# Marissa Combs Doctoral Student in Sociology ![Marissa Combs headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum1481/files/styles/hwp_4_5__320x400/public/2025-02/Marissa.linderstudio-HarvardCERP-mf-0122-web_PIER%20%284%29.jpg?itok=nEEcPeAo) email *Research Interests:* Education Reform, Organizational and Economic Sociology, Cultural Sociology, Accountability and Governance, Research Practice Partnerships, Research Methods **Marissa Combs** is a PhD student in Sociology, a PIER Fellow at the Center for Education Policy Research, and a Presidential Scholar in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Her research explores the intersection of education, organizations, culture, and economic sociology, with a focus on market-based accountability in K-12 public schools and the organizational dynamics shaping public education reform in the U.S. Marissa earned a BA in Sociology with Honors from the University of Chicago in 2019. Before starting her PhD, she completed an Applied Data Fellowship at the Harris School of Public Policy and worked as a Data Analyst for the Illinois Network of Charter Schools. **Previous Degrees:** B.A. Sociology, University of Chicago, 2019 - ## Countries [United States](/country/united-states) - ## Geographic Areas [North America](/geographic-areas/north-america) - ## Research Clusters (Grad) [Culture](/graduate-student-research-clusters/culture) [Economic Sociology & Organizations](/graduate-student-research-clusters/economic-sociology-organizations) [Political & Historical Sociology](/graduate-student-research-clusters/political-historical-sociology) [Urban Poverty & the City](/graduate-student-research-clusters/urban-poverty-city) - ## Graduate Students by Academic Advisor [Frank Dobbin](/graduate-students-academic-advisor/frank-dobbin) - ## Graduate Students by Cohort [2021 (G5)](/graduate-students-cohort/2021-g4) - ## Graduate Students by Last Name [A - C](/graduate-students-last-name/c) - ## Current People [Graduate Students](/grad-students)