PRESS RELEASE: DFI Continues to Build Strong Public Policy Team

Hires two experts to lead higher education and Teacher Union Accountability Project work

WASHINGTON—The Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies (DFI) announced today two new policy experts have joined its policy and legal teams. Christopher McCaghren, Ed.D., the former deputy assistant secretary for higher education at the U.S. Department of Education and former provost and professor of higher education leadership and policy at the University of Mobile, joins DFI as Senior Fellow for Higher Education Policy. Paul Zimmerman, a former counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce, will serve as Policy Counsel for DFI and lead its Teacher Union Accountability Project.

“Higher education is no longer making sense for students and federal taxpayers. The return on investment is questionable, and federal involvement is a key source of the problems,” said Jim Blew, co-founder of DFI.  “Radical reform of federal higher education policy is in order.  With Chris McCaghren’s expertise and experience we’re excited to put forward proactive policy ideas that will reduce taxpayer risk, provide incentives for college completion, discourage over-borrowing, and encourage high-demand alternatives to four-year degrees.”

Robert S. Eitel, president and co-founder of DFI said of Zimmerman joining the team, “During the pandemic, parents learned that teacher union bosses care about political power and radical cultural change, not classroom instruction and academic quality.  I am very pleased that Paul Zimmerman has joined DFI to oversee our efforts to hold these union leaders accountable.  Paul brings multiple skills and talents to the table, and we are excited to have him aboard.”

Christopher McCaghren

Chris joins DFI as Senior Fellow for Higher Education Policy. Prior to joining DFI, Chris served as CEO of Higher Education Solutions, a national higher education consulting firm.  During former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ tenure, he executed on the Secretary’s higher education policy initiatives at the U.S. Department of Education as the acting assistant secretary for postsecondary education, and prior to that, deputy assistant secretary for higher education.  During his three-year stint at the University of Mobile, Chris served as executive vice president and provost, as well as professor of higher education leadership and policy.  Under his leadership, the university tripled its academic offerings—including the university’s first-ever doctorate programs—and introduced several cutting-edge initiatives to increase student access and success.  Prior to being named provost at the University of Mobile, Chris was dean of the College of Education at Anderson University. 

He holds a doctorate from Vanderbilt University in higher education leadership and policy, a master of theological studies from Beeson Divinity School, and a double major undergraduate degree in communication studies and classics from Samford University. 

Paul Zimmerman

Paul joins DFI as Policy Counsel.  He will lead its Teacher Union Accountability Project and assist with DFI’s federal agency transparency and oversight efforts.  From 2019 to 2021, Paul was Counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he coordinated agency responses to requests from oversight entities, consulted on legal privileges in the context of litigation and Freedom of Information Act requests, and prepared senior personnel for testimony before congressional committees.  Before he joined Commerce, Paul worked for over a decade in multiple roles at the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies.  In his first position, as Director of Publications, he served as editor of the Federalist Society’s law review, which features articles authored by legal experts on key developments in 15 practice areas, and he edited and published the organization’s newsletters and white papers.  In his subsequent role, as Deputy Director of International Affairs, Paul advised and assisted civil society organizations and experts in Europe, Canada, and Asia seeking to promote discussion of the rule of law, separation of powers, and individual freedom in their national contexts.  He also coordinated transatlantic exchanges between a network of European judges and their American counterparts and managed a website monitoring international organizations and their impacts on domestic laws and policies.

Paul holds a B.A. in Political Science from Duke University and earned his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.  He is a member of the Maryland Bar.