Phelan Mahoney

Research Associate

Why LEO?

"I was drawn to LEO out of a desire to use the quantitative tools I learned in economics to make a tangible difference in people's lives. LEO reminds us that research is ultimately about people, and rigorous research begins with listening to service providers and the communities they serve. At LEO, careful econometric analysis is grounded in real human experiences, and we use evidence to help organizations strengthen programs that expand opportunity and reduce poverty. Working at LEO is the perfect intersection of my passion for economics and my desire to contribute to meaningful social impact."

Bio

As a research associate, Phelan collaborates with nonprofit partners and economics researchers to implement rigorous evaluations of antipoverty programs. His current projects focus on homelessness prevention, addiction recovery, and enrichment programs for disadvantaged students. Before joining LEO, Phelan earned a B.S. in Economics from Duke University, as well as a B.A. in Romance Languages (French, Italian, and Spanish) and a minor in Latin.