Meltem Aran is a human development economist and founding director of Development Analytics, a social policy research center focusing on evidence based social policy and program development in developing countries. Her current research focuses on measuring women’s empowerment, children’s outcomes in low opportunity settings and the impact of inclusive social policies on children in developing countries. She is a co-author of the book entitled “Life Chances in Turkey: Expanding Opportunities for the Next Generation”. Meltem is currently involved with various child care and early childhood education related research and teacher training projects in Turkey, while also being the co-founder and current president of a non-profit parent-initiated cooperative Montessori preschool in Istanbul. She holds a dual BA degree from Brown University in economics and international relations, a master’s degree in international development (MPAID) from Harvard University and a doctoral degree in economics from the University of Oxford.