What I Cover
I write about college access, admissions, and inequality in higher education, often bringing students’ experiences to life via in-depth features. I’m drawn to stories about the impact of laws and policies on low-income and first-generation students. I also report on the professional challenges of admissions and enrollment officials. My stories about college access and student success have included a narrative profile of a refugee student, an examination of why a six-time college dropout finally succeeded, and an on-the-ground report on a day in the life of a student emergency-aid program.
My Background
I joined The Chronicle in 2001 after working at two local magazines, in Charlottesville, Va., and Washington, D.C. My reporting on education has also appeared in The New York Times, Washington Monthly, and Nautilus. I am a two-time winner of the Edwin Gould Foundation’s Eddie Prize, which honors journalism illuminating the challenges low-income students face on the path to college. My work has been recognized several times by the Education Writers Association. I frequently speak at education conferences and in the press about admissions, college access, and financial-aid issues.
I earned a bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Virginia, where I got my start in journalism at The Cavalier Daily. I live in Washington, D.C.
Connect
I welcome reader feedback and story ideas at eric.hoover@chronicle.com.
You can also find me on Bluesky, X, and LinkedIn.
