Brittany P. Mihalec-Adkins is a former foster youth (Indiana) and Lived Experience Expert. Brittany is completing her PhD in Human Development and Family Studies at Purdue University (expected: August 2022), where she has also completed a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology, Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychological Sciences and Law & Society, and certificates in Diversity Leadership, Statistics, and College Teaching. Brittany’s research explores the lived experiences of parents and families who are subjected to non-voluntary state-mandated interventions (e.g., in the child welfare system and criminal justice system), and the implications of these experiences for family well-being and community policy solutions. Upon completion of her PhD in 2022, Brittany plans to seek research scientist positions at policy-minded research firms that aim to promote the well-being of diverse families and communities affected by systemic and structural injustice.