Aparna Stephen

Background

About Aparna Stephen

I'm a Master's in Public Policy candidate at UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP) interested in social welfare policy, health policy and economic justice and mobility. As a graduate student, I work with UC Berkeley's Possibility Lab on program evaluations, mixed-methods research and community-engaged research for state government departments and other Bay Area funders. I'm currently a Consultant at ReWork the Bay, conducting a landscape analysis of philanthropic funding for worker-centered coalitions, engaging with major funders and coalitions to identify funding gaps and challenges. Previously, I consulted for the Skyline Foundation, analyzing the legislative and regulatory landscape for free-standing birthing centers and midwifery integration in the U.S. My work has also included developing an evaluation plan for MediCal’s Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver program to assess its impact on health service utilization. Before Berkeley, I spent over four years in Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation (MLE), working on research studies for international aid agencies and multilateral donors. I specialized in mixed-methods research, impact and process evaluations, and portfolio assessments across social protection, health, education, and WaSH sectors. My work, spanning India, Nepal, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Bangladesh, focused on marginalized populations, particularly women and girls. Beyond research, I bring expertise in project management, stakeholder engagement, and business development. I have managed cross-functional teams, coordinated with government and community based partners, and contributed to securing funding through proposals. My formal training in economics and extensive experience in program evaluation, mixed-methods research, and policy analysis enables me to approach complex policy and programmatic challenges with an evidence-based approach to enhance economic justice and social equity.