LGS Welcomes Daniela Campos, PhD, as Assistant Director of the Master’s in Development Practice Program

The Laney Graduate School is pleased to announce that Daniela Campos, PhD, has joined the Master’s in Development Practice (MDP) program as its new Assistant Director. A scholar of labor, migration, and global development—with extensive applied policy experience—Campos brings a rare blend of academic rigor, international research, and hands-on development practice to the MDP community.

In her new role, Campos will support curriculum development, strengthen teaching and student advising, and contribute to program strategy, recruitment efforts, and communications. Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment for MDP, as the program continues to expand its applied learning opportunities and deepen its commitment to interdisciplinary, equity-oriented development training.

Campos was drawn to the MDP program’s unique approach to graduate education—one that integrates applied practice, cross-disciplinary scholarship, and a strong focus on social equity. She brings experience that aligns directly with this mission, having held roles with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank, along with positions as an economic analyst at Peru’s Ministry of Health and as a researcher at two leading Peruvian think tanks, GRADE and CIUP.

Her academic foundation is equally robust. Campos holds both a PhD and MSc in sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where her scholarship focused on the intersections of labor and migration, global and transnational sociology, law and society, development, and comparative political economy. Her research spans multiple regions and scales, examining how institutions and policies shape labor markets, migration pathways, and economic opportunity.

Campos is the co-author of The Dynamics of the Peruvian Labor Market and has published widely, including in Socius, International Labour Review, Social Indicators Research, and Revista Brasileira de Estudos de População. Her work has earned competitive grants and awards from organizations such as the Social and Economic Rights Associates (SERA), the Law and Society Association (LSA), and the Robert F. and Jean E. Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies.

One of Campos’s defining strengths is her commitment to connecting academic research with policy relevance. She has presented her findings to high-level policymakers, including Peru’s Vice-Ministers of Promotion of Employment and Tourism, and has contributed to ILO roundtables on labor markets in Latin America. She intends to continue developing international collaborations that link scholarship with public debate and policymaking—an approach that will directly enrich opportunities available to MDP students.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Campos brings a warm curiosity and creative spirit to the Laney community. She enjoys watching films, reading fiction, swimming, and spending as much time as possible near the sea—activities that reflect her appreciation for culture, movement, and connection to place.

Campos’s blend of academic expertise, applied policy experience, and passion for student development positions her as a tremendous asset to the MDP program and to Laney Graduate School. The community is thrilled to welcome her and looks forward to the impact she will make as a teacher, mentor, colleague, and global development practitioner.