Chris Mullin

Chris Mullin

Strategy Director

Articles by Chris

Christopher (Chris) Mullin, Ph.D., is strategy director of data and measurement for Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation in Indianapolis that is committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available to all.

Previously, he served as director of Strong Start to Finish at Education Commission of the States, executive vice chancellor of the Florida College System, the assistant vice chancellor for policy and research at the State University System of Florida, Board of Governors, the program director for policy analysis of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), and a postdoctoral fellow at the Illinois Education Research Council. Over the years he has also attended many Lumina convenings, both as a presenter and a participant.

He earned his bachelor’s and doctoral degree from the University of Florida and a master of education degree from Teachers College of Columbia University.

More from Chris

The question we should be asking: “What don’t you want to major in?”

Efforts to help high school students choose a college major actually make things worse for most students—especially the most valuable among them. It all starts with the probing, anxiety-inducing question, “What are you going to major in?” Most students just defer to a major they have heard of as they don’t know what they want to major in.