Silvia Blitzer Golombek, PhD

Silvia is a social science professional with a profound commitment to civic engagement, youth development, and building healthy communities. With extensive experience spanning international organizations, academia, and nonprofit leadership, she has dedicated her career to empowering young to participate fully in the civic and political life of their societies.

Her expertise lies in strategic planning, knowledge management, and the design of forward-thinking initiatives that address global challenges. As Senior Vice President at Youth Service America, she spearheaded efforts to engage young volunteers in high-impact community projects, introduced innovative program models, and expanded the organization’s reach to Spanish-speaking audiences. Prior to this role, she served as Learning Manager at the International Youth Foundation, where she led global learning exchanges and documented best practices in youth development.

Her focus on youths’ rights began early in her career when she founded Kids in Action, a pioneering leadership development program that promoted civic engagement among elementary school children in Baltimore. She later brought her insights to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, where she mentored Latino professionals and helped shape future civic leaders. She presently works with Sapien Labs as the Regional Specialist for Latin America.

Silvia has a PhD in Sociology from the Johns Hopkins University and a degree in Sociology from the Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“Problems in mental health are often addressed primarily through individual therapeutic approaches. As a sociologist, I look at the contextual, environmental, and social factors that also may be contributing to these issues. I find that in studying how changing environments around the world are affecting people’s brains and minds, Sapien Labs is advancing our understanding of these issues in very significant ways. It is a privilege to help raise awareness of these findings and recommendations to broader audiences.”