Expert Spotlight: Christopher Edley, Jr.

This spotlight was written by Christopher Edley Jr. in the summer of 2023, when the Campaign for College Opportunity asked him to be a contributor to our research brief series—Equity, Inclusion, Action—in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision on race-conscious admissions. Christopher was a renowned leader in civil rights, education policy, and administrative law with a deep commitment to public service and the promise of education. In May 2024, we were heartbroken to learn of his sudden passing. We are grateful to release this paper in tribute to his legacy with the permission of Christopher’s widow, Maria Echaveste, an incredible leader, scholar, and advocate in her own right.

It has never been more important to build a broad and diverse pool of students who aspire to postsecondary education—and who are well-prepared for college success. In this spotlight, Edley shares his groundbreaking work on opportunity indicators, which provide a framework to address the factors influencing student access and success in higher education, particularly for Latinx, Black, Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI), and American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) students. From ensuring access to effective and experienced teachers to holistically addressing disparities in early childhood through college, Edley highlights the importance of bold action and integrated systems—schools, agencies, researchers, and equity advocates working to meet the continuum of students’ needs. As the fight for fair opportunity to college faces renewed challenges, this publication offers tangible solutions for higher education stakeholders to advance an inclusive society and power upward mobility.