Chester Evans Finn Jr. (born August 3, 1944) is a former professor of education, an educational policy analyst, and a former United States Assistant

Secretary of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

. He is currently the president emeritus of the nonprofit Thomas B. Fordham Foundation in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

He is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Education, an Adjunct Fellow at the Hudson Institute, and a senior fellow at Stanford University's

Hoover Institution The Hoover Institution (officially The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace; abbreviated as Hoover) is an American public policy think tank and research institution that promotes personal and economic liberty, free enterprise, an ...

where he chairs the Koret Task Force on K-12 Education. He was also a member of the Maryland Kirwan Commission on Education during its authorization period from 2016 to 2019. Finn was Professor of Education and Public Policy at

Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million ...

(1981–2002). He served as Assistant Secretary for Research and Improvement at the

U.S. Department of Education The United States Department of Education is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government. It began operating on May 4, 1980, having been created after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was split into the Department ...

(1985–88). Prior positions included Staff Assistant to U.S. President

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...

; special assistant to Massachusetts Governor

Francis Sargent Francis Williams Sargent (July 29, 1915 – October 22, 1998) was an American politician who served as the 64th governor of Massachusetts from 1969 to 1975. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 63rd Lieutenant Govern ...

(1972–73); counsel to U.S. Ambassador to India Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1973–74); Research Associate at the

Brookings Institution The Brookings Institution, often stylized as simply Brookings, is an American research group founded in 1916. Located on Think Tank Row in Washington, D.C., the organization conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in e ...

(1974–77); and legislative director for U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1977–81).

Memberships

American Educational Research Association The American Educational Research Association (AERA, pronounced "A-E-R-A") is a professional organization representing education researchers in the United States and around the world. AERA's mission is to advance knowledge about education and p ...

* Committee for the Free World *

Phi Delta Kappa PDK International (also known as PDK or Phi Delta Kappa International) is a US professional organization for educators. Its main office is in Arlington, Virginia. It was founded on January 24, 1906. Membership Currently, membership consists o ...

Published works

*''How to Educate an American: The Conservative Vision for Tomorrow's Schools''; Michael J. Petrilli and Chester E. Finn Jr., eds. (2020). West Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Press. . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *''We Must Take Charge!: Our Schools and Our Future'' (1991) *''The Educated Child: A Parents Guide From Preschool Through Eighth Grade'' (1999; with

William Bennett William John Bennett (born July 31, 1943) is an American conservative politician and political commentator who served as secretary of education from 1985 to 1988 under President Ronald Reagan. He also held the post of director of the Office of ...

and John T. E. Cribb Jr.) *''Charter Schools in Action: Renewing Public Education'' (2001; with Bruno V. Manno and Gregg Vanourek) *''Leaving No Child Behind?: Options for Kids in Failing Schools'' (2004) (with Frederick M. Hess) *''Troublemaker: A Personal History of School Reform Since Sputnik'' (2008)

References

External links

Thomas B. Fordham Foundation websiteHudson Institute > About Hudson > Chester Finn
Hudson Institute biography *
MediaTransparency Profile of Chester FinnReview of Chester Finn's Autobiography, Troublemaker: A Personal History of School Reform Since Sputnik
{{DEFAULTSORT:Finn, Chester E. Jr. 1944 births Living people Phillips Exeter Academy alumni People from Columbus, Ohio Reagan administration personnel Vanderbilt University faculty National Association of Scholars Harvard Graduate School of Education alumni