María Fernández Mellizo-Soto is Associate Professor in the Sociology Department, Education Faculty, Complutense University in Madrid (Spain), where she is at present Department Chair. In 1994, she obtained a BA in Economics at Carlos III University (Madrid) and in 1996 a Master in Social Sciences at the CEACS (Juan March Institute) in Madrid. In 2001, she obtained a PhD. in Sociology (Complutense University) and, since then, holds a Juan March PhD. in Social Sciences awarded by the CEACS (Juan March Institute). The Thesis was awarded several prizes: in 2001 the prize to the best Thesis in Political Science and Sociology awarded by the Complutense University and in 2002 the   prize to the best Thesis in Political Science awarded by the Spanish Association of Political Science. Between 1998 and 2004 she was researcher in several institutions: Simon Research Fellowship in the Government Department, Manchester University (United Kingdom); Post-doctoral researcher in the CEACS (Juan March Institute); Pre-doctoral and post-doctoral researcher in the Comparative Policy Unit, CSIC, in Madrid. She has published books, chapters and journal articles in prestigious publishing houses and journals, both national and international (such as Journal of Education Policy or Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas). She has published in English, French and Spanish. She also has experience in applied sociological and political analysis. From 2004 to 2010 she was adviser of the Spanish Prime Minister (Department of Analysis).