Research Program Coordinator at IWPR

Name:
Mary Sykes

Graduation Year:
2014

Education:
M.A. in Sociology

Current Job:
Research Program Coordinator at the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR)

After graduating with my Master's of Arts in Sociology from The Catholic University of America in May 2014, I went on to pursue a career in research and public policy. In June 2015, I was hired as the research program coordinator at the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), a research and policy think tank focusing on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of public policy through a gendered lens. IWPR’s research focuses on various women’s economic issues such as the gender wage gap, paid family leave, nontraditional students and job training, retirement security, and poverty. IWPR’s research informs policy and programmatic priorities, inspires change, and improves women’s lives.

As the research program coordinator, my main responsibilities are to provide research and administrative assistance to IWPR’s vice president and executive director, coordinate the internship and fellowship program, oversee the functionality and day-to-day activities of IWPR’s research program, and serve as a researcher on our Student Parent Success Initiative. In my first six months as research program coordinator, I have provided technical assistance to community colleges across the nation to help expand student parent’s access to child care, performed research and contributed to various IWPR written materials, created data visualizations, prepped presentations, and served as the intern/fellow liaison.

The education and training gained from my master's courses at CUA prepared me for my professional career in research, and I couldn’t have asked for a better fit.