SPP Professor Luisa Blanco Awarded 2024 Stephen D. Davis Award for Scholarly Achievement
The Pepperdine School of Public Policy (SPP) is pleased to announce that Dr. Luisa Blanco, professor of public policy, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Stephen D. Davis Award for Scholarly Achievement. This award, presented annually at the Pepperdine Faculty Conference, recognizes two faculty members for their significant contributions to academic research, aligned with Pepperdine’s mission of service, purpose, and leadership.
Blanco’s research focuses on financial literacy, retirement preparedness, and health disparities, with a particular emphasis on minority and immigrant communities in the United States and Latin America. Her interdisciplinary approach combines quantitative data analysis with community-based research, helping to bridge gaps in financial and health education for underserved populations.
Among many projects, Blanco led the development of the “Mind Your Money” digital intervention, designed to improve financial behaviors among Latino adults in Los Angeles. The program, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has garnered national attention for its innovative use of technology in financial education.
In addition to her work in financial literacy, Blanco has made significant contributions to the public health sector, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her community-partnered mobile phone intervention, MivacunaLA, aimed to improve vaccination rates among low-income Latino families and was published in peer-reviewed journals.
Blanco’s dedication to improving public health is matched by her commitment to financial well being. Reflecting on the recognition for her research, she shared her gratitude: “I am truly honored to receive this recognition for my research. I am grateful to Pepperdine for supporting this work for the past 17 years and indebted to the many mentors, colleagues, community organizations, and students who made these research contributions possible.”
Currently, Blanco is collaborating with the Social Security Administration and the National Bureau of Economic Research on digital outreach programs that focus on improving retirement preparedness for Black and Hispanic workers. She continues to explore the intersection of financial and health behaviors, with a long-term goal of creating digital resources that foster economic inclusion.
The SPP community congratulates Dr. Blanco on this well-deserved recognition of her impactful research and dedication to improving public policy. You can follow Blanco’s research endeavors on her personal website here.