Virginia Knox has been President of MDRC since October 2019. As President, she has focused on how MDRC research and technical assistance can apply data, emerging technologies, and attention to the needs of program partners and participants to raise the effectiveness and efficiency of organizations and systems. This means learning what works to help people achieve their aspirations and then working with policymakers, administrators, and on-the-ground practitioners to use that information in their specific settings.
Prior to being named president, Knox served as vice president and as leader of the organization’s Families and Children Policy Area. She brings 25 years of leadership in developing, evaluating, and improving social programs and contributing to new directions in research that can strengthen data-driven policymaking. Throughout her career, Knox has designed evaluations that address questions of central interest to policymakers and practitioners and provide them with actionable conclusions. Her work has focused on multiple avenues to help low-income parents support their children's development.
The author of numerous reports and papers, Knox has a doctorate in public policy from Harvard University.