Passionate about making a difference for Mathematica’s clients and the communities they serve, Chris Trenholm is a thought partner, co-creator, and go-to advisor for public, private, and philanthropic organizations across the country and around the world. Working closely with decisionmakers who turn to data for direction and evidence for answers, Chris helps tackle tough challenges and make the most of emerging opportunities. He leads Mathematica’s multidisciplinary team of more than 1,500 colleagues who tap expertise in research, advisory, and data solutions to deliver for clients and advance our shared mission of improving public well-being.
From 2017 to 2024, Chris served as senior vice president and general manager of Mathematica’s Health division, growing the organization’s health policy assessment, program improvement, and technology solutions and insights practices. He has partnered closely with government agencies and philanthropic organizations on complex projects that support children and families and equitable access to quality health care domestically and around the world.
Chris joined Mathematica in 1997, after receiving a Ph.D. in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His experience includes managing large-scale projects for foundations and grantees, leading numerous evaluations and studies focused on improving the health and well-being of families living on low income and serving as principal investigator for two congressionally mandated studies of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Chris’s work has also focused on research into promising approaches to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, for which he has won an American Evaluation Association Outstanding Evaluation Award (2009) and been honored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with a Contract of the Year award (2010).