Thong Trinh

Thong M. Trinh is a Berkeley Fellow and PhD student at the University of California, Berkeley, where his research focuses on Higher Education Policy, particularly on Finance. His work explores critical issues such as student willingness to pay, university budgeting, and the design and implementation of financial aid systems. Using quantitative research methods and quasi-experimental designs, Thong's research contributes to understanding how financial policies impact both institutions and students in higher education.

Thong holds an EdM in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, where he was an Edwin J. O'Leary Fellow. He also earned an MSc in Business Analysis and Consulting from the University of Strathclyde, UK, and a BSc in International Business from the Banking Academy of Vietnam, where he graduated with distinction. His academic achievements have been recognized with several awards, including the International Graduate Achievement Award and the Strathclyde Business School Dean's Excellence Scholarship. In 2019, he was named Graduate Valedictorian by the Mayor of Hai Phong.

Beyond academia, Thong's work experience includes serving as a Research Fellow with Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose, where he focused on higher education funding models. He also worked at the Proposal Development Office of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, where he supported the development of research proposals for funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other agencies. These experiences reflect his diverse background, extending beyond academic research to practical engagement with real-world policy and grant applications.

Thong has published in several peer-reviewed journals, such as Higher Education, Policy Futures in Education, Frontiers in Education, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, where his work examines institutions' financial sustainability and student transitions to higher education. He also serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education and the Journal of Student Financial Aid. He is also a recognized voice in academic circles through his op-eds on platforms like University World News, where he explores challenges related to tuition fees, access to higher education, and the broader implications of higher education policy.

As a Graduate Student Instructor at UC Berkeley, Thong leads discussions on education inequality and policy, applying his research to real-world contexts and helping students explore the complexities of education systems. He previously held teaching roles at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, where he facilitated courses on global perspectives and education policy.

Thong's research has been presented at prestigious conferences, including the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), and the Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP). His ongoing projects focus on the financial health of higher education institutions, student loan debt, and equitable access to higher education.

For more information, please visit his website: https://thongminhtrinh.com