Cecilia Salazar

Education: BS in Public Policy from Rutgers University; Masters in Public Policy with a specialization in Social Policy from Rutgers University

Recent Projects include: Seattle Foundation

Personal Interests: Dance choreographies, sudoku puzzles, k-dramas, podcasts, and innovative, evidence-based pilot programs addressing poverty and inequality

Cecilia is a public policy researcher dedicated to using data-driven analysis to promote safety net programs that effectively reduce child poverty. With experience spanning federal government, state policy offices, and nonprofit organizations, Cecilia brings expertise in mixed-methods research, program evaluation, and strategic policy analysis.

Her work has focused on safety net programs including SNAP and TANF, workforce development, diversion programs, and community interventions. She has served as an Economic Mobility Fellow at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, supporting interagency research coordination for the Children's Interagency Coordinating Council, advancing federal priorities around child well-being and poverty reduction. Prior to her federal fellowship, Cecilia spent almost three years at New York Cares, where she designed and led program evaluations, developed logic models, and conducted needs assessments, including rapid response research during COVID-19 to expand food security partnerships across NYC. She is a 2018 Fulbright grantee to Mexico, and a 2024 Presidential Management Fellow Finalist.

Fluent in Spanish and proficient in STATA, R, and Python, Cecilia is committed to conducting research that uplifts community voices, advances economic mobility for children and families living in poverty, and translates evidence into meaningful, strategic action.