Lucia Farriss is a director in the Research, Evaluation & Analytics unit at JFF. She leads projects at the intersection of education and workforce to reimagine the way we train and hire. 

Her skills and areas of expertise include: 

• Quantitative research methodologies 
• Qualitative research methodologies and analysis 
• The role of higher education, job ready skills, and the talent pipeline 
• The macroeconomy and its impact on the labor force 
• Young adult immigration 

Before joining JFF, Farriss was senior director of research, analytics, and public policy at the Tampa Bay Partnership. She was responsible for all research initiatives of the organization, including the production of the annual Regional Competitiveness Report, which tracks over 60 indicators to gauge Tampa’s performance across 19 other comparison communities. 

Educational background:  

• Bachelor’s degree in business economics, University of South Florida 
• Master’s degree in economics, University of South Florida 
• PhD in international economic development, University of Southern Mississippi