Leah Awkward-Rich

Leah Awkward-Rich (she/her) is a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She graduated with a PhD from the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work at UW-Madison in 2024. Leah’s research uses quantitative methods to examine equitable access to early childhood education in the United States, particularly for marginalized children and families. She is interested in identifying how policies and programs can support a high-quality early education system that facilitates young children’s development and fosters families’ wellbeing.