Chitra Balakrishnan is a research analyst in the Office of Race and Equity Research at the Urban Institute, where she works on research projects that equip changemakers to advance equity-focused policies and programs. She supports and advises federal, state, and local government leaders on employing tools and measurement approaches in their equity work.

Before joining Urban, Balakrishnan worked at Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office on issues related to infrastructure, energy, the environment, and public safety. She was involved with planning and implementation efforts stemming from the statewide Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. She is passionate about data-driven policies that incorporate the perspectives of affected communities.

Balakrishnan holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy with a minor in mathematics from Duke University.