TERRY HOUSER
Executive Director of Research
Terry Houser has a central role in all research projects from study design to the final presentation of findings to clients. With over fifteen years of experience in higher education research, Terry brings a high level of expertise to each project, while continuing to innovate and refine the firm’s research and statistical methodology. He works directly with project teams to analyze the results of research findings, interpret data, and develop reports. Terry directs all project work from the start of projects, determining the appropriate methodological design and approach for a project, through the analysis of the raw research data that have come in from the field. As the head of the research department, Terry manages, mentors, and trains the other members of the research team and conducts high-level statistical analyses for a wide range of projects, including large-scale survey research, econometric financial aid and retention analyses, and analyses of other client and secondary data. He has particular expertise in coordinating the firm’s advanced simulated decision modeling (SDM) process and results for all major client studies.
Since joining the firm in 2007, Terry has worked on large-scale research projects for a wide range of clients, including colleges and universities—such as Agnes Scott College, Dartmouth College, University of Chicago, Chicago-Kent College of Law, The Catholic University of America, Claremont McKenna College, Hendrix College, University of Richmond, Haverford College, University of Michigan, and the University of Virginia—and independent schools—such as The Buckley School, Norfolk Academy, The Nueva School, Philips Brooks School, Woodberry Forest School, and Milton Hershey School. Terry also plays a key role in conducting data analyses for studentPOLL, the firm’s national omnibus poll surveying college-bound high school students about their attitudes and behavior regarding the college search process.
Before joining the firm, Terry served as a research assistant and interviewer for the American Institutes for Research (AIR), where he played a key role in a longitudinal survey of Baltimore third graders focused on analyzing the effectiveness of a classroom-based intervention program implemented in several first-grade classrooms in the city.
Beyond the Work
When not enjoying America’s pastime, watching “dem’ O’s” at Camden Yards, Terry’s favorite pastime is finding new places to explore and playing disc golf. But no activity can compete with spending time with his amazing wife and daughter, and their dog, Ginny Hendricks—as they listen to his collection of vinyl or cassette tapes, or play with his retro gaming consoles from his youth.
Education
B.S. Psychology / Sociology, James Madison University
M.S. Predictive Analytics, Northwestern University