Jennifer R. Daniels

Jennifer Daniels is a 2022–2025 National Poverty Fellow in residence in the Division of Economic Independence (DEI) at the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE). Daniels completed her Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy in the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration at the University of Delaware. Her research interests include racial equity, poverty, and the provision and access to social welfare programs. Specifically, she is interested in the intersections of devolved policy authority and racial inequity in the policy process. Her dissertation research investigated state-level discretionary decision-making in the administration of SNAP and racial inequity in the receipt of benefits for able-bodied adults without dependents. Jennifer also holds a Master of Social Work degree and is engaged in diversity, equity, and inclusion work for various non-profit organizations. In 2021–2022, Jennifer also worked as an Equity Fellow in the Office of Evaluation Sciences in the U.S. General Services Administration (OES). She assisted OES with defining the core elements of an equity-focused evaluation that included promoting awareness of processes for defining, measuring, evaluating, and communicating about equity among governmental partners. Daniels is mentored by IRP Affiliate J. Michael Collins and Erica Meade, Senior Policy Manager in the New Practice Lab at New America.