Alexis Tsoukalas joined FPI as a Policy Analyst in 2019, focusing on state immigrant and labor issues. She was a State Policy Fellow with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) and is now co-chair of CBPP’s state Policy Advisory Committee. She was also a THRIVE Economic Stability Fellow with the Central Florida Foundation and recently became a Doctoral Policy Fellow with the Council on Social Work Education that will allow her to apply her policy and academic research skills at the congressional level. Alexis was humbly named  2020’s Emerging Public Service Professional by the American Society for Public Administration and 2021’s Outstanding Practitioner by the Association for Community Organization and Social Action.

Raised and schooled in the Sunshine State since middle school, Alexis has lived in Florida for over 25 years and understands the state’s unique threats and opportunities. She holds a Master of Social Work from Case Western Reserve University — with an emphasis on community practice and social change--and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Affairs (Social Work concentration) at the University of Central Florida. 

Alexis’ career path began in direct service, then shifted to policy and advocacy once she witnessed the inequitable harms of misguided laws and funding. She has worked in the restaurant business and with the child welfare population, young adults experiencing homelessness, those recovering from substance use disorder, and isolated older adults. Alexis also served as a Legislative Chair and State Delegate with the Florida Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and is a founding member of NASW-FL’s Immigration Justice Task Force.

In her “free time,” Alexis likes to sing, absorb books/documentaries/comedy, and relax with her husband and animals.