Andrea Barnes

Andrea Barnes was a Government Innovation Fellow in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She supported the Commonwealth’s Department of Labor and Industry in strengthening procurement practices to improve workforce and ultimately quality of life outcomes for local residents.

She centered community needs and promoted systemic change through engaging in direct service, research, and project management. Prior to joining the GPL, Andrea served with BEST Kids, Inc. to connect Washington, DC youth and families in the child welfare system with mentoring services. Her prior experiences span justice reform, education quality and access, small businesses and lending, racial and health equity research, cultural preservation, and community development.

Andrea earned an MPP from Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. She also holds a BA in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she co-founded Project uPGrade, a conference for young women in Prince George’s County, Maryland.