Mihret Walelgne Menberu

Mihret Walelgne Menberu is a Research Associate at the West Health Policy Center, where she supports research on healthcare costs, successful aging, and policies that strengthen access to affordable, high-quality care for older adults. In this role, she conducts policy research, analyzes healthcare and aging data, drafts issue briefs and backgrounders, and helps translate complex findings into clear, actionable insights for policymakers. Mihret brings a strong background in legislative research, community health engagement, and program evaluation. She previously served as a Legislative Fellow with the Delaware General Assembly, where she analyzed Medicaid, behavioral health, and aging policy issues and supported decision-making for lawmakers. During her tenure, she was recognized with a Delaware State Senate tribute for her contributions to public health and social policy. Her experience also includes research roles at the University of Delaware, where she led wellness survey projects and developed policy recommendations for state agencies, as well as health program coordination and economic analysis work with Population Services International and the Mastercard Foundation. She holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) specializing in Health Policy from the University of Delaware, where she received the George & Renee Raffel Endowment and a Research Assistantship Award. Mihret also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Bachelor of Arts in Management, providing a strong foundation that bridges clinical practice, policy analysis, and organizational leadership.