Sean Flanagan Ph.D

Sean Flanagan Ph.D serves as the Vice President of Research and Evaluation at America’s Promise. In his role, Sean leads America’s Promise’s research, measurement, and impact evaluation initiatives, including collaboratively developing and implementing an Alliance-wide research agenda aimed at investigating how America’s Promise’s—together with Alliance members, communities, and young people themselves—can bring about the kind of systemic change necessary to meet our national commitment to young people.

Sean is passionate about conducting and translating applied youth-centered research devoted toward understanding how to create the conditions for young people to thrive academically, socially, and economically. Previously, Sean directed the Center for Promise, the applied research institute of America’s Promise, in partnership with Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development. Prior to America’s Promise, Sean served as a research consultant to the U.S. Department of Labor, University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The results of Sean’s work have been published in peer-reviewed journals, books, and reports and have appeared in the New York Times, Forbes, and other local and national media outlets. Sean has presented with colleagues, young people, and partners at local, national, and international conferences and has served in editorial roles for the Journal of Career Development and the Journal of Career Assessment.

Trained as a counseling psychologist, Sean spent nearly a decade in clinical practice, serving children, adults, and families through individual therapy and neuropsychological assessment, group counseling, and community outreach in a range of settings. Sean completed his doctoral internship at the University of Michigan Counseling and Psychological Services (APA-accredited) and has provided services within K-12 schools, university and college counseling centers, inpatient and outpatient academic medical settings, and community mental health clinics. Previously, Sean worked with incarcerated populations with acute mental health needs at Bridgewater State Hospital, a medium security facility in Massachusetts, and provided community-reintegration services at Lakoma Madrid, a residential substance addiction services center in Madrid, Spain.

Sean received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and Applied Human Development from Boston University’s Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, a master’s degree in mental health counseling from the Boston College Lynch School of Education, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stonehill College.