Dr. Gracia Sierra is an interdisciplinary researcher trained as an economist, sociologist, and demographer who investigates socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in population health outcomes. As a Data Scientist and Researcher at Resound Research for Reproductive Health, she applies experimental and quasi-experimental methods to survey and administrative data to study access to sexual and reproductive healthcare in Texas and the impact of restrictive abortion and contraceptive policies on reproductive health outcomes. Dr. Sierra is committed to understanding the sexual and reproductive health needs of Hispanic Texans, who represent the largest demographic group in Texas and are most likely to experience barriers and challenges that compound the barriers in access to care. She earned her doctorate in Sociology and Demography from the University of Texas at Austin, an MA in Economics at Duke University, and a BA in Economics at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras. She previously worked as an economist at the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and the Honduran government, where she evaluated the impact of policies and programs on health, causes and consequences of teenage pregnancy, and contraceptive access across Latin America.
The Changemakers in Family Planning Grant would provide the critical training, mentorship and protected time necessary for Dr. Sierra to build an independent research portfolio focused on advancing evidence-based policies that address the unique sexual and reproductive health needs of Hispanics in Texas. This support is vital to ensuring her work drives meaningful, equity-centered change in one of the most restrictive reproductive health landscapes in the country.