San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center Adds Four Economic Researchers

Research Team Grows with New Chief Economist, Director of Research, Economist and Economic Analyst

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 16, 2023) – A San Diego nonprofit organization dedicated to helping solve the region’s biggest problems through equity-centered research, policy analysis and collaboration-building among regional leaders and stakeholders, the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center (PIC), announced four additions to its interdisciplinary team of research scientists including Daniel Enemark, chief economist; Karen Boyd, economist and director of research; Alicia L. Jurek, economist; and Gabriela Gonzalez, economic analyst.

“Adding Daniel and his research team to the expertise offered by our partner Joseph Kane from Brookings Metro brings one of the strongest collectives of workforce researchers in the country to PIC,” said President and CEO Susan Guinn. "This talented crew are experts in their field and are already helping us develop and implement effective policies, conduct applied research, and pursue regional pilot programs that will improve the quality of life for all San Diegans."

Daniel Enemark heads PIC’s research team as chief economist and is a leading voice advocating for a more equitable labor market in San Diego. He brings 15 years of experience as an academic, consultant and executive. Enemark has published peer-reviewed scholarship on policy analysis, behavioral economic and econometrics, including in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, and taught these subjects to Ph.D. students at the University of California, San Diego and the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.

In his community, Enemark has served as a math tutor for refugee students at Crawford High, as an alternative caregiver for foster youth, and has provided pro bono consulting for nonprofits. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego.

Karen Boyd is an economist and director of research at PIC, responsible for developing and sharing actionable, equity-focused research. Her work has appeared in many academic publications, and she has been invited to numerous talks and panels.

Boyd earned her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park with her dissertation, “Understanding and Intervening in Machine Learning Ethics: Supporting Ethical Sensitivity in Training Data Curation.” She received a Master of Business Administration from the Rady School of Management at the University of California, San Diego and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University

As an economist for PIC, Alicia L. Jurek uses her expertise in research design, quantitative data analysis, and data visualization to develop and implement research-driven solutions to address San Diego’s most pressing challenges. With eight peer-reviewed papers and 11 non-refereed publications, Jurek provides contextual awareness and actionable insight to complex problems.

Jurek obtained her Ph.D. and master’s degree in criminal justice and criminology and her bachelor’s in criminal justice all from Sam Houston State University. Throughout her academic career, she garnered over 20 awards and scholarships.

Gabriela Gonzalez serves as an economic analyst for PIC. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Gonzalez is an accomplished data analyst with additional skills in survey distribution and report writing.

Gonzalez graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in economics. While in college, she mentored younger transfer college students and developed educational resources designed to improve the college transfer experience.

Since launching in August 2021, PIC has been on a mission to break down silos and build strong working relationships among San Diego’s regional leaders, government agencies, municipalities, and other community stakeholders. By doing so, PIC cultivates cross-sector, multi-jurisdictional collaborations focused on developing effective, research-informed solutions to key issues in the region and securing the federal and state funding needed to implement those solutions.

To learn more, visit sdrpic.org.

About the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center
The San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center (PIC) is a partnership between San Diego Foundation, the County of San Diego, and the world’s leading think tank – The Brookings Institution – to conduct research and policy analysis and help solve the region’s biggest problems. Over the next few years, PIC will continue building strong and diverse partnerships among the leaders of the region; use equity-centered research to identify the region’s biggest needs and best opportunities for change; secure funding for future solutions; challenge systemic inequities; and develop a pipeline of potential projects and pilots that improve the lives of all San Diegans. For more information, visit sdrpic.org.

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