Claire McKay Bowen
(See professional bio in next section.)
I am currently a senior fellow and the Data Governance and Privacy Team Lead at the Urban Institute, researching methods of data privacy and confidentiality. I actually have a Wiki Page?!
I grew up in the beautiful state of Idaho for most of my life and graduated from Salmon High School in Salmon, Idaho (yes, the town is named after the fish). I attended Idaho State University for my bachelors before obtaining my masters and PhD at the University of Notre Dame. I am the recipient of the inaugural Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies Emerging Leader Award in 2021 and became an American Statistical Association Fellow in 2024. I am also a council member of the Inter-uniersity Consortium for Political and Social Research, an advisory board member of the Future of Privacy Forums, and an adjunct professor at Stonehill College.
When I am not doing research, I enjoy participating in endurance races such as gravel races and long distance triathlons. My current goal is to participate in more gravel races and run all the world major marathons. When I am not trying to be a crazy person (as my spouse describes my endurance training), I love hiking, snowboarding, knitting, and playing with my pets.
Professional Photos: Click on image to view larger version.
Headshot for 2026.
Past headshots used from 2014 – 2025.
Professional Bio and CV
Claire McKay Bowen (she/her) is a senior fellow and leads the Data Governance and Privacy Team at the Urban Institute. Her research focuses on developing technical and policy solutions to safely expand access to confidential data for advancing evidence-based policymaking and ensuring everyone is responsibly represented in data. She also has an interest in improving science communication. In 2024, she became an American Statistical Association Fellow “for her significant contributions in the field of statistical data privacy, leadership activities in support of the profession, and commitment to mentoring the next generation of statisticians and data scientists.” Further, she is a member of the ICPSR Governing Council and several other data governance and data privacy committees as well as an adjunct professor at Stonehill College.
Bowen holds a Honors BS in mathematics and physics from Idaho State University and an MS and PhD in statistics from the University of Notre Dame. After completing her PhD, she worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she investigated cosmic ray effects on supercomputers.
My Bucket List
Run a marathonUpdate: Run all six world marathon majors (Berlin, Boston,Chicago, London,NYC, and Tokyo)Complete an Ironman before 30- Eat/drink iconic foods in each of the 50 States (in progress!)
- Travel to all 7 continents (Africa, Antarctica,
Asia, Australia,Europe,North America, South America) Write a book (doesn’t have to be published)Turns out I can write a book that someone wants to publish?!Become an American Statistical Association FellowWHAT?! Done in 2024!
My Family, My Friends, and My Adventures
(All photos taken in 2025)
(My annual end of the year post on my socials).
Grit: My Word of the Year. 💪
I choose my word for the year at the end of one year to carry me through the next. After everything 2024 threw at me, I chose resilience, hoping it would steady me for what lay ahead. I needed it more than I ever imagined.
This was the hardest year of my professional life. I watched funding slashed, public data removed or altered, and science and technology programs—especially within the federal statistical agencies—dismantled. The ripple effects were significant: two rounds of layoffs and the loss of many incredible colleagues across the various sectors.
And yet, there were bright spots. ✨ My team rallied and fundraised to continue advancing data governance and privacy for our communities, and I am proud to support a supervisee’s successful promotion. I was also honored to be named one of 11 finalists for the William T. Grant Scholars Program (Class of 2031), selected from 153 applicants—and especially proud to be the only non-academic finalist. I’ll be interviewed in February. Win or not, being a finalist in such a competitive year is a meaningful achievement. 🎉
Personally, Mack and I moved from Santa Fe to be closer to Albuquerque for his job. The transition was challenging, but we love our new home (the dogs and cats agree 🐕🐈), and I’ve made new friends while staying close to longtime ones. An injury sidelined my marathon plans, so I pivoted to gravel racing—riding the farthest I ever have on dirt (108 miles!) in one of the largest gravel races in the world. 🚴♀️ I loved every moment and can’t wait to try again, with a new goal: beating the sun in a 200-miler. 🌄
Resilience mattered this year—but grit is what carried me through. That’s what I’ll continue to build on in the year ahead.
Here’s to embracing challenges, celebrating progress (no matter how small), and finding strength in both the bright moments ✨ and the long, difficult roads ahead. 🛣️