Tessa Upin is the Director of Philadelphia Violence Reduction at the Crime and Justice Policy Lab at the University of Pennsylvania. In this role, Tessa collaborates with partners across the city to advance and sustain Philadelphia’s citywide violence reduction strategy.
Previously, Tessa served as Deputy Director at the Crime and Justice Institute, where she oversaw a national portfolio of adult and youth justice initiatives in more than 20 states. She brings extensive experience working with partners across policy, government, and the community to design, implement, and sustain evidence- and data-informed policies, programs and practices.
Tessa began her career as a Truancy Case Manager in Philadelphia before joining the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission, where she supported the implementation of a statewide, data-driven effort to reduce youth incarceration. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Science in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania.
