Grace Michel

As a doctoral candidate in Public Policy (Economics Track) at Harvard University, Grace Michel’s dissertation research explores how trauma, inequality, and social sanctioning shape education and labor market outcomes in low-income settings. Through field experiments in Kenya and Zimbabwe, her work examines how social pressures can either suppress or strengthen human flourishing. Grace’s research builds toward a vision of labor markets and educational systems that not only promote economic growth, but also honor dignity and resilience in vulnerable communities.

Grace’s long-term goal is to produce research that directly informs policies aimed at reducing poverty and promoting opportunity. Her commitment to this aim deepened through her work as a Staff Economist at the Council of Economic Advisers and as a Pre-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Chicago, where she saw how empirical research can be powerful but often fails to reach policymakers without intentional collaboration. Through her career, Grace hopes to bridge that gap—conducting policy-relevant research that equips governments and organizations to design more effective, human-centered solutions.

Grace earned her B.A. in Economics and Global Development Studies from the University of Virginia, graduating with highest distinction and Phi Beta Kappa honors. After completing her Ph.D., she plans to continue partnering with policy institutions like the World Bank to translate research into action, focusing on initiatives that foster dignity, resilience, and human flourishing in contexts of extreme inequality.