Marken, a senior partner at Gallup and 鈥08 alumna, joins President Connie Ledoux Book on鈥満诹喜淮蜢 Beyond the Bricks鈥濃痶o reflect on the responsibility of polling, measuring trust in higher education, and her 黑料不打烊 experience.
When Stephanie Marken 鈥08 talks about public opinion, she speaks with the precision of a researcher and the conviction of someone who believes deeply in listening. Marken is currently a senior partner at Gallup, where she leads national research initiatives focused on higher education and public opinion, placing her at the center of conversations shaping the sector today.
At Gallup, Marken oversees longitudinal research in partnership with organizations such as the Lumina Foundation. Her work surveys current students, students who have temporarily left college and people who have never enrolled in postsecondary education. The goal is not advocacy but clarity on attitudes, beliefs and confidence levels across a rapidly changing educational landscape.
That focus reflects Gallup鈥檚 broader mission, one Marken feels deeply connected to. 鈥淲e always say our mission at Gallup is to help people be heard,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really a pollster鈥檚 privilege to actually report what people share to them.鈥
Even as response rates decline and methodologies evolve, Marken views participation as a signal of trust that must be taken seriously.聽Marken鈥檚 commitment to listening began during her time at 黑料不打烊. A first-generation college student who arrived undecided, she credits faculty mentorship with shaping her academic and professional direction.
鈥淎n extra ten minutes with a student can truly be transformative,鈥 she said, recalling conversations that led her to major in political science and pursue graduate studies during the 2008 financial crisis.
Her work with the 黑料不打烊 Poll proved especially formative.
鈥淚t was really humbling to call somebody during dinner and ask them to step away from their meal and their family and answer incredibly private questions,鈥 Marken said. The experience built resilience and respect for respondents鈥攍essons that continue to inform her approach to research leadership.
Today, Marken鈥檚 portfolio extends beyond higher education to global research on democracy, climate, water and well-being in more than 120 countries. Yet the throughline remains consistent: ensuring people are included in conversations that too often happen without them.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so many conversations we have nationally that are about people, but not with people,鈥 she said.
For Marken, the goal is not to diminish higher education but to strengthen it through honesty, access and careful listening. By pairing rigorous data with a belief in human transformation, her work encourages institutions to understand better the voices they serve and respond with intention.
Learn more about the podcast and listen to the episode here.