India Heckstall is a senior policy analyst on the education, labor, and worker justice team at CLASP where her research focuses on workforce development and postsecondary education issues. India centers racial equity in her work and has deep expertise in creating pathways to better jobs for workers and advocating for accessible and equitable postsecondary education and training opportunities for people with low incomes, immigrants, and adult learners.   

Most recently, India served as a policy manager on the STARs Policy Project at Opportunity@Work (O@W) where she identified and tested how public policy can enable economic mobility for workers skilled through alternative routes. Prior to joining O@W, India served as a policy analyst on the state strategies team at the National Skills Coalition where she supported the development and advancement of workforce, postsecondary, and human services policies, particularly in California. Prior to this position, India Heckstall served as a program associate at Higher Learning Advocates where she assisted in crafting the federal policy agenda; monitored relevant federal legislation on postsecondary education, workforce, and supportive services; and served as project manager for the organization. 

Beyond her work, India is actively engaged in Women in Government Relations where she previously served as co-chair of the education taskforce. India earned a master’s degree in public policy from American University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Campbell University.