Throughout his career, Dan Ferris has led and learned from a variety of initiatives in settings ranging from offices of government affairs, community public health organizations, and research institutes. At the Brown School, Ferris applies his experience working with government, community organizations, academics, and other stakeholders to his teaching, research, and continued commitment to policy practice. 

As the inaugural assistant dean for policy initiatives at the Brown School, Ferris expanded the Master of Social Policy Dual-Degree program and continues to support student-learning opportunities such as the Graduate Policy Scholars program and Cigna Foundation fellowship in grantmaking. He is also the associate director of training and education at the Brown School’s Social Policy Institute, where he leads a Data for Social Impact Initiative, a JPMorgan Chase Foundation supported doctoral scholars program, and additional policy teaching and training initiatives. Additionally, he is committed to research, programs, and policies that address disparities and inequities, particularly surrounding food insecurity in St. Louis and beyond, conducting and translating into practice multiple food policy research projects.

Ferris has taught graduate courses in policy analysis, social welfare, legislative advocacy, and health care at New York University, the Touro Graduate School of Social Work, and the Brown School. 

Before coming to the Brown School, Ferris received his Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy from New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and his PhD in Public and Social Policy from Saint Louis University.