Justin joined Freedom School Partners in September 2023 and serves as the Data Evaluation and Impact Manager. In this role, he oversees FSP data, measurement, analysis, evaluation and collective impact. A sociologist of education by training, Lane began his career in finance and market research before pivoting into academic and community-based research.
Prior to joining FSP, Justin has served as Data and Research Associate for the Urban Institute, Associate Director of the Institute for Social Capital, and Director of Impact for Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont. In these various community research and leadership roles he has designed and conducted impact studies for Habitat for Humanity, the Relatives, Heart Math Tutoring, Augustine Literacy Project, and SmartStart of Mecklenburg County. Lane has authored articles on summer learning loss, the relationship between dropping out and school socioeconomic and racial composition, and the needs of working parents. He co-authored the annual community reports focusing on long term impacts of various aspects of housing instability—evictions, family homelessness, youth academic and behavioral outcomes, and ease and frequency of community resource access by veterans experiencing homelessness—as well as the Housing First Charlotte Mecklenburg Research and Evaluation.
Former community service includes the North Carolina DHHS Emergency Solutions Grant Review Committee, the Char Meck Homelessness and Housing Strategy Innovative Analytics team, the Charlotte Regional Researchers Collaborative, and the Housing Advisory Board Research and Evaluation committee. He is a graduate of CBI’s Leadership Development Initiative (Class 19) and has previously led the community Data and Research Oversight Committee.
He holds a Masters degree in Sociology from UNC Charlotte and a BA in Sociology from East Tennessee State University. His completed PhD coursework includes Public Policy, Educational Research, Geography, and Urban Economics. His prospective dissertation will investigate the longitudinal outcomes associated with education policy decisions on individuals throughout the life course.
Justin enjoys traveling, hiking, and kayaking with his wife Heather and their three wild dogs Pearly, Ripple and Jed. His favorite childhood book is Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective.
Email: [email protected]