Parker Gilkesson is a policy analyst with CLASP's Income and Work Support team. She works with low-income and work support programs with a focus on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Parker is a subject matter expert in social policy, benefit eligibility, human services delivery, racial equity, and state and local policy regarding SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid.

Prior to joining CLASP, Parker began her career as a Human Services Specialist in Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, NC. In this role, she worked directly with recipients receiving Medicaid, TANF, and SNAP to determine their eligibility for low-income and work support programs. She has other experience including TANF policy research, cancer research, public health, public service, and nonprofits.

Parker holds a Master of Public Policy, with a concentration in Public Administration from Liberty University and a Bachelors in Health Education, Maternal and Child Health from Howard University. Furthermore, Parker believes in the importance of bridging the gap between policy analysis and policy effectiveness. She is very passionate about social change taking place within our communities, therefore, Parker aspires to be a part of the equation to solve poverty and inequities in health and social welfare among citizens of the United States.