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Jennifer Zwicker
Associate Member (Researcher)
Biography
Dr. Jennifer Zwicker is Director of Social Policy and Health at the School of Public Policy and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. She holds a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Disability Policy for Children and Youth and serves as Chief Scientist for the Kids Brain Health Network.
Her research program evaluates interventions and informs policy related to the allocation of funding, services, and supports for children and youth with disabilities and their families. Central to her work is strong collaboration with stakeholders and governments, enabling the translation of peer-reviewed research into policy papers, op-eds, and briefing notes for provincial and federal ministries and Senate committees.
Dr. Zwicker's research has informed national initiatives, including the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences National Autism Strategy Working Group and the Royal Society of Canada Expert Working Group on disability-inclusive policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been recognized for her policy leadership as an Action Canada alumna, Governor General Leadership Forum participant, Canada's Top 40 Under 40 recipient, and Killam Emerging Scholar.
Area of Focus
Disability policy, Child and youth disability, Social and health policy, Autism and neurodevelopment, Disability-inclusive policy, Policy evaluation, Funding and service allocation, Evidence-informed policymaking, Knowledge translation, Government and stakeholder engagement