Irina Chukhray, PhD
Assistant Director of Institutional Research
Dr. Irina Chukhray earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Davis.
She also holds a Master’s in Sociology from Rice University as well as a Master’s in Women’s Studies and Bachelor’s in Psychology from San Diego State University. Her professional experience includes roles as a Research Analyst for the Houston Education Research Consortium, a nonprofit at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, and Program Manager for an international study with OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). Her research has been supported by fellowships from the Immigration Initiative at Harvard University, the Penn Migration Initiative at University of Pennsylvania, the UC Davis Graduate Research Fellowship, and the Center for Studies in Higher Education at UC Berkeley.
With over a decade of experience in quantitative and qualitative research, program assessment, and management, Dr. Chukhray leverages research to empower students in achieving college access and success. Originally from Ukraine and as a first-generation college student, her personal journey inspired her commitment to improve educational access and outcomes for immigrant-origin and other underserved students. Her impact-driven approach informs policy development and promotes data-driven decision- making to address systemic challenges in higher education.