Breyon Williams, Ph.D.

Washington, D.C. • breyon.contact@gmail.com

Download Resume

Experience

Chief Economist

Groundwork Collaborative
July 2025 – Present

Conducts rigorous research to build the public and policy case for fair prices, worker outcomes, and accountable corporate power.

  • Lead original quantitative research on consumers, workers, and market power, producing the empirical foundation for Groundwork products
  • Develop economic commentary around major economic metrics and developments, including inflation, employment, and Federal Reserve decisions, driving Groundwork's press footprint on policy

Senior Consultant

Independent Consultant
March 2025 – Present

Provide research and strategic advisory support on Gates Foundation–funded initiatives via partnerships with Tyton Partners and a research collaboration led by Carnegie Mellon University.

  • Contributed to the development of a research plan to examine an AI-enabled digital learning product across its design, implementation, and efficacy phases
  • Led the redesign and analysis of three national surveys to assess field adoption and use of an education-to-workforce data framework

Researcher

Mathematica
August 2020 – March 2025

Led data collection and analysis tasks across multiple education and workforce development evaluations, translating complex data into actionable insights for policymakers, funders, and program leaders.

  • Led data analysis across major evaluations using DiD and matching methods to estimate causal impacts
  • Produced research briefs, reports, infographics, and dashboards to disseminate actionable insights to stakeholders
  • Served as research lead, interfacing with IES on Pell Grant eligibility expansion RCT; presented to federal leadership
  • Managed federal and philanthropic projects (e.g., U.S. Department of Education, Gates Foundation) with budgets up to $3M and teams of 2–25 staff
  • Secured ~$5 million in new revenue by leading contract procurement efforts, developing successful bids, and forging strategic partnerships
  • Supported education and philanthropic partners through technical assistance (e.g., rapid-cycle research, grant writing, securing data-sharing agreements with school districts, strategic planning), helping them leverage KPIs to drive continuous improvement and impact

Associate

Analysis Group
August 2019 – August 2020

Conducted empirical research and data analysis to support litigation in digital advertising, biotech, and consumer protection cases, translating complex findings into expert reports used in court proceedings.

  • Led UX and ad auction analyses for antitrust litigation involving a social media company
  • Used A/B tests and natural experiments to assess impact of ad targeting on user engagement
  • Conducted claims data analysis and statistical modeling in healthcare and consumer protection cases

Economic Analyst

South Carolina Revenue & Fiscal Affairs Office
March 2013 – August 2014

Provided fiscal and economic analysis to support revenue forecasting, tax policy development, and legislative decision-making for the State of South Carolina.

  • Modeled economic impacts of state policy proposals using IMPLAN and REMI to inform legislative decision-making
  • Developed and refined forecasting processes for major General Fund revenue sources, including state sales and personal income taxes, to support budget planning and legislative negotiations
  • Estimated the revenue impact of a proposed state gas tax increase, modeling multiple rate scenarios and projected fuel consumption patterns to inform deliberations by legislative staff and the Department of Transportation
  • Conducted revenue impact assessments for local sales tax proposals, providing revenue projections and supporting documentation to county officials for inclusion on voter ballots
  • Produced fiscal briefs and macroeconomic outlooks using BLS, BEA, and FRED data; advised the Chief Economist and agency leads on state-level trends
  • Liaised with South Carolina House and Senate staff to translate complex fiscal analyses into actionable insights

Education

Ph.D. in Economics

University of South Carolina

M.A. in Economics

University of South Carolina

B.A. in Political Science

University of South Carolina

Skills & Expertise

Causal Inference Difference-in-Differences Matching Methods Instrumental Variables Regression Discontinuity A/B Testing Mixed Methods Survey Design Implementation Research Stata Excel R SQL Tableau Power BI GitHub Project Management Stakeholder Engagement

Selected Publications

See the full list on my Publications page.

  • "Pride and Prejudice: Same-Sex Marriage Legalization Announcements and LGBT Hate Crimes" — Journal of Law and Economics, 2022
  • "Free Lunch for All! The Effect of the Community Eligibility Provision on Academic Outcomes" — Economics of Education Review, 2020
  • "The Spillover Benefits of Expanding Access to Preschool" — Economics of Education Review, 2019

Policy Engagement & Thought Leadership

  • Submitted policy proposals to the National Economic Council outlining administrative levers to reduce student loan repayment costs, including automatic payment incentives and elimination of default-related collection costs
  • Maintain working relationships with staff at Urban Institute, Brookings, RAND, AIR, and Gates Foundation
  • Presented research at AEA, AEFP, and APPAM
  • Interviewed by media on the economic implications of proposed student debt relief plans
  • Served as mentor in the AEA Summer Mentoring Pipeline Program