Cristy H Schmidt, MPPM
- Senior Research Associate, Center for Economic and Community Development (CECD)
University Park, PA 16802
- Email cah215@psu.edu
- Office 814-863-7428
- Pronouns She/Her
Areas of Expertise
- Applied Research
- Community and Neighborhood Development
- Community Capacity Building
- Sustainable Economic Development
- Primary and Secondary Data Analysis
- Spatial Analysis
- Data Visualization and Engagement
- Public Administration
- Public Policy
- Facilitation
- Digital Equity
Education
- Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM), University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
- B.A., Integrative Arts, Penn State University
Cristy Halerz Schmidt is a Senior Research Associate with Penn State's Center for Economic and Community Development. At Penn State, she formerly served as an Applied Research Educator with Penn State Extension's Community Vitality Team from 2018 to 2024, and as Extension's Fellow to the County Commissioners Association from January 2021 to December 2023.
In these roles, Cristy collaborates closely with community partners, local leaders, elected officials, and Penn State faculty and staff to co-create applied research that helps address emerging social and economic issues in communities across the Commonwealth. She specializes in community engagement with data and policy information as a resource for decision makers and residents to strengthen their local and regional capacity to understand, anticipate, and respond to the community-level challenges they face.
