Crystal Thomas

Crystal Thomas is a Director of Research Strategy and Policy. Before joining CPRL, Crystal was a Lecturer of Education and the Director of Graduate Affairs in the Education Department at Brown University. As a qualitative researcher, her work focuses on community-engaged and evidence-informed research and practice. As the Project Director for Brown’s Providence Talks research team, she spearheaded an assessment of a citywide intervention designed to improve the home auditory environments of pre-verbal toddlers across the city. As a former member of UCLA’s Spatial Analysis Lab, she also utilizes geographic information systems and spatial analysis to illuminate regional trends and map access to services. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in social welfare and a B.A. in international development from UCLA.