GW Associates (GWA) is an employee-owned research, evaluation, and technical assistance firm specializing in rigorous and responsive policy analysis services related to criminal justice, public health, human services, training, and education to agencies of the U.S. Government, as well as businesses, foundations, and state and local governments.

Our staff is comprised of professionals with backgrounds in diverse disciplines, including education, sociology, psychology, criminal justice, statistics, public policy, housing, and economics.

GWA offices are located in Boston (MA), Tampa (FL), and Vermont.

Luis Garcia, Ph.D.

Senior Social Scientist

Dr. Garcia is GWA's Senior Social Scientist. He has extensive experience in conducting and leading criminal justice and social behavioral studies, including quantitative impact studies and qualitative process and evaluative studies. His major areas of research include crime prevention, law enforcement, juvenile justice, substance abuse, violence and violence prevention, corrections, and courts and sentencing. Dr. Garcia holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Northeastern University and is the author of numerous publications in professional journals and governmental reports (e.g., Crime & Delinquency, Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, Social Behavioral Scientist, National Institute of Justice). He has also presented papers at many national conferences over the years, including at the American Society of Criminology, American Sociological Association, Law and Society Association, U.S. Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance. Prior to joining GWA, Dr. Garcia served as director of research for the Boston Police Department, training coordinator at the VT Correctional Academy and was a college/university faculty member in Massachusetts and Vermont.

College of St. Joseph

Northeastern University

Harvard University

Our Team

Associates

Joann Gu, Ph.D., Social Scientist, International Affairs/China
James Goff, M.A., Research Associate, Television Media
Lisa Wright, M.A., Research Associate, Education & Technology
Christie Chapman, Ph.D., Research Associate, Econometrics
Dale Nesbary, Ph.D., Research Associate, Government Affairs
Gina Rabbitt, M.S., C.A.G.S., Research Associate, Mental Health

Research Assistants

Kamil Dresinski, M.A.
Dara Tilman
Margo Hale, M.S.
Michael O’Toole
D.J. Loy
Kim Yee, M.Ed.
Maria Alvarez, M.Ed.