As the Director of Government Innovation at Benefits Data Trust, Alissa Weiss oversees BDT’s effort to support states in building more equitable, dignified benefits systems. She joined BDT as Director of Partnerships, leading a team responsible for building and maintaining relationships with government, community organizations, and other partners that play a vital role in streamlining access to benefits.  

Alissa has worked in a variety of government and non-profit settings throughout her career, with a focus on the intersection of economic mobility and public health. Her prior professional experiences include serving as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Communications at University City District, a Philadelphia economic development organization; Senior Economic Advisor in the New York City Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, where she helped re-envision the City’s approach to job training; and Senior Policy Analyst at New York City Council, where she covered food and health policy for the Speaker.  

Alissa received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in history and her M.S. from the Harvard School of Public Health.