Executive Director, Center for Innovation Strategy and Policy (CISP)
Christiana K. McFarland, PhD, is Executive Director of the Center for Innovation Strategy and Policy (CISP) at SRI. She leads a multidisciplinary team that works with federal agencies, R&D institutions, regions, and countries to strengthen innovation systems and deliver sustainable economic and social impact.
Dr. McFarland oversees CISP’s broad portfolio, which includes science and technology program development, technology-based economic and workforce strategies, innovation ecosystem assessments, program evaluation, innovation training, and advanced analytics. Drawing on the depth of SRI’s scientific expertise and commercialization experience, she ensures CISP delivers evidence-based strategies that connect policy, research, and practice.
With over 20 years of leadership in innovation policy, regional economic development, and fiscal strategy, Dr. McFarland has directed initiatives across emerging technology sectors and geographies. Her work has advanced competitiveness in medical devices, robotics, electrification, and plasma-based technologies, while shaping state and regional strategies that secure federal investment, expand workforce capacity, and strengthen innovation ecosystems.
Prior to joining SRI in 2022, Dr. McFarland was Research Director at the National League of Cities, where she built and led the organization’s research portfolio on fiscal health, workforce, and local innovation. Her publications in Economic Development Quarterly, Government Finance Review, and other outlets have informed national debates on economic transformation, workforce readiness, and infrastructure.
Dr. McFarland earned her PhD in Planning, Governance, and Globalization from Virginia Tech, and holds a Master of Public Policy and a BA in Political Science from The George Washington University. She is widely recognized for her ability to translate complex analysis into strategies that drive long-term impact for governments, industries, and communities.
