Kia Heryadi is a Research Assistant in MEF Associates’ Seattle office. Kia is interested in labor and housing policies that promote economic and social justice and improve the lives of marginalized communities. At MEF, Kia works on projects related to TANF, Head Start, fatherhood, and housing.
Prior to joining MEF, Kia worked as a Research Assistant for the Indiana University Department of Sociology, where she worked on a study of the college experiences of youth on the autism spectrum and an audit study of anti-Asian discrimination in the hiring process. Kia also conducted research for the Texas A&M University Department of Sociology through the NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, where she researched social movements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kia graduated with highest distinction from Indiana University Bloomington with a B.A. in Sociology. Her undergraduate thesis focused on political violence and collective memory. In her free time, Kia enjoys crate digging, solving crossword puzzles, and keeping up with her yearly reading goal.