Kaniyaa Francis is an Associate Research Scholar in the SCALE + Lab at NYU Marron. The SCALE + Lab is an action-oriented, collaborative platform for building sustained growth and impact of interventions that advance safety, health, and economic mobility.

Kaniyaa is a public health and policy professional with over five years of experience leading cross-sector initiatives at the intersection of justice and behavioral health. Prior to joining the SCALE + Lab, Kaniyaa worked at the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, where she provided technical assistance and education to grantees and stakeholders across the country on the development and implementation of alternative crisis response strategies. She also served as an Associate Research Manager at Public Health Advocates, where she led policy research, development, and advocacy efforts at both the state and local levels in California.

Throughout her career, Kaniyaa has supported the adoption and implementation of policies spanning a range of issue areas, including expanding first response systems, housing and homelessness, and the prevention of adverse childhood experiences. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Public Health from Columbia University.