Jessica Santos (she/her/hers) is the Director of the Leah Zallman Center for Immigrant Health Research at the Institute for Community Health. In this role, she develops and oversees mixed methods studies in partnership with policymakers, community-based organizations, and healthcare systems to advance the wellbeing of immigrants and eradicate inequities in health and the social determinants of health. She also works with community partners to translate the findings of research into real-time policy solutions. Jessica is passionate about co-developing and testing participatory research methods that produce new relationships, power dynamics, and opportunities for social change in addition to rigorous findings. Before coming to ICH, Jessica was the Director of Community-Engaged Research at the Institute for Economic and Racial Equity at Brandeis University, where she led studies on racial and ethnic wealth and health outcomes, Empowerment Economics and community assets, and pathways for immigrant integration and wellbeing.
Jessica holds a PhD in Social Policy from Brandeis University, a MA in Sustainable Development from the School for International Training, and a BA in International Studies from Middlebury College. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her son, exploring New England and beyond, and spending time in nature in all seasons.