The Clark-Fox Policy Institute is proud to announce that Anna Shabsin and Dan Ferris have been named Senior Advisors to the Clark-Fox Policy Institute. Anna and Dan have already made many contributions to the institute, most notably serving as faculty advisors to the Graduate Policy Scholars Program.
As Assistant Dean of the Master of Social Policy Program, Anna has been instrumental in designing robust programming for students to connect policy and practice. “I have long admired the Institute’s efforts to enhance the policy impact of the school’s educational offerings and am excited to partner to align the work of the Institute with the Brown’ School’s policy priorities,” said Shabsin.
Through his work on food insecurity and data for social impact, Dan has translated multiple policy research projects into practice and vice versa. “The institute fills a critical need centering community voice within academia. I’m excited to amplify the innovation and leadership of community partners across research, policy, and practice in St. Louis and nationally,” Ferris said.
Dan and Anna’s broad experience in teaching, research, and continued commitment to policy practice will be invaluable assets as the institute expands its efforts to provide high-quality policy learning experiences and training to Brown School students and promote policy solutions to enhance child well-being.
Anna Shabsin
A passionate educator, Anna has received the Brown School’s Excellence in Teaching Award twice, serves as Assistant Dean of the Master of Social Policy Program, oversees the university’s dual-degree JD/MSW program, and serves as a faculty advisor for both MSW students and joint JD/MSW students. She is dedicated to understanding privilege and oppression and their interplay with politics, advocacy and policy. She also teaches classes in law and policy in Washington University’s Prison Education Project.
Dan Ferris
As the inaugural assistant dean for policy initiatives at the Brown School, Dan expanded the Master of Social Policy Dual-Degree program supported student-learning opportunities such as the Cigna Foundation fellowship in grantmaking. In his role as Associate Director of Training and Education at the Social Policy Institute, Dan leads the Data for Social Impact Initiative, a JPMorgan Chase Foundation-supported doctoral scholars program, and additional policy teaching and training initiatives. He is committed to research, programs, and policies that address disparities and inequities, particularly surrounding food insecurity in St. Louis and beyond.