Ariana Blackstock (she/her) joined the Economic Policy Institute in 2024 as human resources generalist. She brings over a decade of experience in human resources and recruiting to EPI.

Prior to joining EPI, Blackstock was a recruitment coordinator for City Teaching Alliance (CTA), an organization dedicated to disrupting systems of racial and socioeconomic inequality. Before working at CTA, Blackstock was a recruitment coordinator at Randstad, supporting efforts for Whirlpool Corporation, before becoming a recruiter and supporting hiring efforts for Google. Before transitioning into the field of recruiting, Blackstock had extensive experience in HR; she held HR roles at Comcast, the University of Pennsylvania, Toll Brothers, and NewCourtland Senior Living.

Blackstock is thrilled to be a part of an organization that aligns with her values. She looks forward to sharing her expertise and cultivating new valuable experience. Blackstock holds a B.S. in Human Resource Management from King’s College. She is a foodie, loves to travel, and is a proud ally.

Most recently, Western served as the Chief Operating Officer at the Food Research & Action Center, the nation’s leading anti-hunger organization. In this role, Western provided organizational leadership, management, and strategic direction, collaborating with the president to position the organization for growth and success. She led organizational development and change management processes, oversaw all internal and operational components of the organization, and shepherded the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Western previously served as the Director of Operations at OMB Watch (Center for Effective Government). In that capacity, she led overall organization operations, with a focus on finance, board relations, and human resources. Additionally, Western provided strategic advice and coached the senior leadership team. Throughout her career she attained a myriad of other skills including fundraising, marketing, communications, strategic planning, and lobbying. She was an early adopter to weaving equity into work environments, the use of social advocacy tools, and the powerful use of data in decision-making. 

Western holds a BA in Journalism from West Virginia University and a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown Public Policy Institute, Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership. She is a mother, musician, animal lover, and environmental advocate.

Yan’s passion for finance and operations began early in his career when he served as a Finance Officer at Counterpart International, a global nonprofit that supports sustainable development in underserved communities around the world. During his tenure there, he was responsible for accounting, forecasting, and financial analysis, among other tasks.

Yan’s next challenge came when he joined Results Educational Fund, a grassroots advocacy organization. As the Finance Manager, Yan was responsible for managing the organization’s finances, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.

Education
M.A., Accountancy, Accounting, and Finance, George Washington University School of Business
B.A., Accounting, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics

Cox earned an M.P.A. from Long Island University and a bachelor’s in business administration from City University of New York. He is also a graduate of the Executive Preparation Institute and of Leadership Maryland.

Education
B.S., Accounting, Virginia Commonwealth University

Education
M.Sc., Violence, Conflict and Development, SOAS, University of London
B.A., International Studies and Arabic Language, University of St. Thomas