Carsey Policy Hour

Jess Carson, Director of the Center for Social Policy in Practice and a Research Assistant Professor at the University of New Hampshire’s Carsey School of Public Policy

Jess Carson studies how policy affects people, focusing on how legislative and administrative decisions shape access to resources available through work, the social safety net, and community settings. She has particular interest in the structural issues surrounding access to early childhood care and education, the multi-dimensional nature of food access, and in measuring how policy and program effects vary within and across rural places. Jess’s work is applied in nature, and she is passionate about helping nonprofit partners get the data they need to continue their good work. She has a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of New Hampshire and has lived in the Granite State every minute of her life.

Evan England, Research Assistant Professor for the Center for Social Policy in Practice at the University of New Hampshire’s Carsey School of Public Policy

Evan England joined the Carsey School in 2024 after completing their Ph.D. in sociology. With their focus on social inequality and health equity, Evan has developed relationships with many local, statewide, and regional partners to evaluate and improve access to and experiences within health care and in broader New Hampshire communities. Also, in addition to completing their undergraduate and graduate studies at UNH, they served the UNH Institute on Disability as Program Coordinator and Evaluator for the NH Disability and Health Program, and they have experience as a health care administrator. Evan enjoys exploring both the woodland areas near their home in Rollinsford, New Hampshire and the natural beauty of the seacoast.