Lilly Yu

I am an applied social scientist, policy researcher, program evaluator, and socio-legal scholar with over a decade of experience conducting research on the social impacts of law, policy, and program implementation. 

Most recently, I was a researcher in RTI International's Victimization and Response program, where I led and supported studies on legal system- and community-based responses to gender-based and interpersonal violence. I conducted research on a range of topics, including school safety and school-based violence prevention efforts, preventing and responding to human trafficking and labor exploitation, and hospital-based treatment of gun violence-related trauma. I enjoyed collaborating with nonprofits, policy advocates, government actors, funders, survivors, and other impacted people across my work and helping external audiences use research findings for their organizational goals.

I completed my PhD in sociology & social policy, a joint degree program between the Harvard University Kennedy School and the Department of Sociology. My dissertation examined access to legal representation for immigrants seeking humanitarian or victimization-based legal relief in two metropolitan areas and the impacts of immigration policy change on their attorneys. This work informs my interests in the impact of citizenship status, migration history, and English proficiency on people's ability to seek healing, safety, and justice once in the United States.

Previously, I was a researcher in the Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center. I graduated from Rice University with a BA in sociology and a minor in the Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities program. I currently live in Washington, DC.