Saul I. Stern Professor of Civic Engagement Shanna Pearson-Merkowitz was recently confirmed by the Maryland Senate as a member of the Maryland Commission for Women.
The Commission works with the Maryland state government to expand social, political and economic opportunities for all women, aiming for full equality across these sectors. It is tasked with studying the status of women in the state, addressing critical issues, recommending strategies to overcome discrimination, recognizing women's achievements and advising the government on women’s concerns.
Pearson-Merkowitz specializes in policy analysis, job training and unemployment policy, open space preservation, housing policy and social policy. She is committed to helping governments learn from their constituents about their lived experiences, concerns and priorities. She also has worked on projects with state governments to measure the impact of social programs through randomized controlled trials, historical empirical data analysis and qualitative data collection. Her work with state and local governments has helped improve programs addressing family leave, unemployment, after school programs and other important social supports. Her appointment brings research and public policy analysis experience to the Commission’s mission of fostering equity for Maryland women.