Patrick Atwater serves as Senior Research Analyst for CA FWD, where he leads the development of the CA Dream Index and helps support policy analysis across the organization. Patrick brings a decade of experience in data-intensive roles related to California public affairs.

Prior to CA FWD, Patrick helped envision, build and lead a unique California water data initiative. The CaDC water data project has been featured in KNX News Radio, the Associated Press, and numerous industry news outlets as well as academic journals such as the Annals of Applied Statistics.

Patrick has a long-standing passion for California good government since working as the Redistricting and Demographics Manager at the Rose Institute of State and Local Government. He also spent a year on the Board of the League of Women Voters of California and six years on the board of the Los Angeles Education Partnership.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Claremont Mckenna College and a Master’s Degree in Urban Science and Informatics from NYU. In addition, he completed the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs.