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Elise Gurney is a PhD student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, specializing in Human Development & Family Studies. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Carleton College. Prior to her PhD program, Gurney spent a decade managing mixed methods research across corporate, nonprofit, and academic settings. Her notable roles included serving as the director of a market research firm, where she managed a team of 10 researchers and a $10 million portfolio, and overseeing a research lab focused on substance use disorder at the University of Kentucky. Gurney has experience working with state policymakers to enhance disability employment policies and programs within the public policy nonprofit sector. Additionally, she contributed to community education on environmental food security as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi. Her research interests center on the interplay between child, family, and contextual factors, particularly regarding child anxiety and the development of prevention and intervention strategies. Gurney has been awarded the competitive Kemper Knapp Graduate School Fellowship to support her graduate studies.
Department: Department of Computer Sciences