Anne C Petersen

Anne C. Petersen is an Adjunct Research Professor at the University of Michigan's Integrative Systems and Design/Survey Research Center, and founder/president of the Global Philanthropy Alliance (GPA), which supports youth-led social enterprises in Africa. She previously served as Senior Vice President and Corporate Officer at the WK Kellogg Foundation (2003-2013), managing programs in the U.S., Latin America, and Africa. Her research focuses on adolescent development, global youth policy, and sustainable development goals. Petersen holds degrees in mathematics and statistics from the University of Chicago.

Her work integrates biological, psychological, and social sciences to address youth challenges in low/middle-income countries. Recent efforts emphasize Africa-focused initiatives, leveraging philanthropy to empower youth-driven solutions. Petersen has pioneered frameworks linking developmental science with global policy, advocating for youth inclusion in sustainable development frameworks.

Key themes in her 150+ publications include pubertal development's psychosocial impacts, global adolescent health disparities, and the role of developmental science in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. She has conducted multi-country studies on adolescent transitions, resilience, and policy implementation challenges.

Petersen's grants include leadership roles in ISSBD African Regional Workshops (1992–2015) and Kellogg Foundation programs. She advises on global education, youth unemployment, and cultural identity formation. Current projects focus on scaling youth-led initiatives in Africa through GPA's grantmaking and capacity-building programs.