David Yokum, JD, PhD

David Yokum, JD, PhD is Director of The Lab @ DC in the Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia Government. Based out of the Office of the City Administrator, and partnered with a network of universities and research centers, The Lab @ DC conducts applied research projects to generate timely, relevant, and high-quality evidence that informs the District's most important decisions. David was previously a founding member of the White House’s Social & Behavioral Sciences Team and Director of its scientific delivery unit housed at the U.S. General Services Administration. David’s expertise draws on the cognitive foundations of judgment and decision-making and, in particular, how that knowledge and associated methodologies can be extended into applied settings. His public speaking and advocacy won the Excellence in Teaching Award from the UA College of Science. His work has been published in journals such as Health Affairs, Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, American Journal of Law & Medicine, and Law & Contemporary Problems and received media coverage from outlets such as NPR, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and elsewhere. David earned a Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Arizona (UA), a law degree from the UA James E. Rogers College of Law, a Master’s degree in Bioethics & Medical Humanities from the University of South Florida, and a B.S. in Biology from Birmingham-Southern College.