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The Clark-Fox Policy Institute, housed at the WashU Brown School, has selected three Brown School faculty members for its 2026–27 Senior Policy Fellows cohort: Theresa Anasti, Yung Chun, and Saras Chung.
The Senior Policy Fellows Initiative supports faculty in translating research into actionable policy recommendations, strengthening connections with policymakers and community partners, and advancing conversations around pressing social challenges. Through the fellowship, faculty work closely with the institute to identify opportunities for their research to inform policy and practice.
This year’s fellows will focus on three critical policy areas: survivor-centered services for sex trafficking survivors, housing as a strategy for gun violence prevention, and youth mental health prevention.
Meet the 2026–27 Senior Policy Fellows
Theresa Anasti | Assistant Professor | Survivor-Centered Services for Sex Trafficking Survivors
Anasti’s project will explore how policies and service delivery systems can better support survivors of sex trafficking who experience substance use challenges. Her work will examine opportunities to strengthen trauma-informed care, expand peer navigation services, and reduce reliance on law enforcement as a pathway to accessing support. The project aims to identify policy and practice recommendations that improve access to survivor-centered services and address barriers to care.
Yung Chun | Research Assistant Professor | Housing as Violence Prevention
Chun will investigate how housing and neighborhood investment policies can contribute to gun violence prevention. His project will explore how public funding decisions can better support long-term community well-being, particularly by connecting housing redevelopment with sustained investments in community-based services. The work will inform policy discussions about the role of housing stability and neighborhood investment in creating safer communities.
Saras Chung | Research Associate Professor | Youth Mental Health Prevention
Chung’s project will focus on expanding access to affordable, evidence-based mental health interventions for middle school students in Missouri. With an emphasis on early prevention of anxiety and depression, her work will explore how schools can strengthen their capacity to support youth mental health and identify policy opportunities to make effective prevention strategies more accessible and sustainable.
For Chung, the fellowship represents an opportunity to build on her experience connecting research and practice while strengthening the role of policy in creating lasting change.
“Bridging research and practice and back has been central to my work with young people in schools. Through this experience, however, I’ve come to recognize the critical role policy plays in driving meaningful, systems-level change,” Chung said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to deepen my understanding and expand practice and research-informed policy through the expertise, guidance, and mentorship this fellowship provides.”
Connecting Research, Policy, and Practice
Throughout the 2026–27 academic year, each fellow will collaborate with the Clark-Fox Policy Institute to develop an evidence-informed policy brief that translates research findings into accessible, actionable recommendations. Fellows will also engage with policymakers, practitioners, and community partners to strengthen connections between academic research and real-world policy challenges.
As part of the initiative, each fellow will host a convening event bringing together researchers, policy leaders, practitioners, and community members to explore their respective policy areas and identify opportunities for action.
The Senior Policy Fellows Initiative reflects the Clark-Fox Policy Institute’s commitment to bridging research, policy, and community voice to advance policies that improve the well-being of children, families, and communities.