Akira Gutierrez Renzulli, senior research associate and technical assistance (TA) provider, brings 20 years of experience promoting healthy child and youth development. She specializes in school readiness and success, youth mental health, resilience, and early childhood well-being. Her research advances knowledge of socioecological approaches to fostering students’ well-being and mental health promotion in schools.

As part of the EDC Solutions team, Gutierrez collaborates with educators and districts to create supportive learning environments. She also contributes her expertise to EDC’s Preventing Youth Suicide Initiative, Massachusetts Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Academy, and Home Visiting Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network.

Gutierrez shares her research with the media and is a frequent presenter at national conferences and forums. Previously, as a child mental health provider, she conducted research on adverse childhood experiences, resilience, and student well-being.

Gutierrez holds an MS in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology from Florida International University, where she is completing her PhD in Psychology, and an MA in Applied Child Development from Tufts University. She is fluent in English and Spanish.