Richard Hendra

Hendra directs the Center for Data Insights, which uses rigorous data science methods to improve programs that serve populations in need. During his tenure at MDRC, Hendra has led quantitative research on a range of projects focused on upward mobility. He is currently the project director for the TANF Data Innovation initiative, a national technical assistance project that supports maximizing effective use of TANF and other administrative data to help agencies make more informed decisions about how to best serve their clients. Hendra is also the principal investigator or senior advisor on several evaluations and data science projects focused on employment, housing, training, financial inclusion, and substance abuse issues. Hendra has a Ph.D. in public and urban policy and has over two decades of experience teaching statistics and research methods at the graduate level. He has worked on national preparedness training initiatives and held data analytics positions in multiple sectors. He has served on several expert, curriculum, and dissertation committees and has been a reviewer for several foundations, conferences, and academic journals.