Krista Kafer, Education Policy Senior Fellow

A Colorado native, Krista Kafer returned to Colorado in 2004 after nine years in the nation’s capital where she served as the senior expert on education policy at the influential Heritage Foundation. While at the Heritage Foundation she wrote her first book, School Choice 2003: How States Are Providing Greater Opportunity in Education, as well as numerous papers, a journal article for the New York University Annual Survey of American Law, opinion-editorials, and chapters in books published by Greenhaven Press and Lexington Books.

Ms. Kafer’s analysis has been cited in leading newspapers including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Education Week, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Boston Globe, and magazines such as Business Week, Forbes, World Magazine, The Economist, and Governing Magazine. She has been interviewed on numerous radio and television programs including CNN’s “Live from the Headlines,” FOX News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes,” “Studio B with Shepard Smith,” and “The Big Story with John Gibson,” Chris Matthews’ “Hardball” and “Joe Scarborough Country” on MSNBC, PBS’s “DebatesDebates,” Westwood One’s “Jim Bohannon Show,” “The Kogo Nnamdi Show” on WAMU (NPR affiliate), and NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” and “The Tavis Smiley Show.” On several occasions, Ms. Kafer testified before Congress and state legislatures. She was also a frequent panelist and guest speaker at national and international conferences.

Prior to her tenure at the Heritage Foundation, Ms. Kafer worked for two Members of Congress, including Colorado’s own Congressman Bob Schaffer.

Having returned to Colorado, Ms. Kafer continues to advocate for education reform. As a self-employed consultant and writer, she works primarily with government agencies and think tanks. Ms. Kafer was honored to be named a senior fellow with the Independence Institute, an exceptional think tank she worked with while at the Heritage Foundation. Ms. Kafer is also a senior fellow with the Centennial Institute and the Independent Women’s Forum, a Lincoln Fellow with the Claremont Institute, and a graduate of the Leadership Program of the Rockies.

In her spare time, Ms. Kafer enjoys international travel, hiking, skiing, biking, gardening, and spending time with her family.