Alison Alter

Director of Strategic Planning

Email: aalter@austin.utexas.edu

Alison is responsible for researching and understanding the theoretical and pedagogical models that best support the vision and objectives of the DSIC and for subsequently customizing those models for specific users. She leads the development of our learning marketplace and has a special interest in expanding our mentoring and employee engagement programs. She facilitates our strategic planning efforts and helps ensure each of our programs supports the overall theory of change underlying the DSIC.

Alison believes that the best problem solving often happens at the intersection of disciplines and through the exchange of knowledge and experience among the academic, business, nonprofit, and government spheres. Students should grapple with ideas and approaches from a wide variety of disciplines and perspectives and be challenged to apply their knowledge to address real world problems.

Alison joined the DSIC team in October 2011 moving from Madison, WI. For six years, Alison ran the University of Wisconsin -Madison’s Center for World Affairs and the Global Economy (WAGE), an interdisciplinary research center that promotes understanding of globalization and its governance. In this role, she fostered cutting edge research on important problems and worked closely with faculty and students to translate their expertise to help Wisconsin and the nation compete globally. Alison has taught political economy and public policy at Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Most recently, Alison served as development director for the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, & Letters, a 141 year old non-profit that seeks to connect people and ideas for a better Wisconsin.

Alison completed her Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government at Harvard University and earned a B.A. in Public Policy from Stanford University.