
Dr. Bray has maintained an active research portfolio ever since his graduate school days at Vanderbilt, through his time in Institutional research at VirginiaTech and while at The University of Alabama. His main areas of research across higher education include: policy and financial access, student issues, and sociology of the field. Dr. Bray has presented his work widely at national and international conferences, including the Association for the Study of Higher Education, the American Educational Research Association, the National Education Finance Academy, the Association for Institutional Research, Council for the Study of Community Colleges, the Oxford Education research Symposium, and the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions. His work has been published in the Journal of Higher Education, Review of Higher Education, Higher Education, Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research, Innovative Higher Education, Journal of Education Finance, Community College Journal of Research and Practice, and multiple New Directions monographs, among others.
His co-authored book was published early in 2022 from Harvard Education Press: Educating the top 100%: Policy pathways in public higher education.. The book is now available at Harvard Education Press or any other book retailer:
www.hepg.org/hep-home/books/educating-the-top-100-percent
You can learn more about his funded research and service project work here: Grants
Below are some other example works since 2010:
Edited Monographs:
Braxton, J. M., & Bray, N. J. (2012) (Eds.). Codes of conduct in academia. New Directions for Higher Education, 2012 (160). Series Editor: B. Barefoot. San Francisco: Wiley Co.
Edited Journals:
Alexander, F.A., Katsinas, S.G., & Bray, N.J. (Eds.) (2023). Special edition on U.S. public community college finance issues and challenges, Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press, Volume 48, Number 3, Winter, pp. 227-334.
Bray, N. J. & Braxton, J. M. (Eds.) (2022). Special Issue. “Publishing in Higher Education and Its Assessment.” Innovative Higher Education, 47 (6).
Refereed Journal Articles:
Bray, N. J., D'Entremont, A. R., & Braxton, J. M. (Accepted). “Using altmetrics as a way to assess the impact of scholarship of teaching and learning research.” Innovative Higher Education.
Gilstrap, D., Whitver, S., Scalfani, V., & Bray, N. J. (2023). “Citation metrics and Boyer’s model of scholarship: How do bibliometrics and altmetrics respond to research impact?” Innovative Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-023-09648-7
Alexander, F. K., Katsinas, S. G., & Bray, N. J. (2023). “Introduction to the special edition on U.S. public community college finance issues and challenges.” Journal of Education Finance, 48 (3), Winter 2023, 227-233.
King, F.K., Katsinas, S.G., Keeney, N.E., Bray, N.J., (2023). “The Impact of Federal Funding on State Budget Priorities: Public Higher Education Operating Budgets and Medicaid,” Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press, Volume 48, Number 3, Winter 2023, pp. 234-250.
Bray, N.J., Till, G.A., D'Amico, M.M., Katsinas, S.G. (2023). “Emerging from COVID-19: The 2022 Report of Finance and Access Issues,” Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press Volume 48, Number 3, Winter 2023, pp. 251-266.
Katsinas, S.G., Keeney, N.E., Bray, N.J., & Kelly, P.J. (2023). “Declining Pell Support at Community Colleges Since the Great Recession,” Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press, Volume 48, Number 3, Winter 2023, pp. 289-305.
Katsinas, S.G., Keeney, N.E., Bray, N.J., Alexander, F.K, & Till, G.A. (2023). “Realigning Federal and State Financing Policies for Community Colleges,” Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press, Volume 48, Number 3, Winter 2023, pp. 306-334.
Keeney, N.E., Katsinas, S.G., & Bray, N.J. (2023). “Local Funding and Tuition and Fee Charges at U.S. Community Colleges,” Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press, Volume 48, Number 3, Winter 2023, pp. 267-288.
Bray, N. J., & Braxton, J. M. (2022). Editor’s Note. Innovative Higher Education, 47 (6), 897-900.
Bray, N. J., & Major, C. H. (2022). Status of journals in the field of higher education revisited. Innovative Higher Education, 47 (6), 901-913. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-022-09633-6
Bray, N. J., & Major, C. H. (2022). Impact factors, altmetrics, and prestige, oh my! The concordance between subjective and objective indices of journal prestige. Innovative Higher Education, 47 (6), 947-966. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-022-09635-4
Bray, N. J., Gilstrap, D., Scalfani, V. (2022). The power law and emerging and senior scholar publication patterns. Innovative Higher Education, 47 (6), 987-1005. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-022-09636-3
Adair, L., Katsinas, S. G., Grant, P., & Bray, N. J. (2020). Federal spending for higher education: The impact of budget reconciliation. Journal of Education Finance, 46 (2), 220-237. Project Muse, muse.jhu.edu/article/785653.
Koh, J., Katsinas, S. G., Bray, N. J., & Hardy, D. (2020). Disparities in unmet student financial need at public community colleges. Community College Journal of Research and Practice.
Shedd, L., Katsinas, S. K., & Bray, N. J. (2020). Examining the employment profile of institutions under the Mission-Driven Classification System and the impact of collective bargaining. Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy, 11 (5). Available at: https://thekeep.eiu.edu/jcba/vol11/iss1/5.
Koh, J., Katsinas, S. G., & Bray, N. J. (2019). State financing for public community colleges: A comparative study of fiscal capacity and tax effort. Journal of Education Finance, 45 (2).
Katsinas, S. G., Bray, N. J., Hagedorn, L., Dotherow, S., & Malley, M. (2019). From vertical to dynamic transfer: Recognizing continuous swirl in American higher education. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 51 (3), 44-51. DOI: 10.1080/00091383.2019.1606607.
Bray, N. J., Johnson, S., Katsinas, S. G., & Shadduck, P. (2018). Course revision in introductory STEM courses: An exploratory study at an HBCU community college. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 43 (7), 481-493. DOI: 10.1080/10668926.2018.1494062.
Shedd, L., Katsinas, S. K., & Bray, N. J. (2018). Unionization and monetary compensation at America’s access institutions. Educational Policy, 32 (2), 255-279. DOI: 10.1177/0895904817741466.
Wheeler, S., & Bray, N. J. (2017). Effectively evaluating developmental mathematics. Journal of Developmental Education, 41 (1), 10-17.
Tarrant, M., Bray, N. J., & Katsinas, S. G. (2017). The invisible colleges revisited: An empirical review. Journal of Higher Education, 89 (3), 341-367. DOI: 10.1080/00221546.2017.1390971.
Campbell, E., & Bray, N. J. (2017). Two sides of the same coin? Analysis of faculty and administrators’ perspectives on governance. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 42 (12), 1-15. DOI: 10.1080/10668926.2017.1374220.
Bray, N. J., & Sweatt, W. (2017). The usability of the websites of Alabama’s community colleges. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 42 (10), 744-747. DOI: 10.1080/10668926.2017.1325786.
Bray, N. J. & Williams, L. (2017). A quantitative study on organizational commitment and communication satisfaction of administrative staff at an American Master’s institution. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 39 (5), 487-502. DOI: 10.1080/1360080X.2017.1354757.
†McCreary, G., Bray, N. J., & Thoma, S. (2016). Bad apples or bad barrels? Moral disengagement, social influence, and the perpetuation of hazing in the college fraternity. Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, 11(1), 1-15.
Katsinas, S. G., Ogun, J., & Bray, N. J. (2016). Monetary compensation of full-time faculty at American public regional universities: The impact of geography and the existence of collective bargaining. Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy, Volume 8, Article 3.
Mayhall, B.R., Katsinas, S.G., & Bray N.J. (2015). Thinking about tomorrow: Collective bargaining and labor relations in higher education. Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy, Volume 8, Article 4, pp. 1-28.
Bourke, B., & Bray, N. J. (2012). African American student persistence at a predominantly White institution. Journal of College Orientation and Transition, 20 (1), 5-18.
Hale, J., & Bray, N. J. (2011). The impact of registration timing on student performance. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 35 (7), 556-573. DOI: 10.1080/10668920802289984.
Bray, N. J, & Major, C. H. (2011). Status of journals in the field of higher education. Journal of Higher Education, 82 (4), 479-503.
† Recipient of the 2017 Dr. Charles Eberly Oracle Award.
His co-authored book was published early in 2022 from Harvard Education Press: Educating the top 100%: Policy pathways in public higher education.. The book is now available at Harvard Education Press or any other book retailer:
www.hepg.org/hep-home/books/educating-the-top-100-percent
You can learn more about his funded research and service project work here: Grants
Below are some other example works since 2010:
Edited Monographs:
Braxton, J. M., & Bray, N. J. (2012) (Eds.). Codes of conduct in academia. New Directions for Higher Education, 2012 (160). Series Editor: B. Barefoot. San Francisco: Wiley Co.
Edited Journals:
Alexander, F.A., Katsinas, S.G., & Bray, N.J. (Eds.) (2023). Special edition on U.S. public community college finance issues and challenges, Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press, Volume 48, Number 3, Winter, pp. 227-334.
Bray, N. J. & Braxton, J. M. (Eds.) (2022). Special Issue. “Publishing in Higher Education and Its Assessment.” Innovative Higher Education, 47 (6).
Refereed Journal Articles:
Bray, N. J., D'Entremont, A. R., & Braxton, J. M. (Accepted). “Using altmetrics as a way to assess the impact of scholarship of teaching and learning research.” Innovative Higher Education.
Gilstrap, D., Whitver, S., Scalfani, V., & Bray, N. J. (2023). “Citation metrics and Boyer’s model of scholarship: How do bibliometrics and altmetrics respond to research impact?” Innovative Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-023-09648-7
Alexander, F. K., Katsinas, S. G., & Bray, N. J. (2023). “Introduction to the special edition on U.S. public community college finance issues and challenges.” Journal of Education Finance, 48 (3), Winter 2023, 227-233.
King, F.K., Katsinas, S.G., Keeney, N.E., Bray, N.J., (2023). “The Impact of Federal Funding on State Budget Priorities: Public Higher Education Operating Budgets and Medicaid,” Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press, Volume 48, Number 3, Winter 2023, pp. 234-250.
Bray, N.J., Till, G.A., D'Amico, M.M., Katsinas, S.G. (2023). “Emerging from COVID-19: The 2022 Report of Finance and Access Issues,” Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press Volume 48, Number 3, Winter 2023, pp. 251-266.
Katsinas, S.G., Keeney, N.E., Bray, N.J., & Kelly, P.J. (2023). “Declining Pell Support at Community Colleges Since the Great Recession,” Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press, Volume 48, Number 3, Winter 2023, pp. 289-305.
Katsinas, S.G., Keeney, N.E., Bray, N.J., Alexander, F.K, & Till, G.A. (2023). “Realigning Federal and State Financing Policies for Community Colleges,” Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press, Volume 48, Number 3, Winter 2023, pp. 306-334.
Keeney, N.E., Katsinas, S.G., & Bray, N.J. (2023). “Local Funding and Tuition and Fee Charges at U.S. Community Colleges,” Journal of Education Finance, University of Illinois Press, Volume 48, Number 3, Winter 2023, pp. 267-288.
Bray, N. J., & Braxton, J. M. (2022). Editor’s Note. Innovative Higher Education, 47 (6), 897-900.
Bray, N. J., & Major, C. H. (2022). Status of journals in the field of higher education revisited. Innovative Higher Education, 47 (6), 901-913. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-022-09633-6
Bray, N. J., & Major, C. H. (2022). Impact factors, altmetrics, and prestige, oh my! The concordance between subjective and objective indices of journal prestige. Innovative Higher Education, 47 (6), 947-966. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-022-09635-4
Bray, N. J., Gilstrap, D., Scalfani, V. (2022). The power law and emerging and senior scholar publication patterns. Innovative Higher Education, 47 (6), 987-1005. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-022-09636-3
Adair, L., Katsinas, S. G., Grant, P., & Bray, N. J. (2020). Federal spending for higher education: The impact of budget reconciliation. Journal of Education Finance, 46 (2), 220-237. Project Muse, muse.jhu.edu/article/785653.
Koh, J., Katsinas, S. G., Bray, N. J., & Hardy, D. (2020). Disparities in unmet student financial need at public community colleges. Community College Journal of Research and Practice.
Shedd, L., Katsinas, S. K., & Bray, N. J. (2020). Examining the employment profile of institutions under the Mission-Driven Classification System and the impact of collective bargaining. Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy, 11 (5). Available at: https://thekeep.eiu.edu/jcba/vol11/iss1/5.
Koh, J., Katsinas, S. G., & Bray, N. J. (2019). State financing for public community colleges: A comparative study of fiscal capacity and tax effort. Journal of Education Finance, 45 (2).
Katsinas, S. G., Bray, N. J., Hagedorn, L., Dotherow, S., & Malley, M. (2019). From vertical to dynamic transfer: Recognizing continuous swirl in American higher education. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 51 (3), 44-51. DOI: 10.1080/00091383.2019.1606607.
Bray, N. J., Johnson, S., Katsinas, S. G., & Shadduck, P. (2018). Course revision in introductory STEM courses: An exploratory study at an HBCU community college. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 43 (7), 481-493. DOI: 10.1080/10668926.2018.1494062.
Shedd, L., Katsinas, S. K., & Bray, N. J. (2018). Unionization and monetary compensation at America’s access institutions. Educational Policy, 32 (2), 255-279. DOI: 10.1177/0895904817741466.
Wheeler, S., & Bray, N. J. (2017). Effectively evaluating developmental mathematics. Journal of Developmental Education, 41 (1), 10-17.
Tarrant, M., Bray, N. J., & Katsinas, S. G. (2017). The invisible colleges revisited: An empirical review. Journal of Higher Education, 89 (3), 341-367. DOI: 10.1080/00221546.2017.1390971.
Campbell, E., & Bray, N. J. (2017). Two sides of the same coin? Analysis of faculty and administrators’ perspectives on governance. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 42 (12), 1-15. DOI: 10.1080/10668926.2017.1374220.
Bray, N. J., & Sweatt, W. (2017). The usability of the websites of Alabama’s community colleges. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 42 (10), 744-747. DOI: 10.1080/10668926.2017.1325786.
Bray, N. J. & Williams, L. (2017). A quantitative study on organizational commitment and communication satisfaction of administrative staff at an American Master’s institution. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 39 (5), 487-502. DOI: 10.1080/1360080X.2017.1354757.
†McCreary, G., Bray, N. J., & Thoma, S. (2016). Bad apples or bad barrels? Moral disengagement, social influence, and the perpetuation of hazing in the college fraternity. Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, 11(1), 1-15.
Katsinas, S. G., Ogun, J., & Bray, N. J. (2016). Monetary compensation of full-time faculty at American public regional universities: The impact of geography and the existence of collective bargaining. Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy, Volume 8, Article 3.
Mayhall, B.R., Katsinas, S.G., & Bray N.J. (2015). Thinking about tomorrow: Collective bargaining and labor relations in higher education. Journal of Collective Bargaining in the Academy, Volume 8, Article 4, pp. 1-28.
Bourke, B., & Bray, N. J. (2012). African American student persistence at a predominantly White institution. Journal of College Orientation and Transition, 20 (1), 5-18.
Hale, J., & Bray, N. J. (2011). The impact of registration timing on student performance. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 35 (7), 556-573. DOI: 10.1080/10668920802289984.
Bray, N. J, & Major, C. H. (2011). Status of journals in the field of higher education. Journal of Higher Education, 82 (4), 479-503.
† Recipient of the 2017 Dr. Charles Eberly Oracle Award.