DAVID STRAUSS
Principal | strauss@artsci.com | 410-377-7880 x 15
David Strauss focuses on providing market-informed strategy to help guide the high-level decisions of mission-driven institutions. He is regarded as a leading authority in the advancement of rigorous empirical research to help determine the strategic directions, institutional positioning, and resource allocations of colleges, universities, schools, and other non-profit organizations. This work has implications that reach across academic affairs, student life, enrollment, development, communications, finance, and other areas of institutional life.
After beginning his consulting career in 1985, David helped develop methodologies to assist institutions in understanding and strengthening their competitive positions, and he led the pioneering development of econometric modeling techniques to optimize the use of financial aid. Starting in the mid-1990s, David led the development of predictive survey research and statistical modeling techniques for analyzing and optimizing tuition pricing levels. And he has led the application of such techniques to identify strategic planning thrusts and brand positioning initiatives to advance an institution’s enrollment, fundraising, and broader institutional goals.
David has consulted for universities ranging from Johns Hopkins to Rice, from Worcester State to Washington State; colleges from Haverford to Grinnell, from Agnes Scott to Whitman; graduate and professional schools from Simmons University to Notre Dame to the University of Wyoming; and independent day and boarding schools from Bryn Mawr to Collegiate to Middlesex. His insights are cited frequently in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and other publications. David is also a frequent guest speaker on topics such as market-informed strategic planning and tuition pricing at conferences, including the annual meetings of the American Council of Education, the Annapolis Group, American Association of Colleges & Universities, Association of Governing Boards, College Board, Council of Independent Colleges, and National Association of College and University Business Officers.
Prior to co-founding Art & Science Group in 1994, David was senior vice president of The Barton-Gillet Company. Previously he served on the staff of Lawton Chiles when Chiles was the senior United States Senator from Florida.
Beyond the Work
Outside of work, David’s life revolves largely around his family. He and his wife consider themselves lucky to have four generations of family who share an array of passions: analyzing and debating trends in politics, playing and listening to music, be it Bach, Beatles, or Blippi, and shouting “O!” (say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave?) at home games cheering on his adopted hometown Baltimore Orioles.
Education
S.B. Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
S.B. Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.B.A. Management and Marketing, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania