Robert Santillano, PhD

I am a policy scholar with a passion for improving policies/services using actionable research. My motivation stems from lived experience with many of the policies I study. 

My full CV is here.

Professional Background

• Research Director/Senior Researcher at the California Policy Lab at UCLA (4 years)

• Research Economist at Mathematica (10 years)

These rewarding positions taught me the value of partner-focused research. My current goal is to bring research even closer to partners, helping to strategically align evidence-based decision making with your mission.

Areas of focus

I specialize in quantitative research that uses administrative and existing survey data. My work centers on two key goals:

1. Program Effectiveness/Improvement: Designing and implementing research strategies to measure the effectiveness and enhancements of social service programs.

2. Equity Advancement: Measuring access across different populations and identifying barriers or policies that increase or decrease access.

I specialize in projects involving:

• Policy impact analysis

• Program evaluation

• Data-driven decision making

• Equity audits and assessments

Personal Background

• Mexican-American, born and raised in Sacramento, CA

• B.A., Math from Pomona College (first-gen graduate)

• Ph.D., Agricultural and Resource Economics (applied economics) from UC Berkeley

• Currently based in the greater Los Angeles area

• Enjoy volunteering at my son's elementary school and coaching his soccer team while I still can!