Gary Parker, MSW, is Associate Dean of External Affairs at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. He has also been named the inaugural Director of the Clark-Fox Policy Institute. The Clark-Fox Policy Institute envisions a more just and equitable world in which policy solutions are impactful and innovative. The institute’s mission is to advance social and economic justice by working collaboratively to connect evidence-based policy solutions to public awareness, practitioner training, and policy decision-making. Prior to joining Washington University, Gary was Deputy Director of the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at the NYU Silver School of Social Work. He has held diverse government and public service positions, including Community Liaison to New York State Assembly Member Deborah Glick, District Manager of Manhattan Community Board 5, and Director of Government and Community Affairs at New York University. An accomplished writer, he has published articles in academic journals as well as opinion pieces in mainstream publications, including in The New York Times. Gary is also committed to developing the next generation of social workers. He has taught courses in community organizing, social welfare policy, and global social work practice.