Jennifer Key, PhD

Jennifer Key, PhD is the Vice President of Science Initiatives at CPE, where she leads a team of qualitative and quantitative researchers focused on applied research that supports policy and practice. With 25 years of experience as a data scientist, she has worked across a range of sectors—including nonprofits, healthcare, travel, and the outdoor industry—bringing a practical, data-informed perspective to complex questions.

Jennifer is especially interested in how rigorous analysis can support real-world decisions. She has led cross-functional teams, mentored early-career researchers, and built collaborative projects that connect research to impact. Her approach emphasizes clarity, usefulness, and integrity in both methods and communication.

Jennifer earned her PhD in Economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder.