Bradley D. Custer is a senior policy analyst for Higher Education at American Progress. He writes about a wide range of policy topics related to access, affordability, and accountability in U.S. higher education. He specializes in studying policy barriers that inhibit criminal justice system-impacted people from enrolling in and completing college, and he advocates for expanding college access and funding for students in prison and beyond.
Before joining American Progress, Custer worked at two public universities and a community college as a student affairs professional in the areas of student conduct, Title IX, student activities, and student success. His academic research is published in peer-reviewed journals in the fields of higher education, criminal justice, and law, including The Journal of Higher Education, Research in Higher Education, Community College Journal of Research and Practice, Criminal Justice Policy Review, and Journal of College and University Law.
Custer holds a doctorate in higher, adult, and lifelong education from Michigan State University, a master’s in student affairs in higher education from Wright State University, and bachelor’s degrees in both instrumental music education and French from Capital University.
