Dr. Hannah Lawler

Dr. Hannah Lawler is currently the Dean of Institutional Research at Santa Monica College. In her role, she provides strategic vision, leadership, and oversight for the college’s research and effectiveness functions and provides leadership on campus efforts related to racial equity, Guided Pathways, and accreditation. She co-founded and leads one of the pioneer data coaching programs in the California Community College (CCC) system. She is currently working with the CCHALES Research Collective at San Diego State University to provide support and coaching for 17 CCCs in the writing of the 2022–2025 Student Equity Plan. She previously served as a consultant for The RP Group, USC Center for Urban Education, USC Race and Equity Center, and Bensimon & Associates, providing expertise and delivering work related to assessment of racial equity and promoting equity-minded inquiry on college campuses. She was selected as one of the 2020–2021 fellows of the California Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University and a doctorate in Education from USC.