Dr. Neda Senehi is PPA’s newest senior research associate with extensive research experience in early childhood development and mental and behavioral health. She began her career in clinical psychology, working directly with children and families facing adversity, and later transitioned into applied developmental science and policy research. Dr. Senehi has worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood. She has held prestigious fellowships with the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) and the National Institute of Mental Health. She also contributes to national research consortia including the Network of Infant and Toddler Researchers and the Tribal Early Childhood Research Center.
How did you become interested in public policy?
I have always been curious about what makes us resilient, and through my undergraduate and master’s program, I realized how early relationships shape long-term mental and physical health. So, I pursued my Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University, where I became increasingly interested in understanding how systemic structures in education, health, and economic policy shape child and family trajectories.
During my doctoral and postdoctoral training, I saw firsthand how policies in early care and education, mental health, and prevention services either reinforce or disrupt generational health disparities in populations experiencing elevated stress. My interest deepened during my SRCD federal policy fellowship at the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, where I worked with federal, state, and local research partners to bridge developmental research, practice, and policy and to improve the lives of children and families.
What policy areas are you most interested in?
I am most passionate about policies that impact very young children, parents, families, and the early care and education workforce that support them, including Head Start, child care, child welfare, prevention services, and home visiting. Particularly, I focus on improving equal access to and benefit from services for populations navigating complex and co-occurring adversities such as early adverse childhood experiences, mental health challenges, and socioeconomic stress. I am interested in how policies center the voices of under-resourced communities particularly in American Indian Alaska Native and Hispanic populations.
How would you describe the kind of research you do?
I conduct mixed-methods research and evaluation with a strong focus on strength-based prevention and community-engaged approaches. My work ranges from secondary data analysis and psychometric evaluation to multi-level modeling and intensive time series analysis. Most of my work is embedded within programs, state systems, or federal initiatives. I always aim to produce research that is both rigorous and actionable so that it can inform policy, improve service delivery, and ultimately benefit all children and families.
How does the research you do ultimately improve the lives of children and families?
I believe research improves lives when it is deeply responsive to the needs, strengths, and lived realities of children, families, and communities. My work is grounded in the principle that those most affected by systems should shape how we evaluate and improve them. Whether we are studying parenting interventions, evaluating early childhood mental health consultation, or assessing access and quality of early care and education, I focus on what works for whom, why, how, and under what conditions. I see children, families, and the early care and education workforce as important partners, not just participants, in this process.
Where are you based?
I live in Denver and work with multidisciplinary teams and partners across the country. Working remotely allows me to stay grounded in the places and communities I care about while collaborating with partners across academic, nonprofit, state, federal, and tribal contexts.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Nature is my medicine. I enjoy taking long walks in nature near trees and animals. I love hiking and exploring Colorado’s incredible natural beauty. I also enjoy traveling solo to different parts of the world. I think it is the best way to evolve into new versions of myself. Cooking is a big part of my life, too. I grew up in a big Persian family where cooking and food were sources of love, connection, joy, pride, and creativity for my family. Cooking centers me and helps me stay connected to my roots and the people I care about.