Elan C. Hope, PhD

Elan C. Hope, PhD, is the Vice President for Research and Evaluation at Policy Research Associates. Dr. Hope develops and provides oversight on research and evaluation projects and uses her area’s scientific findings to inform and strengthen PRA’s technical assistance efforts. Dr. Hope has research expertise in adolescent development and mental health; the psychological study of race, racism, and racial justice; and youth civic engagement and activism.

Dr. Hope is an award-winning author of over 70 scholarly publications that explore how young people challenge oppression and create positive change in their communities. Dr. Hope uses qualitative and quantitative methods to examine individual and structural factors related to behavioral health and well-being. Dr. Hope is also the Editor of the Journal of Adolescent Research. Before joining PRA, Dr. Hope was an associate professor of psychology and a university scholar at NC State University. In her roles, Dr. Hope has led numerous federal and foundation-funded research studies and community-led evaluation projects, focusing on the experiences of children and families from marginalized communities.

Dr. Hope is from Prince George’s County, Maryland. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Smith College and her Ph.D. in Education and Psychology from the University of Michigan. Following graduate school, Dr. Hope completed a post-doctoral fellowship (sponsored by the William T. Grant Foundation) in Comparative Human Development at the University of Chicago.