching methods to estimate causal impacts
Produced research briefs, reports, infographics, and dashboards to disseminate actionable insights to stakeholders
Served as research lead, interfacing with IES on Pell Grant eligibility expansion RCT; presented to federal leadership
Managed federal and philanthropic projects (e.g., U.S. Department of Education, Gates Foundation) with budgets up to $3M and teams of 2–25 staff
Secured ~$5 million in new revenue by leading contract procurement efforts, developing successful bids, and forging strategic partnerships
Supported education and philanthropic partners through technical assistance (e.g., rapid-cycle research, grant writing, securing data-sharing agreements with school districts, strategic planning), helping them leverage KPIs to drive continuous improvement and impact

Associate — Analysis Group

August 2019 – August 2020

Conducted empirical research and data analysis to support litigation in digital advertising, biotech, and consumer protection cases, translating complex findings into expert reports used in court proceedings.

Led UX and ad auction analyses for antitrust litigation involving a social media company
Used A/B tests and natural experiments to assess impact of ad targeting on user engagement
Conducted claims data analysis and statistical modeling in healthcare and consumer protection cases

Economic Analyst — South Carolina Revenue & Fiscal Affairs Office

March 2013 – August 2014

Provided fiscal and economic analysis to support revenue forecasting, tax policy development, and legislative decision-making for the State of South Carolina.

Modeled economic impacts of state policy proposals using IMPLAN and REMI to inform legislative decision-making
Developed and refined forecasting processes for major General Fund revenue sources, including state sales and personal income taxes, to support budget planning and legislative negotiations
Estimated the revenue impact of a proposed state gas tax increase, modeling multiple rate scenarios and projected fuel consumption patterns to inform deliberations by legislative staff and the Department of Transportation
Conducted revenue impact assessments for local sales tax proposals, providing revenue projections and supporting documentation to county officials for inclusion on voter ballots
Produced fiscal briefs and macroeconomic outlooks using BLS, BEA, and FRED data; advised the Chief Economist and agency leads on state-level trends
Liaised with South Carolina House and Senate staff to translate complex fiscal analyses into actionable insights

Education

Ph.D. in Economics, University of South Carolina
M.A. in Economics, University of South Carolina
B.A. in Political Science, University of South Carolina

Skills & expertise

Causal inference · difference-in-differences · matching methods · instrumental variables · regression discontinuity · A/B testing · mixed methods · survey design · implementation research · Stata · R · SQL · Excel · Tableau · Power BI · GitHub · project management · stakeholder engagement

Selected publications

See the full list on the Publications page.

"Pride and Prejudice: Same-Sex Marriage Legalization Announcements and LGBT Hate Crimes" — Journal of Law and Economics, 2022
"Free Lunch for All! The Effect of the Community Eligibility Provision on Academic Outcomes" — Economics of Education Review, 2020
"The Spillover Benefits of Expanding Access to Preschool" — Economics of Education Review, 2019

Policy engagement & thought leadership

Submitted policy proposals to the National Economic Council outlining administrative levers to reduce student loan repayment costs, including automatic payment incentives and elimination of default-related collection costs
Maintain working relationships with staff at Urban Institute, Brookings, RAND, AIR, and Gates Foundation
Presented research at AEA, AEFP, and APPAM
Interviewed by media on the economic implications of proposed student debt relief plans
Served as mentor in the AEA Summer Mentoring Pipeline Program