Hankla is a technical research assistant in the K-12 Education policy area. Currently, Hankla is working on processing data for the Kauffman Real World Learning, Personalized Learning Initiative, and XQ Schools Study projects. Before joining MDRC, Hankla contributed to several data-based social science and education research projects. In 2020, Hankla took a break from school and worked closely with middle-school students from low-income families. Hankla holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology, with a minor in statistical and data sciences, and certificates in culture, health, and science from Smith College in 2023.