Andre M. Perry

Dr. Andre M. Perry is a senior fellow and director of the Center for Community Uplift at the Brookings Institution and serves as a professor of practice of economics at Washington University in St. Louis. Perry holds a doctorate in education policy and leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park. Before his work in research and policy, Perry was a founding dean, professor, journalist, and activist in the field of education. He established the College of Urban Education at Davenport University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and previously served as an associate professor of educational leadership at the University of New Orleans and as CEO of the Capital One-University of New Orleans Charter Network.

Perry's research focuses on race, structural inequality, economic inclusion, and the devaluation of assets in Black neighborhoods. He co-authored the Brookings Institution report "The Devaluation of Assets in Black Neighborhoods" and has presented its findings on home prices in Black neighborhoods to policymakers and community development professionals, including testimony before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. Perry's work extends beyond housing to examine the value of businesses, schools, and banks in Black communities. He has also contributed to education policy through service on Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards' K-12 education transition committee and as co-chair for education on New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu's transition team.

Perry is the author of "Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America's Black Cities," published by Brookings Press, which examines Black-majority cities such as Detroit, Birmingham, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C., and highlights the value of community assets. He also authored "Black Power Scorecard: Measuring the Racial Gap and What We Can Do to Close It," published by Metropolitan Books. These works contribute to national conversations on race, economic equity, and urban policy by combining data analysis with accessible storytelling.

Perry is a regular contributor to MSNBC and has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, Bloomberg CityLab, and CNN.com. He has appeared on HBO, CNN, PBS, National Public Radio, NBC, and ABC. Perry's column on educational equity has appeared in the Hechinger Report, a nonprofit news organization focused on education journalism. His research on the devaluation of assets in Black neighborhoods has brought attention to the systemic undervaluation of homes and other community assets such as schools and businesses. Through scholarship, media engagement, and public speaking, Perry addresses issues of racial equity, economic policy, and community development, providing data-driven insights into the value of Black communities in America.