Strategic Data Project Convening 2025

Jessica Moldoff serves as the Deputy Director of Research, Analysis, and Program Innovation at the California Student Aid Commission. She oversees and directs the research and data governance functions of CSAC and manages the Data, Analysis, and Research Team, as well as the Specialized Programs Unit. She is responsible for facilitating research on program effectiveness and financial aid administration, as well as overseeing CSAC’s reports, program projections, and ad hoc data requests.
After graduating from college, Jessica worked at Bluegrass Community & Technical College in Lexington, Kentucky, for over three years, including in its financial aid office as the student loan coordinator. She received a Masters and PhD in Higher Education from the Education Policy Studies and Evaluation department at the University of Kentucky, and worked on the evaluation of two Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grants as a research assistant. Her dissertation on Competency-Based Education included how its departure from the traditional credit hour model of higher education complicates the delivery of financial aid.
Jessica started working as an analyst at the California Student Aid Commission in January 2017 and was a founding member of the research team in September 2017 where she continued to advance until taking over as its Division Chief in January 2023.