Gretchen Livesey is Program Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Educational Innovation at USC’s Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education (CANDLE), based at the Rossier School of Education. Working alongside the CANDLE team, she helps translate the center’s research on adolescent brain development and social emotional learning into practical partnerships with schools, districts, and county offices of education.

Gretchen brings more than 35 years of experience in education. She began as a classroom teacher, spent seven years as Director of Linked Learning at Oakland Unified School District building a network of 32 career pathways across 16 high schools, and later led partnership and business development at Turnaround for Children and Arizona State University’s Center for Whole-Child Education. She joined USC CANDLE as staff in July 2026, after one year as a research practice partner with the center.

When she is not working, you will find her on the California coast with her wife, Eve, and their two beach-loving rescue pups.