Maria Claudia Soler is a senior research analyst and program officer working directly with the Research team. She leads large-scale research initiatives and authors reports, briefs, and other public-facing publications at the intersection of higher education policy, workforce development, and equity. Her work focuses on strengthening education-to-employment pathways; expanding access and affordability for underserved learners; and advancing institutional transformation to support student success.
At the American Council on Education (ACE), Maria Claudia has spearheaded several of the organization’s signature studies, including Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: 2024 Status Report; Understanding the Entering Class of 2024: Key Insights from The CIRP Freshman Survey 2024 with the University of California, Los Angeles Higher Education Research Institute; and The National Landscape of Credit for Prior Learning: Effective State and System Policies for Success and Equity, produced in partnership with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). She also led Mapping Internationalization on U.S. Campuses: 2022 Edition and currently directs the AI Global Data Consortium Design and Planning project, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Her research portfolio further includes work on STEM graduate education, workforce education integration, mentoring pathways for graduate students, and international education policy.
Maria Claudia’s skill set includes mixed-methods research design, policy analysis, and cross-sector collaboration with funders, postsecondary institutions, and state agencies. Her work translates data into actionable policy recommendations that advance institutional transformation, adult learning, and equitable career mobility.
Before joining ACE, she worked with the Community College Research Initiatives at the University of Washington and the Office of Community College Research and Leadership at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, publishing extensively on community college baccalaureate degrees, transfer and articulation policies, and career and technical education. She also served as a policy researcher at the Institute for Higher Education Policy and a consultant for Development Services Group, examining the impacts of financial aid programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Earlier in her career, she was Director of Student Development at Lumni Inc., where she launched Lumni Academy, an innovative mentoring and career development platform for low-income students transitioning to the workforce.
In addition to her role at ACE, Maria Claudia has served as an adjunct faculty member at George Mason University, teaching graduate coursework on community college governance and workforce development. Her research has been featured in The Journal of Education Finance, The Journal of Vocational Education & Training, New Directions for Community Colleges, and New Directions for Institutional Research, and cited by outlets such as Inside Higher Ed, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, and University World News.
Originally from Bogotá, Colombia and having lived in four countries, Maria Claudia brings an intercultural perspective to her work. She holds a Ph.D. in education policy, organization, and leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, a master’s degree in international education policy analysis from Stanford University, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in psychology from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá.