Dr. Patricia Foxen

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Director of Community Research

Dr. Foxen is an accomplished researcher and anthropologist, bringing extensive experience from academic, policy, and program environments. Her expertise spans various areas, including immigrant and refugee well-being, Latino youth and families, culture and mental health, youth justice, Indigenous communities, and Central American migrations.

Having served as the Deputy Director of Research at UnidosUS for 14 years, Dr. Foxen oversaw policy-oriented research and contributed significantly to the well-being of Latino children and families. Her anthropological research, focusing on the generational impact of violence and displacement on Indigenous migrants from Guatemala to the U.S., has resulted in influential publications, including the book "In Search of Providence: Transnational Mayan Identities."

In addition to her academic achievements, Dr. Foxen has taught Medical and Cultural Anthropology at prestigious institutions such as Vanderbilt University and the University of Toronto. Her dedication to public service is evident through her work on various boards and advisory bodies, including the Population Reference Bureau, Child Trends Hispanic Institute Advisory Council, the Guatemala Human Rights Commission, and the Alianza for Latino Youth Justice.

Dr. Foxen holds a doctoral degree in Anthropology and a master’s degree in Medical Anthropology from McGill University, a Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Bryn Mawr College.