Mary Elizabeth Collins, A.M., Ph.D. is Professor and Department Chair of Human Behavior, Research and Policy at Boston University School of Social Work. Dr. Collins’ research program focuses on vulnerable young people, the systemic inequities they face, and the policy and program support that can facilitate a positive life trajectory. Over the past 30 years, Dr. Collins has led numerous research projects involving policy analyses, program evaluation, and training evaluations that have been funded by government agencies, private foundations, and other entities. Additional research has examined vulnerable youth and young adults’ access to higher education. Dr. Collins is the author of Macro Perspectives on Youth Aging out of Foster Care and over 100 published articles and chapters. In 2011-2012 she was a Fulbright Scholar in Vietnam and in Summer of 2023 she was a Fulbright Specialist in Ghana.