Dr. Li Feng

by Valerie Figueroa

Within the walls of Texas State University’s McCoy College of Business, Dr. Li Feng’s career stands as a testament to the university’s student focused mission of success. Her career is marked by a relentless intellectual curiosity, a deep dedication to her students and a passionate commitment to cultivating equity and opportunity. Dr. Feng, a distinguished professor of Economics, shares an unexpected journey that intertwines economics and education.

Dr. Feng reminisces about the pivotal moments that shaped her trajectory. Initially drawn to development education, her aspirations led her towards economics, a domain she once perceived as disparate from her passion for education. Her academic journey began in China, where she earned her B.A. in international economic cooperation from Xi’an International Studies University.

“My dream at the time was to go to some developing country to help them build their education system so that they can have doctors and engineers and a good education system,” she says. “I was also really interested in girls' education.”

Despite her initial lack of interest in economics during her undergraduate years, her passion for education and her dream of contributing to the development of education systems in developing countries led her to pursue a Ph.D. in economics and education specialist in education (Ed.S.) from Florida State University. Through her interdisciplinary pursuits, she found a harmonious intersection between the two, delving into areas such as education policy, labor economics, and health economics.

“I ended up actually working on my Ph.D. in economics, which I used to have a specialized area in education,” Dr. Feng said. It’s an intersection of both worlds, it's the fun part of it. ”

During her time at Texas State, Dr. Feng has distinguished herself through her student-centered research initiatives and her continued dedication to student success. Among her key contributions is the Education Policy Lab, a research group she leads that includes undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scholars. According to her website, this team leverages data visualization, data analytics, and econometrics tools to examine critical education policy issues, with a particular focus on teachers, STEM education, and the STEM workforce. Her scholarship and mentorship in this area highlights her commitment to both advancing educational research and fostering the next generation of scholars.

Dr. Feng has significantly influenced the academic journey of many students, including profound impacts through her mentorship and support. Her vast expertise and deep insights into data-driven research have not only expanded students' understanding but have also inspired them to embrace innovative solutions. Monica Arboleda, a graduate research assistant at the Education Policy Lab, says Dr. Feng’s guidance has enhanced her confidence, motivating her to aim higher and pursue academic excellence with vigor.

“Dr. Feng's influence on my academic trajectory has been significant, shaping my approach to learning, problem-solving, and personal growth,” Arboleda says.

Arboleda emphasizes that working alongside Dr. Feng has fundamentally transformed her research methodologies, highlighting the critical importance of extensive literature reviews, the value of collaborative teamwork, the rigor of comprehensive analyses, and the effectiveness of presenting data visually to maximize clarity and impact.

“Working with Dr. Feng has been an enriching professional experience,” Arboleda says. “Her collaborative work style not only fosters teamwork among team members but also encourages social interactions, creating a supportive environment for achieving common goals.”

Dr. Feng has proven to be an invaluable mentor to many of her students. As they navigate the array of classes and career paths available to them, choosing a direction can become increasingly difficult.

Cody Michalik, a finance and accounting honors student at McCoy College and junior data analyst at the Education Policy Lab, says, “Dr. Feng is very good at helping me recognize what areas I am good at and how I could do more to improve, and always has very insightful advice. I always feel comfortable asking for her advice.”

Prior to enrolling in Dr. Feng's class last semester, Michalik’s experience with research was notably limited. He says that Dr. Feng introduced him to methodical approaches for defining research questions, crafting solutions, and effectively communicating results. Under Dr. Feng’s guidance, he developed a new way of thinking that extended beyond academic research, encouraging an analytical and creative approach to problem-solving across various aspects of his life. Michalik expresses a deep appreciation for Dr. Feng’s guidance and support.

“Dr. Feng truly cares about her team and goes out of her way constantly to support us both in our work for the lab and beyond,” Michalik says. “She’s a true leader of the team and a wonderful mentor. I'm honored to be on the team and for the opportunity to learn from her and the others.”

Dr. Feng's dedication to empowering her students shines brightly as she enthusiastically recounts their remarkable achievements including research presentations at conferences around the U.S. Her pride is evident as she shares stories of her students' accomplishments, reflecting the significant influence of her guidance on their academic and professional journeys.

“I was actually telling my mom how proud I am of my students,” she said. “Really, because working with students is what makes this job super exciting.”

Through her mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students, Dr. Feng is shaping the next generation of scholars and leaders in economics and education. By providing opportunities for students to engage in research, present their findings at conferences, and pursue their academic passions, she is empowering them to realize their full potential and make meaningful contributions to their fields.

Moreover, Dr. Feng's advocacy for underrepresented students echoes through her efforts to dismantle barriers to education. As a first-generation scholar herself, she empathizes with the challenges faced by students from similar backgrounds and strives to provide opportunities for their academic and professional development. She emphasizes the importance of outreach, mentorship, and collaboration in advancing the goals of equity and excellence in students’ education. By reaching out to students, colleagues, and communities, she hopes to inspire others to pursue their passions, overcome barriers, and create positive change in the world.

“First generation students, they have a lot of challenges,” Dr. Feng says. “A lot of times that becomes a barrier to them reaching their educational goals. I feel like financial challenges and the opportunity gap, the information symmetry where they don't know about opportunities are a big thing and that's what I'm trying to overcome by informing them about relevant opportunities, internships, and scholarships.”

Dr. Feng is also passionately committed to supporting and encouraging female students in the field of economics, a discipline often perceived as daunting. Despite successfully fostering a significant female presence within the Education Policy Lab, she acknowledges the ongoing challenge of attracting more undergraduate women to the field. She continues to seek ways to demystify economics as a discipline for her students and to enhance their confidence in tackling its complexities.

“I have a lot of female students in my education policy lab, but we need more female students in this field,” Dr. Feng says. “Sometimes it’s hard, but hopefully students reading this are inspired to reach out about the program.”

Throughout her career, Dr. Feng has garnered numerous accolades and awards for her outstanding contributions to teaching, research, and service. Among her notable achievements are the Department of Finance and Economics Teaching Award, the Presidential Distinction Award in Research, and the College Achievement Award in Service. These accolades reflect her commitment to excellence in every facet of her academic endeavors.

Dr. Feng's research interests span a wide array of topics within the realms of education policy, labor economics, and health economics. She is particularly interested in examining issues related to teacher labor markets, STEM education, and economic mobility. Through her research, she seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms that shape educational outcomes and economic opportunities for individuals across different socio-economic backgrounds.

Dr. Feng is currently working on two National Science Foundation funded projects at Texas State. One of the project’s titled: Collaborative Research: Retention, Persistence, and Effectiveness of STEM Teachers in High-need School Districts - An Investigation of the NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship is part of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program (Noyce), and engages three core and four collaborating institutions, including Texas State University and Florida Atlantic University, to examine the impact of Noyce projects on the supply of STEM teachers, according to Dr. Feng’s website. Utilizing local and national databases, the research aims to identify patterns that reveal the effectiveness of these initiatives in high-need school districts. The project's goal is to enhance understanding, address challenges specific to STEM teachers, and promote evidence-based policy solutions to improve the quality and retention of K-12 STEM educators in underserved areas.

The second project is the Faculty-Student Communities Initiative at Texas State University's College of Science and Engineering and launched in 2020. The project aims to foster student-centered instructional change over five years according to the project’s description. This initiative comprises four key components: workshops, departmental assessments, redesign of gateway courses, and inclusive decision-making processes. It supports STEM departments with comprehensive resources to enable faculty-student teams to cultivate sustainable, culturally relevant instructional communities. Additionally, the initiative will explore three research areas: faculty-student interactions, STEM student trajectories, and graduation rates along with workforce outcomes at Texas State and other Hispanic Serving Institutions.

In addition to her research contributions, Dr. Feng is deeply engaged in service activities aimed at advancing the field of education finance policy and giving back to the community. As a former member of the Association for Education Finance and Policy board of directors, she played a dynamic role in organizing conferences, selecting scholarship recipients, and facilitating collaborations between scholars and policymakers. Her role in the organization exemplifies her dedication to serving the academic community and advocating for underrepresented voices, further underscoring her commitment to equity and inclusion.

“As a scholar, this role allowed me to give back to the community,” she says. “One of my goals as a board member was to reach out to different communities, and I feel like we have done a good job in terms of reaching out to scholars of color, representing minority-serving institutions like Texas State.”

Dr. Feng also worked as a faculty research fellow at the university’s Translational Health Research Center which “supports cutting-edge research teams and partnerships with industry, working together to improve physical, mental, community, and public health,” according to the university website. She notes that the center's dedication to solving contemporary issues through interdisciplinary collaboration is fundamental to its mission.

For example, Dr. Feng, alongside Dr. Jelena Tesic from the computer science department at the university, examined learning laws during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their research on learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic sought to shed light on the complex dynamics of educational decision-making and its implications for student outcomes. This research was particularly relevant for Texas as they sought to understand the varied responses of school districts reopening schools early in the pandemic or keeping them closed. Their study also explored the challenges schools faced in reopening and supporting students' return to the classroom amidst significant federal funding. The project aimed to compare responses between urban and rural districts, reflecting the center’s mission to facilitate collaborative projects that engage professionals from various backgrounds to solve problems of wide public interest.

Despite her demanding schedule, Dr. Feng makes time to serve as an editor for the nationally ranked, high-impact, multidisciplinary journal, Education Finance and Policy that “publishes policy-relevant papers concerning education finance, policy and practice,” according to the journal’s homepage. Published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Press, the journal holds an ‘A’ ranking from the Australian Business Deans Council, a testament to its significant impact and reach. Notably, the journal has been a platform for distinguished scholars, including the 2021 Nobel Laureate in Economics, David Card. Dr. Feng, along with her accomplished editorial team from UC Berkeley, Amherst College, and Vanderbilt University, is committed to making the publication process more accessible(see their team introduction). They aim to empower early-career scholars to share their research findings with a wider academic audience. Through her editorial role, Dr. Feng is cultivating an environment of inclusivity, transparency, and collaboration within the academic community, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and valued.

“It’s important for people to know what we want to accomplish,” Dr. Feng says. “These are the four things we’ve laid out: expanding disciplinary and methodological focus, increasing efficiency and maintaining rigor, enhancing the journal's visibility, and building a diverse pool of reviewers and editors.”

With a playful smile, Dr. Feng jokes about her nonexistent weekends, a casualty of her busy schedule compounded by her role as an editor.

“It has been really fun and it’s super busy, of course,” she says. “There's no weekend. This is like a 365-day job.”

As she continues her journey at the intersection of economics and education, her deep commitment to scholarship, service, and mentorship serves as a beacon of inspiration for generations to come. Her dedication to students’ success, coupled with her innovative research endeavors, continues to shape the landscape of economics and education at Texas State, leaving a profound impression on students, colleagues, and communities. Through her innovative and inclusive methods, Dr. Feng is paving the way for a future where education is a catalyst for social mobility and economic prosperity. ✯