PhD Student Brings Policy Expertise to World Bank

A journey from Saudi Arabia to international development

Taghreed Alrehaili, a third-year PhD student in education policy at the University of Pittsburgh, spent her fall semester in a remarkable position: working at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The internship was a culmination of rigorous academic preparation and professional experience for Alrehaili, who also works as a policy researcher at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education.

Her journey began in 2020, sparked by a realization she had while reading a book on education policy. Alrehaili, who had successfully completed a change management and leadership certificate from Kent State University and an executive education certificate from Harvard Kennedy School, realized that there was still much more to learn about policy science to drive real change.

Through her work at the Ministry of Education, she has authored several policy briefs, conducted policy-focused research, and led workshops for senior policy leaders on education policy.

“The more I read and wrote about policy, the more I became aware of the field’s depth and complexity,” Taghreed said. “That realization ultimately led me to pursue a PhD to deepen my expertise in policy science,” she said.

That recognition brought her to Pitt’s School of Education in January 2023. She was drawn to the PhD program’s multidisciplinary approach, which allowed her to take courses and conduct research spanning education, public policy, and economics.

Training Meets Real-World Application

From her office in the heart of the nation’s capital, Alrehaili’s days are far from routine.

She reviews a variety of international development projects: from health and education initiatives in the Pacific Islands, to economic reform programs in The Gambia and local service delivery and infrastructure improvement projects in Indonesia.

Alrehaili conducts data analysis on surveys, participates in the World Bank annual meetings and research presentations, and attends learning sessions on the World Bank’s latest flagship reports and initiatives, including a new AI platform for comparing the impact of different policy interventions based on past randomized controlled trials.

“I feel like I stepped into an international development laboratory,” Alrehaili said.

She assesses differing priorities of countries based on a variety of factors, including poverty levels and geographic proximity to natural resources.

“Being at Pitt helps me to develop multiple perspectives through which to understand education policy,” Alrehaili said. “One of them is the quantitative lens; using econometrics to examine how education systems contribute to human capital formation and shape global development outcomes.

This experience marks Alrehaili’s third internship while earning her Pitt PhD.

Prior to joining the World Bank, she interned at Policy Matters Ohio, a policy research institute (summer 2024) and the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED), a project housed at the University of Pittsburgh (2024–2025).

In these roles, Alrehaili authored economic equity–focused policy reports, conducted statewide funding analyses, supported higher education reform, and advanced development through convenings and strategic communications.

Alrehaili’s faculty advisor, M. Najeeb Shafiq, has observed her educational growth with pride.

“Taghreed arrived at the University of Pittsburgh as a highly promising policy analyst from Saudi Arabia and has consistently demonstrated her commitment to rigorous academic work and policy application,” Shafiq said. “In two courses that I taught—Quantitative Methods and the Economics of Education—she developed strong analytical skills for linking complex research to policy application across diverse contexts.”

Navigating the Learning Curve

Alrehaili says her first three weeks at the World Bank were challenging. The organization’s acronym-heavy language and fast-paced environment could overwhelm anyone, but her colleagues’ supportive approach made all the difference.

“They told me, ‘You can ask any advisor about anything you want. Don’t hesitate. Even if it’s a word you heard, you can come and ask,'” she recalls. “That encouragement helped me navigate the World Bank complex institutional knowledge confidently.”

She added: ““Every day at the World Bank feels like a learning opportunity. Conversations in the corridors, over coffee, and during lunch are all part of the learning curve. These informal moments have given me the opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss policy questions with executive directors, advisors and economists from all over the world,” Alrehaili said.

With her coursework complete and only her dissertation remaining, Alrehaili plans to finish her PhD by the end of 2026. Her doctoral research combines insights from economics and psychology with international assessment data.

According to Shafiq, “These significant research skills and diverse policy experiences are positioning her to become a major voice in education policy, driving evidence-based impact in Saudi Arabia and worldwide.”

Amid her many experiences and opportunities, Alrehaili remains guided by a deep commitment to lifelong learning. “Learning never stops,” she said.