Michael T. Nettles has been Professor of Education at the University of Michigan since 1992. He is a prominent national policy researcher on educational assessment, student performance and achievement, educational equity and higher education finance policy. His research has been featured in national and international publications. He has served as an expert witness for the U.S. House Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training, and Life Long Learning. Nettles has published widely on many topics including student progress and performance in schools, colleges, and universities and student performance on educational assessments. His publications reflect his broad interest in public policy, student and faculty access, opportunity, achievement, and educational assessment at both the K-12 and postsecondary levels. In 1996, Nettles became the first Executive Director of the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). He published the three-volume African American Education Data Book series and Two Decades of Progress, comprehensive books about the educational status and condition of African Americans in the U.S. He served in this role with UNCF until 1999. Nettles attended the University of Tennessee and received his Ph.D. in Higher Education from Iowa State University.          Michael T. Nettles Professor of Education, University of Michigan