This program invites students to engage with graduates of the Child Policy Research Certificate as they reflect on the journeys that have shaped their professional lives since leaving Duke. Through a lively moderated panel, alumni will share how they chose their career or graduate school paths, what excites them most about their current work, and what challenges they have navigated along the way. Students are encouraged to ask questions and seek guidance from the panelists about potential careers, steps to get there, recommendations for graduate programs or internships, and other considerations as they plan their next steps. The conversation will also highlight the skills and perspectives gained from the certificate program that continue to support alumni in their work. Following the panel, students will join informal breakout rooms for open Q&A, offering space for candid conversation, practical advice, and meaningful connection around careers in child and family policy.
Moderated by Katie Rosanbalm, this session will introduce you to panelists Jenn Acosta, Jillian Caukin, Meredith Davin, Chloe Golfinos, and Tara Vigil, who will share their professional journeys and offer insights into the skills, experiences, and decisions that shaped their paths. Following the moderated discussion, students will have the chance to ask questions directly and participate in breakout rooms for more personalized conversation.
Whether you’re just beginning to explore the field or actively planning your next steps, this event provides a valuable opportunity to learn from alumni and envision your own future in child and family policy.
Speakers
Jenn Acosta is an analyst at Mathematica with over 10 years of experience conducting mixed-methods social policy research focused on early childhood, education, and economic self-sufficiency. Her portfolio includes work with federal, state, and local clients such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Harlem Children’s Zone, and the Ballmer Group, among others. She currently works on projects focused on strengthening the early educator pipeline in Massachusetts, understanding mental and behavioral health supports in Head Start, and developing a measurement framework for teacher thriving. Jenn graduated from Duke with majors in Psychology and Global Cultural Studies and a Certificate in Child and Family Policy, and holds an Ed.M. in Human Development and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she graduated as a Saul Zaentz Early Education Fellow. A first-generation college graduate, she is passionate about advancing more equitable early education systems.
Jill Caukin graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2015 as a Robertson scholar, with her Child Policy Research certificate from Duke. In her four yeas as an undergraduate, Jill completed her research on the hospital-to-school transition for children with chronic medical conditions under Ann Skinner, PhD, who became a mentor (and friend) well past her undergraduate career. After graduating, Jill worked in Finance, focusing on health systems and the public sector, and at Duke’s Center for Child and Family Policy on the Parenting Across Cultures and Incredible Years programs before finding her passion in the health technology world. She has worked for startups and large companies on programs and technologies that improve patient experiences and advocate for the appropriate and required financial responsibility of insurance companies to health systems and patients. Jill now lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and two wonderful dogs.
Meredith Davin is an MBA Candidate at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management a proud alum of Duke’s Child Policy Research Certificate. After earning her B.A. in Public Policy Studies in 2017, she joined the FBI’s internal strategy office, supporting organizational transformation initiatives. She later served at the White House National Security Council in the Biden Administration, working across cyber and counternarcotics portfolios. Most recently, she consulted for the startup nonprofit Miles for Military, which funds travel for junior U.S. service members to return home for the holidays. Her career is rooted in a commitment to public service, human-centered policy, and building resilient organizations.
Chloe Golfinos currently serves as the Director of Operations at Uncommon Charter High School in Brooklyn, New York. After obtaining her undergraduate degree in Political Science and Psychology at Duke University, she was a Teach for America corps member in Newark, New Jersey, where she taught 6th grade ELA and attended the Relay Graduate School of Education. After teaching, Chloe joined Uncommon Schools in the Network Office where she supported the development of Principals and Deans of Students. Chloe later received a master’s degree in Education Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education before pivoting to school-based operations.
Tara Vigil (she/her) is a doctoral student in the School Psychology program at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Duke University with a minor in education and certificate in child policy research. Prior to joining the program at UMD, Tara worked as a Public Health Research Analyst at RTI International and as a Clinical Research Project Manager in the Center for Management of ADHD at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). While at RTI International, Tara contributed to public health research focused on improving healthcare access through community-based initiatives addressing social determinants of health. At CHOP, Tara coordinated school-based randomized controlled trials aimed at enhancing social, behavioral, and academic outcomes for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and related challenges. Tara’s primary research interests focus on school-based interventions that support students with behavioral and learning difficulties. She is particularly motivated to expand access to evidence-based practices for students, teachers, and caregivers. Tara is also interested in studying family-school partnerships, school climate, and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS).