About DebtFree Campus - Transparency & Team

Our Mission

DebtFree Campus transforms student debt awareness into actionable change through data-driven storytelling, personal narratives, and interactive engagement tools. We believe education should be a pathway to opportunity, not financial bondage.

Evidence-Based Advocacy

All our campaigns are grounded in rigorous research and peer-reviewed data.

Community-Centered

Student voices and experiences drive our policy recommendations and campaigns.

Action-Oriented

We convert awareness into concrete policy changes and systemic reforms.

Diverse team of advocates working together on policy research and student debt solutions

Meet Our Team

Our diverse team combines academic expertise, policy experience, and grassroots organizing to drive meaningful change.

Dr. Michael Chen

Executive Director

Former Department of Education policy analyst with 15 years of experience in higher education finance reform.

Policy Analysis Federal Relations

Sarah Rodriguez

Research Director

Data scientist and economist specializing in education finance with publications in leading policy journals.

Data Analysis Economics

James Thompson

Community Organizer

Grassroots organizer with 10+ years building coalitions and mobilizing students across 200+ campuses.

Organizing Campaigns

Dr. Elena Martinez

Legal Counsel

Education law attorney and former federal clerk with expertise in student loan regulations and consumer protection.

Education Law Regulation

Alex Kim

Communications Director

Digital strategist and former journalist with expertise in social media campaigns and narrative development.

Digital Strategy Media

Dr. Priya Patel

Student Advocate

Former student body president and current PhD candidate researching the psychological impact of student debt.

Student Voice Psychology

Advisory Board

Distinguished experts and advocates who guide our strategic direction and ensure our work meets the highest standards.

Dr. Robert Williams

Former Dept. of Education

Prof. Lisa Chang

Harvard Education Policy

Marcus Davis

Student Debt Crisis Center

Dr. Amanda Foster

Former CFPB Director

Our Methodology

Rigorous research standards and transparent processes ensure our advocacy is grounded in credible evidence.

Data Collection Standards

We source data exclusively from federal agencies, peer-reviewed research, and verified institutional reports. All statistics undergo independent verification before publication.

Story Verification Process

Personal narratives undergo ethical review and fact-checking while protecting contributor privacy. We verify key details and ensure representative diversity in our story collection.

Policy Analysis Framework

Our policy recommendations follow evidence-based analysis, stakeholder consultation, and impact modeling. We collaborate with academic institutions to ensure analytical rigor.

Research Protocols

Data Source Verification Triple-Check Process

Update Frequency Monthly Reviews

Peer Review External Validation

Transparency Score 100% Open Source

Download Research Protocols

Our Partners

Collaborating with leading organizations to amplify our impact and ensure comprehensive advocacy.

Educational Institutions

• Harvard Kennedy School of Government
• UC Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education
• Georgetown University Public Policy Institute
• American Council on Education
• National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Advocacy Organizations

• Student Debt Crisis Center
• Institute for College Access & Success
• Young Invincibles
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
• American Federation of Teachers

Research Institutions

• Brookings Institution
• Urban Institute
• Center for American Progress
• Federal Reserve Bank of New York
• Congressional Budget Office

Interested in partnering with us? We're always looking to collaborate with organizations that share our mission.

Explore Partnership

Sources & Documentation

Complete transparency in our data sources, methodology, and research protocols.

Primary Data Sources

Federal Student Aid (FSA)

Official loan portfolio data, default rates, and program statistics

National Center for Education Statistics

Enrollment trends, graduation rates, and institutional data

Federal Reserve Economic Data

Economic indicators, household debt surveys, and financial trends

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Consumer complaints, market analysis, and regulatory reports

Research Downloads

Methodology Documentation

Complete research protocols and data collection methods

PDF • 2.3 MB

Raw Data Sets

Anonymized survey responses and statistical compilations

CSV • 15.7 MB

Source Bibliography

Complete citations and reference materials

PDF • 890 KB

Media Kit & Brand Assets

Logos, fact sheets, and press resources

ZIP • 45.2 MB

Data Usage Policy

All our research data is available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. You're free to use, share, and adapt our work with proper attribution.

View Full License Terms →

Funding Transparency

Complete transparency about our funding sources and financial operations ensures accountability to our mission.

2024 Funding Sources

Individual Donations 68%

Foundation Grants 22%

Educational Institution Partnerships 7%

Merchandise & Events 3%

Major Supporters

Ford Foundation - Education Access Initiative

Open Society Foundations - Higher Education Reform

Lumina Foundation - Student Success Programs

Gates Foundation - Postsecondary Success

No funding source influences our research conclusions or policy recommendations. All donors are disclosed in our annual transparency report.

View Annual Financial Report

Get in Touch

Questions about our work? Interested in collaboration? We'd love to hear from you.

Contact Information

General Inquiries

info@debtfreecampus.org

Media & Press

press@debtfreecampus.org

Partnerships

partnerships@debtfreecampus.org

Office Location

1200 K Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20005

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Transparency & Accountability