Mary Murphy directs research and technical assistance for Pew’s state fiscal health initiative. She oversees teams that identify policies and practices that help states maintain a balanced budget, prepare for downturns, invest in long-term economic growth, and strengthen local governments. She leads outreach to state and local policymakers, building cross-state networks and offering customized technical assistance.

Before joining Pew, Murphy was a researcher and analyst at Wider Opportunities for Women, where she led research and wrote reports on employment, economic, and income security issues. She also was a researcher at the Urban Institute, specializing in social safety net programs.

Murphy holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Reed College.