Issue Areas:

Data and Research

Education:

Midwestern State University – B.A., Political Science

Texas Tech University – M.A., Political Science / Policy

Focus

Eric Booth serves as Senior Research Analyst at Texas 2036, where he conducts policy-relevant research and analysis to help deliver data-driven policy solutions for the state of Texas.

Prior Work Experience

Eric Booth brings over two decades of experience in applied research and evaluation. His work sits at the intersection of complex statistical programming, data modernization, and policy research, with a career dedicated to building a trusted evidence base for state and national programs and foundation‑funded initiatives.

Eric’s career has focused on designing and executing high‑stakes evaluations in education, behavioral health, and juvenile justice. His approach combines rigorous quasi‑experimental designs with modern automation to ensure that research is both scientifically sound and practically actionable. He conducts evaluations as an embedded partner with sponsors and foundation funders, facilitating strong researcher–practitioner partnerships and responsive program implementation.

Before joining Texas 2036, Eric served as Senior Director of Research and President at Far Harbor, LLC in Austin, where he was promoted from Senior Statistician. Earlier in his career, he was Research Faculty at the Texas A&M University Public Policy Research Institute (PPRI) and a Lecturer in the Department of Health Policy & Management at Texas A&M University, teaching graduate research methods and statistical programming courses. He also served as a Senior Research Scientist with Gibson Consulting Group, and as an affiliated researcher with the Southwest Regional Education Laboratory (REL).

Eric’s research has been published in the Journal of Developmental Education, Party Politics, the American Journal of Public Health, and the Journal of Applied Research on Children. Across more than 80 technical and evaluation reports, his work has shaped public health and education policy at the state and national levels. His work in the Council of State Governments‑sponsored study Breaking Schools’ Rules—a statewide, longitudinal analysis of school discipline and juvenile justice placements—was cited as a motivating study for President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative and helped spur legislative changes at the federal and state levels.