Jennifer Tamargo Leschitz is a senior policy analyst at RAND. She has a solid background in early childhood development, early childhood assessments, K-12 settings, qualitative data collection and analysis, planning and managing research projects, and training field staff. Her recent work includes an evaluation of the Partnerships for Social and Emotional Learning Initiative (PSELI), development of school safety tools for K–12 schools and districts, and a study on behavioral threat assessment and management in higher education settings. In prior years she contributed to evaluations of quality rating and improvement systems for early learning programs and effectiveness of voluntary summer programs. Her research interests broadly include the influence of cognitive and social factors on children's learning and the implications of these relationships for education and intervention programs targeting at-risk populations. She trained formally in social science methodology and program evaluation. Leschitz earned her Ph.D. in psychology with a developmental focus from the University of Florida.
Ph.D. in psychology (developmental), University of Florida
