Amber Wang, Ph.D.

Amber Wang, Ph.D.

Amber Wang has over 15 years of experience in education research and evaluation, with a focus on mathematics and special education. She brings deep expertise in intervention research and is passionate about elevating the voices and experiences of students with disabilities in both research and practice.

Prior to joining Leanlab, Amber served as a Principal Research Scientist at Instructional Research Group, where she led or contributed to impact evaluations of mathematics interventions for students with disabilities. She is certified in What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) 5.0 group, advanced group, and single-case design standards and, in this capacity, has contributed to multiple evidence syntheses, serving in senior quality assurance and expert reviewer roles.

Amber’s commitment to education began early in her career when she co-founded a nonprofit organization in India serving vulnerable children. She later joined the 2007 Teach For America corps in the Rio Grande Valley, where she taught special education and went on to serve as a department lead. These experiences continue to shape how she approaches her work, grounding her research in the everyday realities of schools and the communities they serve.

She holds a B.S. in Biological Anthropology and Environmental Studies from Emory University and a Ph.D. in Special Education from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. Outside of work, Amber enjoys sourcing high-quality matcha, reading, spending time outdoors, spoiling her dog, and seeking out new challenges.