Samantha Luciani

Samantha helps develop and manage research agendas and research investments that use social science methods to advance social policy reform. She is committed to the use of data-driven research to inform policymakers’ decisions and promote effective public policy. She provides technical expertise to grantees and Arnold Ventures teams to ensure research adherence to Arnold Ventures’ rigorous standards of quality and transparency.

Before joining Arnold Ventures, Samantha led research at American University examining the impact of specific federal and local policies on vulnerable populations’ mental health. She has significant expertise with quantitative research methodologies, quasi-experimental methods, policy evaluation, and translating research evidence into policy and practice. Prior to this work, Samantha co-founded a non-profit that used grassroots organizing to develop an international network of women in recovery from eating disorders, helped develop a novel model of household wealth for the Congressional Budget Office, managed clinical trials for a women's health-focused medical device company, and led women’s and girls' rock-climbing courses as a mountain guide in Colorado.

Samantha holds a Ph.D. in public policy from American University’s School of Public Affairs, as well as a master’s in public health from the University of Colorado, and a bachelor’s degree in bioethics from Indiana University.