We are pleased to introduce our new Associate Director for Youth Data Strategies, Jacob Leos-Urbel. Jake comes to the Gardner Center from Claremont Graduate University where, as Assistant Professor of Public Policy, he taught courses in child and youth policy, policy evaluation, and quantitative research methods. Jake's prior experience includes The After-School Corporation (TASC), the Urban Institute, and service as a school and community development volunteer with the US Peace Corps in Namibia. Jake holds a BA from Oberlin College, a Master in Public Affairs from Princeton University, and a PhD from New York University. Welcome Jake!

How did you became aware of the Gardner Center and what attracted you to its work?

I was looking to make transition from a faculty position - in  which I was doing academic research related to youth development and education policy - to  an organization doing more applied research that felt more connected to the worlds of policy and practice.  Specifically, I was looking to apply my research experience in an organization with a strong commitment to children and youth, and to address inequality of opportunities and outcomes.  As part of my job search, I had many informal conversations with folks in the education policy and youth development fields in the Bay Area and almost every one of them said, "are you familiar with the Gardner Center?"

How do you view yourself as a member of the interdisciplinary team at the Gardner Center?

The interdisciplinary background of my colleagues is a real strength of the Gardner Center.  I am a firm believer that bringing multiple perspectives to bear is crucial in trying to better understand the many influences on children's development.  My own training in public policy was inherently interdisciplinary, drawing on sociology, economics, psychology, and political science, as well as education and public policy itself.  I feel very fortunate to have worked with education experts from a variety of disciplines.  In my previous job, I taught a course called "Child and Youth Policy: Transdisciplinary Approaches to Promoting Education and Well-Being."

What are your responsibilities at the Gardner Center?

At the Gardner Center, my role largely focuses on research design and the use of quantitative data to improve our understanding the relationship between programs and youth outcomes. I work on a variety of project teams with my colleagues, some of which also take a mixed methods approach that integrates quantitative and qualitative research approaches. 

What interests or excites you most about your new role?

I am really excited about the opportunity to work collaboratively with people and organizations that serve youth directly, to conduct research and use data in ways that will be relevant and useful to them in refining and improving their programs and policies. The Gardner Center is uniquely positioned at the intersection of research, practice, and policy, with a perspective that considers the many systems and settings that are important for youth.

Which aspects of your prior research align most closely with the work of the Gardner Center or what new issues are you looking forward to undertaking now that you are here?

My prior research has focused on programs and policies for children, especially those focusing outside of the traditional school day and classroom, such as afterschool and summer programs, which aligns with many aspects of the Gardner Center's holistic approach to youth development.  I am excited about many of the Gardner Center's projects, especially those that focus on connections between the numerous systems and organizations that serve children and youth, and the integration of programs for students inside and outside the classroom.