Alison Cook-Davis is the research director at Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy, a statewide leader for independent, consequential public policy research and knowledge exchange. In her role, she has led research and evaluation projects that inform understanding of policy issues facing Arizona. Key areas of focus include housing affordability, housing access and support of vulnerable populations, factors that impact educator retention, and impact evaluation of services provided for women’s self-sufficiency, provided by Fresh Start Women’s Foundation.
In October 2023, Morrison Institute became the ASU home of the Arizona Research Center for Housing Equity and Sustainability (ARCHES), and Dr. Cook-Davis assumed the co-director role with her University of Arizona partner, Kenny Wong, Drachman Institute. The HUD-funded Center of Excellence focuses on housing research that is place-based and solution-oriented to provide options and inform challenges of housing access, climate-adaptation, and health impacting Hispanic and other underserved communities within Arizona the southwest. ARCHES is a collaboration of ASU, U of A, NAU, and University of New Mexico along with community partners and stakeholders to inform the housing challenges faced by the state and the region.