Dan Geist is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational policy and planning at The University of Texas at Austin. Inspired by his time as a classroom teacher, his research interests broadly examine nationwide school choice movements and the influence of politics on education policy. He is particularly interested in the ongoing privatization of public education through policy measures, including vouchers, education savings accounts (ESAs), and tax credit scholarships. He also seeks to understand the role of parental rights in shaping our perspective on public education and the influence of religion in educational decision-making. Geist earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary social studies education from Kansas State University. Before pursuing his Ph.D. at UT Austin, he taught middle school English and social studies for five years in both private and public schools. While teaching, he earned his master’s degree in educational policy, organization, and leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. To support his doctoral studies at UT Austin, he received the prestigious Graduate Recruitment Fellowship, an award given to top-quality graduate students who rank within the top 10 percent of all students in their discipline. Geist plans to utilize his time as a Graduate Archer Fellow to advocate for equitable education policies that focus on enhancing public education for all students.