Marano leads the design and implementation of research projects that use behavioral science and human-centered design strategies to improve outcomes for individuals and families with low incomes. She specializes in leading interdisciplinary teams to identify behavioral and system-level challenges experienced by program participants. She incorporates participant voices into research and collaborates with partners to implement and test new solutions. She also provides training and technical assistance to practitioners to apply behavioral science and evaluation approaches in their work.
She currently oversees work on Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency – Next Generation (BIAS-NG), a multi-site government project focused on addressing barriers across Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), child welfare, and Head Start systems. She also leads On The Path to a Degree 2.0 (OnPath 2.0), which centers the voices of students and staff to improve the first-year college experience and increase student retention. Previously, she directed a transit evaluation in King County, Washington, partnering with a transit agency and community-based organizations to improve outreach to hard-to-engage, multilingual populations. She has also worked on Strengthening the Implementation of Responsible Fatherhood Programs (SIRF), which applied rapid learning cycles to strengthen program implementation at fatherhood programs.
Marano holds a BA in economics and psychology from Columbia University and a JD from Boston College Law School.
Projects
