Crystal Jackson, EDC senior research scientist, is a nonprofit professional with over 20 years of experience in program development and leadership, research, and evaluation. She focuses on developing community-centered strategies that can improve education, health, and economic outcomes. She brings extensive experience in quantitative and qualitative research, community engagement, effective evaluation design, grant management, and training and technical assistance.

Jackson contributes her expertise in youth and emerging adult development, research and evaluation, and program leadership to strategic studies and initiatives across EDC’s U.S. Division. Currently, she serves as the evaluation consultant for EDC’s Home Visiting Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network.

Previously, Jackson was the director of the executive office at The Chicago Community Trust, a program officer for Get In Chicago, and an adjunct professor at Loyola University. She is a board director for the Center for Impact Research.

Jackson holds a PhD in Sociology from Loyola University and an MA in Clinical Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development from the University of Detroit-Mercy.