Perri Leviss

I am currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs in the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. I went back to school to get my PhD so that I could teach, further my commitment to underrepresented youth, and help young people create social change in their communities. I believe that I can contribute to the field by focusing on public policies that support positive pathways to adulthood for low-income emerging adults, emerging adults of color, and opportunity youth. I have spent my career in public sector planning and policy development in the areas of public health, public education, community service/civic engagement, and social services. I also maintained my own strategic planning and management consulting practice serving governments, non-profits and universities throughout New York and New England until returning to school for my PhD in 2012. I have served on the boards of youth leadership organizations and jewish philanthropies and have authored journal articles and textbook chapters.

I have a BA from Tufts University and a MPP from the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy. Most importantly, I am a mom of two young adult daughters who remind me about the amazing power of young people and the importance of having adults available to support their individual and collective journeys.

October 2017