Bio

Aaron Lenihan is a Research Scientist II at the Center for Applied Research and Analysis. Prior to joining ISR in 2022, Aaron received his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Georgia in 2021. His research interests are in understanding how people interpret and respond to laws and other institutional rules and incentives. Aaron’s dissertation looked at how cannabis users in Uruguay judge the fairness of alternative cannabis use laws and how these judgements influence their behavior. Aaron’s research employs mixed qualitative and quantitative methods and incorporates theories from a broad spectrum of disciplines, from the anthropology of law and economics to evolutionary biology and psychology. Aaron also taught biology to undergraduate students at the University of Georgia for 7 semesters. At ISR, Aaron is currently working on several components of ISR’s evaluation of the Department of Behavioral Health Services' Behavioral Health Initiative -- Adverse Childhood Experiences programs for Bernalillo County as well as the Needs Assessment for the Aging and Long-Term Services Department for the State of New Mexico.