Program: Policy & Innovation Center
Alicia L. Jurek, Ph.D.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | 12:00 PM
New Location: Westgate Hotel
1055 Second Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Complimentary parking provided
Join us each month at the stunning Westgate Hotel for a delicious buffet lunch, great company, and engaging programs featuring local leaders, organizations, and community impact.
Come connect, get inspired, and see Kiwanis in action!
October Program
The Policy & Innovation Center (“PIC”) is a San Diego-based 501c3 launched in 2021 by founding partners including the San Diego Foundation, the County of San Diego, and the Brookings Institute (the world’s leading think tank). The PIC conducts research, convenes stakeholders, recommends policy, and brings resources to communities to solve complex challenges including inequitable economic mobility.
Alicia L. Jurek, Ph.D.
Director of Research: Policy & Innovation Center
Alicia obtained her Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. degrees in criminal justice & criminology from Sam Houston State University.
I am Director of Research at the Policy & Innovation Center (PIC), where I lead applied research that helps regional leaders decide where to invest, what to change, and who benefits. My work connects data to policy decisions across workforce development, education, economic equity, climate planning, and public systems. I collaborate closely with governments, foundations, and civic organizations to translate complex analysis into clear, actionable guidance.
I bring more than a decade of experience across policy research, government partnerships, and academia, including prior roles at the San Diego Workforce Partnership and on federally funded research teams. My research examines how institutions and policy design shape equity and outcomes, particularly in public-sector systems, and has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and public reports used by decision-makers throughout the region. I hold a PhD in Criminal Justice and Criminology and am committed to research that improves public decision-making and expands access and opportunity.
