2020
Brandeis Opioid Policy Research Collaborative and partner awarded grant to continue fentanyl test strip distribution project
Heller News Release
December 21, 2020
The OPRC and its partner, the Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative (PAARI), received $299,000 for a police-based program to save lives through outreach, distribution of fentanyl test strip kits, and support of people at risk of opioid overdose.
Dot's Tai joins King Boston team
Heller in the News
December 18, 2020
The Dorchester Reporter reports that Tammy Tai, MBA'06, is the new Deputy Director of King Boston, a non-profit organization that works to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King.
House Democrats roll out resolution calling for Biden to forgive $50,000 of borrowers’ student debt
Heller in the News
December 18, 2020
Vox cites a study by the Institute on Assets and Social Policy that shows student debt disadvantages borrowers of color, something Democrats in the House of Representatives are pushing the new administration to address.
3 Ideas Shaking Up The Worker Classification Debate
Heller in the News
December 18, 2020
In Law360, David Weil explains the concentric circles" model of worker classification, a three-tiered system laid out in a recent working paper published by the Institute for New Economic Thinking.
JewBer and Yad Chessed Deliver Almost 400 Hanukkah Meals
Heller in the News
December 17, 2020
Jewish Boston highlights the work of Ana Sazonov, MA/MBA' 21 and Samantha Wechsler, MBA/MA SID'21, who delivered 400 Hanukkah meals for low-income families, the elderly and Holocaust survivors in the Boston area.
Anita Hill Issues Powerful Hollywood Commission Report; 5 Reasons Entertainment Culture Will Change
Heller in the News
December 17, 2020
In Forbes, a Hollywood executive says the work of Anita Hill and the Hollywood Commission to eliminate sexual harassment and advancing equality is taking a huge step towards helping make necessary change come true.
Hollywood needs 'more representation in decision-making,' Anita Hill says
Heller in the News
December 16, 2020
In USA Today, Anita Hill says Hollywood can't just focus on more representative and diverse film and television, but needs to have more diverse representation in decision-making, leadership positions.
Will Biden Take Reviving Manufacturing Seriously?
Heller in the News
December 16, 2020
In the American Prospect, Robert Kuttner says Joe Biden's pick for commerce secretary should be someone serious and knowledgeable about reviving American industry.
Anita Hill Op-Ed: Hollywood Has Made Strides To Eliminate Sexual Harassment & Bias, But Can Still Do Better
Heller in the News
December 15, 2020
In Deadline, Anita Hill writes an op-ed praising the entertainment industry for embracing its role as a “world influencer” in advancing diversity and inclusion, but says that Hollywood can and must do better.
What Biden Can Do To Address The Student Debt Crisis
Heller in the News
December 15, 2020
The Appeal cites a study from the Institute on Assets and Social Policy showing that Black and Latinx student loan borrowers defaulted at much higher rates than white borrowers, giving President-elect Joe Biden a racial equity reason to provide relief to millions of borrowers.
Should the proponents of public (government) schools celebrate Global Teacher Prize 2020 to Mr. Ranjitsinh Disale?
Heller in the News
December 12, 2020
In Round Table India, PhD candidate Tanoj Meshram critiques a teaching award given by a private education company to a public education teacher in India.
Virtual Panel Urges Student Debt Cancellation, Calling it a Racial Justice Issue Too
Heller in the News
December 11, 2020
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education covers a virtual panel with Tom Shapiro and other higher education leaders and policy makers on cancelling student debt as both an economic issue and a racial justice issue.
Anita Hill Is Creating an App to Hold Serial Abusers Accountable
Heller in the News
December 10, 2020
At TheWrap’s Power Women Summit, Anita Hill discusses a new app she’s launching with the Hollywood Commission next year will help hold the industry’s serial abusers accountable.
L.A. health director nearly breaks down in tears at coronavirus briefing: ‘Deaths are an incalculable loss’
Heller in the News
December 10, 2020
In the Washington Post, Barbara Ferrer, PhD'94, public health director in Los Angeles County, shares how more than 8,000 residents of Los Angeles have died from the coronavirus as cases continue to rise.
Examining racial inequality in public schools during a pandemic
Heller in the News
December 08, 2020
BrandeisNow highlights a study about racial inequality in Boston Public Schools during the pandemic, featuring research from PhD student Jenny LaFleur and MPP student and CYC research associate Zora Haque.
Nurse practitioner-provided care costs up to 34% less than doctor-provided care
Heller News Release
December 04, 2020
Novel research from the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy and Research shows that nurse practitioners provide care more efficiently, while physicians charge more, prescribe more, and order more expensive tests and services.
Employee Ownership - Reducing Inequality and Building Assets
Heller in the News
December 04, 2020
On the OEOC Podcast, Janet Boguslaw discusses how employee ownership can help low and moderate income employees build assets as well as recommendations to expand the sector and spread the benefits of employee ownership to a larger share of workers.
MA Health Policy Forum presents new research and recommendations in a report: Telehealth in a Post Pandemic World
Heller News Release
December 03, 2020
New policy recommendations that provide a roadmap for the post-pandemic use of telehealth technologies in Massachusetts were presented at a virtual Massachusetts Health Policy Forum (MHPF).
UMass Memorial Health Care hires Brian Gibbs to lead diversity and equity efforts
Heller in the News
December 03, 2020
UMass Memorial Health announces that Brian Gibbs, PhD'95, will lead the health care system’s transformation efforts in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.
'This Feels Like the Closest We’ve Ever Been.' Why Growing Demands for Student Debt Forgiveness Could Be Joe Biden's First Presidential Test
Heller in the News
December 03, 2020
An article in Time Magazine cites an Institute on Assets and Social Policy study that shows while the median debt for white borrowers is reduced by 94% within 20 years of them starting college, Black borrowers still owe 95% of their loans.
The Promise of Self-Sufficient Production
Heller in the News
December 02, 2020
In the MIT Sloan Management Review, Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld says as global supply chains have revealed their vulnerabilities during the pandemic, digital fabrication technologies demonstrate a new way forward.
Food insecurity causes unique stress in mothers, long-term effects for children
Heller News Release
November 30, 2020
PhD Dissertation Spotlight: Maia Hyary, PhD’20, examines how maternal stress affects the relationship between food insecurity and maternal weight and how it affects a child’s likelihood of being food insecure as an adult.
Attacking COVID-19 from every angle
Heller News Release
November 30, 2020
Professor A.K. Nandakumar helps promote coronavirus response measures on a local, national and global scale.
Supporting working adults with mental illness
Heller News Release
November 30, 2020
Professor Joanne Nicholson’s WorkingWell project equips people with mental health disorders to succeed on the job.
Transforming youth employment in Ethiopia
Heller News Release
November 30, 2020
The Center for Youth and Communities builds career development capacity through yearlong pilot at six universities.
Supporting mental health equity among Black youth in Waltham
Heller News Release
November 30, 2020
Associate Dean for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Maria Madison leads ongoing research into racial equity and mental health for Black students, parents and staff from local Waltham High School.
Challenging ableist norms around civic engagement
Heller News Release
November 30, 2020
In April 2020, researchers at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy and the Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy published “Civic Engagement and People With Disabilities: A Way Forward Through Cross- Movement Building."
Preterm delivery among Black women
Heller News Release
November 30, 2020
A new study in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities by Palmira Santos and colleagues examines rates of preterm delivery for Black women in the U.S. to determine the level of risk associated with living in specific states.
Federal testimony on critical social policies
Heller News Release
November 30, 2020
Over the past year, Heller researchers and faculty members have offered their expertise on a number of social policy issues, ranging from labor rights to child poverty.
Awards and Recognition Highlights
Heller News Release
November 30, 2020
Over the past year, members of the Heller community have received awards recognizing notable achievements in social policy research, academia and advocacy.
Child Opportunity Index 2.0 in action
Heller News Release
November 30, 2020
The Child Opportunity Index 2.0 was released by the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy in January 2020, providing neighborhood-level measurements of 29 key factors, such as good schools and early childhood education centers, green spaces, access to healthy food and low poverty, all necessary for healthy child development.
Election 2020: Policy contributions to political platforms
Heller News Release
November 30, 2020
Lurie Institute researchers engage, critique and consult on presidential disability policy plans, and research from the Institute on Assets and Social Policy informs Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s student loan plan.
Student debt becomes a racial equity issue
Heller in the News
November 30, 2020
An op-ed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cites a new study from Tom Shapiro and Laura Sullivan showing that $75,000 in student debt cancellation could help increase household wealth, close the racial wealth gap and boost the struggling economy.
Inequality of student loan debt underscores possible Biden policy shift
Heller in the News
November 28, 2020
In an article on President-elect Joe Biden's plan for student loan forgiveness, the Hill cites an Institute on Assets and Social Policy study on the disparity between what white and Black borrowers owe 20 years after starting college.
The future of work … as determined by Uber?
Heller in the News
November 26, 2020
On Marketplace, David Weil discusses the possibility of a “third way,” between benefit-free part-time work and traditional full-time employment, for gig workers like those who drive for Uber and Lyft.
Why autism training for police isn’t enough
Heller in the News
November 26, 2020
In Spectrum, Finn Gardiner says that as a Black autistic person, he feels scared when he's walking down the street and see a bunch of police officers because there is an ongoing problem of force used against autistic people, especially those of color.
No to any form of U.S. military presence in the Middle East
Heller in the News
November 25, 2020
In Massachusetts Peace Action, Christine Rostampour, MA COEX'20, says the United States should not have troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, or anywhere else in the Middle East.
Why Biden gives Trump some space
Heller in the News
November 23, 2020
The Christian Science Monitor quotes Robert Kuttner about giving voters space and time to step back from party tribalism and accept the results of the election.
Election 2020 Conversation with the Dean: Politics, Policy and the Path Forward
Heller News Release
November 20, 2020
Dean Weil and guests reflect on Election 2020 and contemplate the road ahead for progressive social policies and socio-political movements.
How President Biden Will Shape Healthcare in His First 100 Days in Office
Heller in the News
November 19, 2020
In Medical Bag, Stuart Altman says the new Biden administration emphasize the importance of wearing masks, perhaps requiring all military and federal employees to wear masks, but will likely stop short of issuing a national mask mandate.
New Chapter for the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy and Research
Heller News Release
November 18, 2020
Announcing an updated name and leadership reorganization at the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy and Research.
Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Awarded $1.15 Million Federal Grant to Address Opioid Use Disorder
Heller in the News
November 18, 2020
The Middlesex County Sheriff's Department announces that Andrew Kolodny will advise and evaluate a grant-funded project to enhance and expand its Medication Assisted Treatment And Directed Opioid Recovery (MATADOR) Program, supporting efforts to directly engage families of incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder.
Some places were short on nurses before the virus. The pandemic is making it much worse.
Heller in the News
November 17, 2020
In the Washington Post, Karen Donelan says the national nursing shortage is a disaster that's outstripping capacity in many states, causing hospitals to compete for nurses.
After 2020 Election, Disability Communities Are Hopeful for Change
Heller in the News
November 17, 2020
In the Takeaway, Ari Ne'eman discusses the effect of the 2020 election on people with disabilities, and the obstacles that voters with disabilities continue to face at the ballot box.
Best Charities for 2021
Heller in the News
November 16, 2020
In WalletHub, Susan Eaton discusses the biggest mistakes people make when donating to charity, the biggest challenges facing US charities today, and her favorite charities.
Prof. Laurence Simon leads conversation about his career in international development, human rights activism
Heller in the News
November 11, 2020
The Justice covers Laurence Simon's discussion of his long career in international development, reflecting on how his upbringing, family values and education built the career he holds today.
Opioid Crisis Response Leaves Black Americans Behind
Heller in the News
November 10, 2020
In Everyday Health, Andrew Kolodny says despite the current epidemic being painted as one that impacts young white Americans, there are three distinct groups suffering, including one that is disproportionately nonwhite.
DEA Pursues Vast Expansion of Patient Surveillance
Heller in the News
November 10, 2020
In Filter, Peter Kreiner comments on the DEA's proposed Pharmacy Prescription Data system, which would cede patient-level data to the agency to a far greater extent than comparable existing databases.
Uber and Lyft are in an Election Day showdown with California. Massachusetts might be next
Heller in the News
November 09, 2020
In the Boston Globe, David Weil comments on the passage of Proposition 22 in California and the possibility of a political battle over Uber and Lyft classification in Massachusetts.
Uber and Lyft in driving seat to remake US labour laws
Heller in the News
November 05, 2020
In the Financial Times, David Weil comments on the passage of Prop. 22, which considers app-based drivers to be independent contractors and not employees, overriding a previously passed bill that considered them employees.
Hospitals competing for nurses as US coronavirus cases surge
Heller in the News
November 03, 2020
In AP, Karen Donelan says the departure of experienced nurses is because few nurses can actually work and feel safe working, limited by family obligations to protect their own health.
Inside Scalia’s Pro-Industry Revamp of Labor Agency Enforcement
Heller in the News
November 02, 2020
In Bloomberg Law, David Weil comments on Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia's pro-business approach, including halting media releases promoting enforcement actions until after cases are resolved, a tool previous used to deter workplace violators.
Election 2020 Conversation with the Dean: “The Act of Democracy”
Heller News Release
October 30, 2020
Dean Weil and panelists reflect on democratic participation, voter access and civic engagement in anticipation of the 2020 election.
What's At Stake In The 2020 Election For Massachusetts: Health Care And The ACA
Heller in the News
October 29, 2020
On WBUR's Radio Boston, Stuart Altman says with the U.S. Supreme Court set to take up a third legal challenge to the constitutionality of the ACA a week after the election, it's the most important thing regarding healthcare in this election.
How has the Trump administration changed labor protections?
Heller in the News
October 29, 2020
In BrandeisNow, David Weil explains the labor protections he enacted as Wage and Hour Administrator in the Obama administration, how the Trump administration has dismantled those protections, and what might happen with a new presidency.
Anita Hill-Led Hollywood Commission Details Sexual Harassment Claims in Industry Workplaces
Heller in the News
October 28, 2020
In the Hollywood Reporter, Anita Hill, chair of the Hollywood Commission, discusses its latest survey results, which show found that gender harassment, or offensive workplace talk, is the most common type of harassment in the entertainment industry.
How has Trump weakened the Affordable Care Act and how can it be strengthened?
Heller in the News
October 27, 2020
In BrandeisNow, Michael Doonan says that although the Trump administration was unable to repeal the law in Congress, it has damaged the law through regulatory efforts, executive order and legislative action.
Podcast: Where a child grows up shapes their health
Heller in the News
October 27, 2020
Health Affairs Editor-in-Chief Alan Weil interviews Dolores Acevedo-Garcia to discuss her research on racial and ethnic inequities in children’s neighborhoods and the policy implications of her work.
Dolores Acevedo-Garcia named to NASEM Initiative for COVID-19 response and recovery
Heller News Release
October 26, 2020
Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy Director Dolores Acevedo-Garcia has been named to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Response and Resilient Recovery Strategic Science Initiative in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An Interview With Elizabeth Warren
Heller in the News
October 26, 2020
In the American Prospect, Robert Kuttner interviews Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the Universal Child Care and Early Learning Act and ensuring affordable child care for everyone and better wages for care providers.
Meet the woman who could lead the Treasury in a Biden administration
Heller in the News
October 26, 2020
On KITV, Robert Kuttner says Lael Brainard, a current Federal Reserve governor, has the years of experience and mainstream background that make her a top candidate for the Treasury Secretary job.
Record $8 billion payout won’t turn back the clock on US opioid crisis
Heller in the News
October 26, 2020
In New Scientist, Andrew Kolodny comments on the $8.3 billion payout from Purdue Pharma, saying criminal charges against companies don't work because they are seen as the cost of doing business.
How to Finance Universal Family Care
Heller in the News
October 23, 2020
In the American Prospect, Robert Kuttner explores what it would take to have Universal Family Care, including child care, paid family and medical leave, and long-term care for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Sana Shaikh #WeBuildEdu
Heller in the News
October 23, 2020
On #WeBuildEdu, Sana Shaikh, PhD'20, shares her experiences as a school administrator at a Title I high school during COVID-19, saying it has compounded and magnified many of the historical and social and largely institutional challenges that the Latinx students have faced their entire lives.
Trump’s Labor Secretary Is a Wrecking Ball Aimed at Workers
Heller in the News
October 22, 2020
In the New Yorker, David Weil says a number of recent rule changes at the Department of Labor under Secretary Eugene Scalia harm low-wage workers, such as lowering the salary threshold for exempting employees from overtime pay and giving restaurant owners more discretion over tips.
OxyContin Maker to Take Plea on Federal Criminal Charges
Heller in the News
October 22, 2020
In Medpage, Andrew Kolodny says the Sackler family, which owns Purdue Pharma, is getting away "scot-free" because the OxyContin maker is taking a plea deal.
How Employer Practices and Worker Power Shape Labor Market Outcomes
Heller in the News
October 16, 2020
In a panel for WorkRise, David Weil discusses new ideas for transforming the low-wage labor market and how workplace structures and dynamics can facilitate or limit opportunity.
What will it take to make COVID-19 vaccines globally available?
Heller in the News
October 16, 2020
In BrandeisNow, AK Nandakumar writes about the challenges of obtaining and distributing two billion doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in low and middle-income countries by 2021.
Bangladesh to Allow Death Penalty for Rape Convictions
Heller in the News
October 15, 2020
In the New York Times, Sultan Mohammed Zakaria, MA SID'17, comments on recent sexual assault cases on Bangladesh, saying the justice system fails to hold the perpetrators responsible and must launch a thorough and impartial investigation.
Anita Hill - Why She Chose to Endorse Joe Biden | The Daily Social Distancing Show
Heller in the News
October 15, 2020
On the Daily Show, Anita Hill discusses her decision to endorse Joe Biden, the future of the Supreme Court, and her work fighting to end discrimination and harassment in Hollywood.
American Academy of Nursing Recognizes Four Healthcare Visionaries as Honorary Fellows
Heller in the News
October 13, 2020
The American Academy of Nursing recognizes Karen Donelan for her extraordinary and sustained contributions to nursing and health care throughout her career.
Sexual harassment and bias in Hollywood with Anita Hill
Heller in the News
October 13, 2020
On LA Times Today, Anita Hill discusses the results of a new survey by the Hollywood Commission, a non-profit aimed at ending sexual harassment and bias in the entertainment industry.
Stocks are soaring, and most Black people are missing out
Heller in the News
October 13, 2020
In AP, Tatjana Meschede says that wealthier Black households are more likely to own assets that have a reputation for being safer, such as bonds, life insurance or real estate.
Racial And Ethnic Inequities In Children’s Neighborhoods: Evidence From The New Child Opportunity Index 2.0
Heller in the News
October 13, 2020
In Health Affairs, a team of researchers led by Dolores Acevedo-Garcia describes new findings from the Child Opportunity Index, such as vast racial/ethnic inequities in neighborhood opportunity among children in poverty.
India's Small Schools are Failing to Provide Equal Education to Rural Children
Heller in the News
October 13, 2020
In an op-ed for News 18, PhD candidate Tanoj Meshram argues that India needs school consolidation and a busing revolution to transform its rural government schools and ensure equitable quality education for all.
Anita Hill, Geena Davis, Alma Har’el and More Discuss Gender Equity in Hollywood in ‘Academy Dialogues’ Episode
Heller in the News
October 09, 2020
Variety covers a dialogue between Anita Hill, head of the Hollywood Commission, and several actors on how they have experienced gender inequity in Hollywood, and how the gap can be decreased.
Here are the BBJ's Power 50 for 2020: Extraordinary Year, Extraordinary People
Heller in the News
October 09, 2020
The Boston Business Journal's Power ranking honors Brenna Schneider, MBA'12, founder and CEO of 99Degrees Custom in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
Anita Hill-Led Hollywood Commission Finds “Bias Gap” In Hollywood; Women Twice As Likely To Experience Discrimination
Heller in the News
October 08, 2020
Deadline covers a new report from the Anita Hill-led Hollywood Commission has found that women in the entertainment industry were twice as likely as their male counterparts to experience biased or unfair behavior.
Race, Geographic Disparities in Childhood Wellness Opportunity
Heller in the News
October 07, 2020
Patient Engagement Hit covers a new paper from the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy in Health Affairs, which shows that health disparities and health inequity start in childhood, and depend largely on race and geographic location.
Anita Hill On Sexual Harassment In Hollywood And Beyond
Heller in the News
September 30, 2020
On NPR, Anita Hill discusses a new survey of 10,000 people from the Hollywood Commission that finds many are staying silent because they fear retaliation or lack of accountability.
One Family, Three Months, Four Dead: For Latinos, COVID-19 Scars Remain
Heller in the News
September 30, 2020
In the Phoenix New Times, Dolores Acevedo-Garcia says the factors causing disparate rates of infection aren’t a fact of nature but a result of society's organization and systemic racism.
Why a public/private universal health insurance system is still the right approach
Heller News Release
September 29, 2020
Professor Stuart Altman's essay is part of a compendium from the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) that examines the future of the U.S. social contract in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
Anita Hill Believes Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Replacement ‘Is a Rush,’ Compares Her Legacy to Thurgood Marshall
Heller in the News
September 28, 2020
In Variety, Anita Hill says that nominating and confirming a new Supreme Court justice to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the election is too rushed.
New research and activism highlighted in second edition of book about METCO, Massachusetts’ long-running voluntary school desegregation program
Heller News Release
September 22, 2020
Susan Eaton’s “The Other Boston Busing Story” is now available through Brandeis University Press.
Today’s Women in CT Surgery
Heller in the News
September 22, 2020
Women in Thoracic Surgery highlights Dr. Ourania Preventza, EMBA'17, professor of surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.
Uber and Lyft Could Gain From U.S. Rule Defining Employment
Heller in the News
September 22, 2020
In the New York Times, David Weil says a new Labor Department proposal that could deem millions of gig workers to be contractors rather than employees is flawed and vulnerable to be struck down in court.
New study examines how law enforcement officers respond to opioid overdose
Heller News Release
September 21, 2020
OPRC Director Traci Green and colleagues examine officers’ knowledge, preparedness and compassion fatigue when responding to an opioid overdose.
Anita Hill Reflects On Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Gender Equality Legacy
Heller in the News
September 21, 2020
On NPR, Anita Hill says Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg "brought to the court her willingness to really push for a full and inclusive definition of equality."
Ginsburg shaped our country’s vision of equality
Heller in the News
September 21, 2020
In an op-ed in the Boston Globe, Anita Hill says Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke truth to power and "she brought American law closer to our lived experiences and to the equal justice promised in our Constitution."
Addressing the Global Health Crisis of Stunting in Times of COVID-19
Heller in the News
September 21, 2020
In the Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Javaid Iqbal, MA SID/MS'21, writes about how to prevent stunting caused by food insecurity using technology to improve agriculture and strong governmental support.
What is critical race theory, President Trump’s latest political target?
Heller in the News
September 21, 2020
In the Boston Globe, Rajesh Sampath explains critical race theory, which argues that racism infects all of our societal institutions, from public education to the criminal justice system.
The President Doesn’t Need Congress to Cancel Student Loan Debt. Democrats Will Push For Action in 2021
Heller in the News
September 18, 2020
In Data for Progress, Senators Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren introduce legislation to allow the next president of the United States to broadly cancel up to $50,000 in student loan debt, citing research from the Institute on Assets and Social Policy.
The Role Of Racial Justice In Building A Culture Of Health
Heller in the News
September 17, 2020
The Health Affairs blog cites the Child Opportunity Index and how it's being used in Albany to address inequities in access to green space and in Chicago to improve health equity.
Growing Up Poor: The American Dream Deferred
Heller in the News
September 17, 2020
On Frontline, Dolores Acevedo-Garcia discusses the state of child poverty in the United States against the backdrop of the effects of the coronavirus and increasing racial tensions.
Anita Hill Confronts Pandemic, #MeToo, Women’s Right To Vote In Virtual UF Event
Heller in the News
September 14, 2020
WUFT covers a virtual talk by Anita Hill at the University of Florida, where she discussed how the coronavirus has disproportionately affected people of color, the anniversary of women's suffrage and gender-based violence in front of an audience of about 350.
FDA Panel: Reformulated OxyContin Did Not Reduce Overall Abuse
Heller in the News
September 14, 2020
In MedPage Today, Andrew Kolodny says Purdue Pharma's abuse-deterrent formulation of OxyContin did not meaningfully reduce overall opioid abuse, overdose and death.
Franchise Workers Win Victory Over U.S. Effort to Curb Lawsuits
Heller in the News
September 09, 2020
In the New York Times, David Weil comments on a federal judge's ruling that strikes down key portions of a Trump administration rule that made it more difficult for workers to win lawsuits against companies over violations committed by contractors and franchisees.
Anita Hill vows to vote for Joe Biden and work with him on gender issues
Heller in the News
September 08, 2020
On CNN, Anita Hill says that she will vote for Joe Biden and would like to work with him on issues of sexual harassment, gender violence and gender discrimination.
Heller School graduate discusses bail funds, problems with U.S. cash bail system
Heller in the News
September 08, 2020
In the Justice, Brandy Henry, PhD'19, discusses the injustices that the bail system presents, especially to Black people and people of color, and how bail funds help combat these injustices.
Perkins and RFK Children’s Action Corps Announce Affiliation, Prepare for Full Merger
Heller in the News
September 08, 2020
Business Wire announces that Michael W. Ames, PhD'15, will lead both The Doctor Franklin Perkins School and Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps after the two organizations merge.
Even in the US, South Asians say caste has proved hard to escape
Heller in the News
September 04, 2020
On CNN, Laurence Simon discusses his efforts to add caste to the Brandeis University discrimination policy.
Medicare Advantage Plans Have Little to Show for In-Hospital HF Care
Heller in the News
September 03, 2020
In MedPage Today, Christopher Tompkins comments on a new study that finds Medicare Advantage and traditional fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries received similar-quality care during hospitalization with heart failure.
Student Debt Loan Report Highlights Recommendations for Aid
Heller in the News
September 02, 2020
A story in Madison's Spectrum News 1 cites a study from the Institute on Assets and Social Policy on the difference in student loan balances between white and Black borrowers over 20 years.
Blockchain and COVID-19 in Indian Country
Heller in the News
August 31, 2020
In the Diplomatic Courier, Gabrielle Hibbert, MA SID'21, explores the contemporary and historical issues impacting the delivery of American Indian/Alaskan Native health services and how Blockchain may help.
What is Philanthropy Doing to Take on Racial Segregation in Housing? What Should it Do?
Heller in the News
August 31, 2020
In Inside Philanthropy, Susan Eaton describes a new Sillerman Center brief on how grantmaking in support of state and local efforts to reduce or redress racial segregation remains rare.
Ivanka Trump at RNC: 'I promised that President Trump would support mothers'
Heller in the News
August 28, 2020
Motherly factchecks Ivanka Trump's speech at the Republican National Convention, citing an Institute on Child, Youth and Family Policy study on the lack of affordable childcare for the majority of parents who work full-time, especially for low-income, Black and Hispanic parents.
Transforming summer jobs for Boston youth in response to COVID-19
Heller News Release
August 27, 2020
Lynn Sanders, MPP’10, and Cameron Mendes-Moreau, MPP’18, discuss their work on Boston's summer jobs programs, which provide critical income and work experience for low-income youth.
“Drug overdose deaths decreased in 2018 for the first time in 30 years.”
Heller in the News
August 27, 2020
In PolitiFact, Andrew Kolodny says it's misleading to point to a slight reduction in opioid overdose deaths in 2018, when deaths went up again in 2019.
Uber and Lyft Are Thinking About a Franchise Model. That Won’t Fix the Gig Economy’s Problems.
Heller in the News
August 26, 2020
In Slate, David Weil says corporations using legal mechanisms to avoid responsibilities to workers is a much larger problem than the gig economy, one that franchising can't fix.
Heller receives $2.7 million to study opioid addiction treatment in Medicaid Health Plans
Heller News Release
August 24, 2020
Maureen Stewart to lead four-year project with team from the Institute for Behavioral Health and funding from National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
A Q&A with Incoming PhD Program Director Diana Bowser
Heller News Release
August 24, 2020
Bowser is a health economist who specializes in health financing and health systems strengthening with an emphasis on increasing health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
U.S. cities and states are discussing reparations for Black Americans. Here’s what’s key.
Heller in the News
August 24, 2020
In an op-ed in the Washington Post, Peter Dixon explains how the U.S. can learn lessons from other countries as some states and cities pursue reparations for Black Americans for slavery and its legacy of systemic racism.
New Hampshire hospital names 1st female president of medical staff
Heller in the News
August 20, 2020
Becker's Hospital Review covers the announcement of Dr. Patricia Furey, EMBA'20, as the first woman to lead the medical staff of Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire.
A Look At The Possible Advisors Of A Biden Presidency
Heller in the News
August 19, 2020
On WBUR, Robert Kuttner discusses the advisors who would influence a Biden presidency, including rising Democratic stars and lobbyists.
Wage theft plagues L.A. garment workers. Why aren’t fashion retailers held responsible?
Heller in the News
August 18, 2020
In the LA Times, David Weil says it's possible to try to hold retailers liable for wage violations at garment factories by proving that a purchase order was put out at a cost that could not possibly be met without shortchanging workers.
Q&A: Dr. James Craven
Heller in the News
August 17, 2020
In the Healthcare Journal of Baton Rouge, James Craven, EMBA'20, discusses the shift to telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with its challenges and benefits.
Maria Madison Appointed Director of the Institute on Assets and Social Policy
Heller News Release
August 13, 2020
Madison, the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will bring expertise on racial equity to the IASP research portfolio.
Postal Service delays could move jobs to private competitors
Heller in the News
August 13, 2020
On Marketplace, David Weil says that USPS delays could lead to more reliance on companies like FedEx, which use contractors and subcontractors and pay their workers 40% less than their Postal Service counterparts.
The Costs of Trump’s Debacle on COVID Testing
Heller in the News
August 12, 2020
In the American Prospect, Robert Kuttner says the Trump administration's failure to make universal quick-response testing widely available is the worst single cause of the renewed spread of the coronavirus.
Brandeis University Launches Site to Help Communities Formulate Opioid Crisis Response
Heller in the News
August 10, 2020
Addiction Professional covers the announcement of the new Brandeis Opioid Resource Connector, a website with 150 community-based program models for initiatives and policies to reduce opioid addiction and overdose.
California court to rule on gig worker classification
Heller in the News
August 06, 2020
In NPR's Marketplace, Dean David Weil says the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how many holes there are in the social safety net for U.S. workers.
Tackling Vision Care in a Resource-Limited World
Heller in the News
August 05, 2020
In the Vision Impact Institute Blog, AK Nandakumar discusses how to manage the allocation of resources for other public health issues, including vision, while continuing to fight the pandemic.
Heller Instructors Are Instrumental in Precollege Programs on Global Health, Racial Justice
Heller News Release
August 04, 2020
Heller faculty and PhD students led the development and delivery of two of the five Brandeis precollege programs offered this year: one on global health, and the other on race, inequality and social justice.
Caste bias in Silicon Valley: India's unwanted export
Heller in the News
July 31, 2020
On Work Life India on the BBC, Laurence Simon discusses how caste bias has become an uncomfortable reality for many Indians migrating to the United States.
How Gentrification Has Changed the Globeville Neighborhood
Heller in the News
July 31, 2020
Westword uses the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy's Child Opportunity Index to delve into how neighborhoods in Denver, such as Globeville, have gentrified.
Cheyenne Paris Leads “Break the Hate” Efforts on Campus
Heller in the News
July 30, 2020
Jewish Boston profiles Cheyenne Paris, MA COEX'20, and her work with Combined Jewish Philanthropies' Break the Hate efforts on campus, an ongoing campaign for students to combat all forms of bigotry.
To Improve Measurement of Changing Nature of Employment, Bureau of Labor Statistics Should Add Questions, Make Other Changes to Workforce Survey
Heller in the News
July 30, 2020
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on Contingent Work and Alternative Work Arrangements, which included David Weil, has released its recommendations on how to better measure the changing nature of employment.
“Why are all the Black people dying?” Heller HOPE Institute for system-involved youth asks critical questions
Heller News Release
July 27, 2020
For the second year, Heller hosted Boston Public Schools (BPS) students who have been involved in the juvenile justice system for the Summer Transition HOPE Institute. The program gives system-involved youth an opportunity to engage with universities and colleges across the greater Boston area throughout the summer.
Health care visits have bounced back, but financial recovery is slower, says state oversight group
Heller in the News
July 24, 2020
In the Boston Business Journal, Stuart Altman comments on the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitals in Massachusetts.
Black millennial households earn about 60% of what their white counterparts make, and it highlights just how much worse the generational wealth gap is along racial lines
Heller in the News
July 24, 2020
In Business Insider, Tom Shapiro says Black Americans are five times less likely to receive an inheritance than white Americans, and Black parents often expect their children to provide financial support later on in life.
The ADA Turns 30: Disability Rights are Still at Risk
Heller in the News
July 24, 2020
In Dame, Robyn Powell, PhD'20, reflects on the impact of the Americans with Disability Act over the last 30 years, warning that disability rights are under attack today, and that society must recommit to ensuring equality for people with disabilities.
Asian-Americans, long used as a racial wedge, are confronting anti-Black racism in their own communities
Heller in the News
July 22, 2020
In the Boston Globe, Sam Hyun, MPP'21, discusses how Asian-Americans are grappling with their own communities’ fraught histories of anti-Blackness, at a time when anti-Asian sentiment, fueled by the coronavirus pandemic, has surged.
What’s really making the NFL's Washington team change its name?
Heller in the News
July 20, 2020
In Brandeis Now, Michael Appell discusses corporate social responsibility and what it means for institutions like the NFL's Washington franchise.
Caste Bias Lawsuit Against Cisco Tests Rare Workplace Claim
Heller in the News
July 17, 2020
In Bloomberg Law, Laurence Simon says caste conflicts and discrimination exist in the U.S., even if American employers and their workers aren’t necessarily attuned to detecting it.
Disability Pride: The High Expectations of a New Generation
Heller in the News
July 17, 2020
In the New York Times, Ari Ne'eman reflects on the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the importance of finding a community of autistic people online.
Making the Gig Economy Work for Gig Economy Workers
Heller in the News
July 16, 2020
The German Marshall Fund hosts a panel featuring David Weil to examine the challenges that gig workers faced prior to the crisis, how this moment has accelerated concerns, and prospects for reform.
Drug Overdose Deaths Hit All-Time Record Before Coronavirus
Heller in the News
July 16, 2020
In Bloomberg Law, Andrew Kolodny says the rise in drug overdose deaths in recent years is probably the result of a drop in price and an increase in the potency of certain drugs, namely opioids and methamphetamine.
Welcoming Three New Members to the William T. Grant Scholars Selection Committee
Heller in the News
July 16, 2020
The William T. Grant Foundation announces that Dolores Acevedo-Garcia is joining its Scholars Selection Committee, which supports career development for promising early-career researchers through funding and mentoring.
State sues Uber and Lyft, saying they cheat drivers by calling them contractors
Heller in the News
July 15, 2020
The Boston Globe covers the announcement of the Massachusetts Attorney General suing Uber and Lyft for misclassifying workers as independent contractors, quoting David Weil as saying the companies get all the benefits of control of a workforce but sidestep responsibility to those workers.
Mass. Asian-American leaders stand up for Black Lives Matter in new video
Heller in the News
July 15, 2020
In the Boston Globe, Sam Hyun, MPP'21, a member of the Massachusetts Asian American Commission, and Ye Zhang Pogue, PhD'19, secretary of the Chinese Americans of Massachusetts, are quoted on their views on a new video featuring Massachusetts Asian-American leaders standing up for Black Lives Matter.
Massachusetts Attorney General Announces Lawsuit Against Uber and Lyft
Heller News Release
July 14, 2020
Dean Weil joined AG Healey at a press conference announcing the lawsuit, which claims the rideshare drivers have been misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees.
Brandeis University launches COVID-19-specific opioid resource center
Heller in the News
July 13, 2020
Becker's Hospital Review covers the Opioid Policy Research Center's new Brandeis Opioid Resource Connector, which helps local leaders address the opioid epidemic.
David R. Williams: By Investing in Pre-K, We Can Create a Generation of Pandemic-Resistant Adults
Heller in the News
July 13, 2020
In Mother Jones, public health expert David R. Williams discusses the Child Opportunity Index led by Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, which finds that Black and Latino kids are more likely to grow up in low-opportunity neighborhoods.
New Online Tool to Help Communities Respond to the Opioid Crisis, with COVID-19-related Resources
Heller News Release
July 08, 2020
The Brandeis Opioid Resource Connector (BORC) website, led by Cindy Parks Thomas, offers communities models for initiatives and policies aimed at reducing opioid addiction and overdose.
It's not just about money. Black youth will bear permanent scars from this recession
Heller in the News
July 08, 2020
On CNN, Tatjana Meschede says the COVID-19 pandemic has cut short all hope that longstanding economic disparities might shrink among today's young people.
Preventing the opioid epidemic from getting worse requires attacking it at the source
Heller in the News
July 07, 2020
An op-ed in the Hill refers to Andrew Kolodny's study of a law in New Jersey requiring health care providers to discuss with patients the potential of addiction and non-opioid alternatives before prescribing an opioid-based pain reliever.
Revealing health disparities for people with disabilities: A Q&A with Ilhom Akobirshoev, PhD’15
Heller News Release
July 06, 2020
Ilhom Akobirshoev, PhD’15, a research scientist at the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy who received Heller’s Early Career Investigator Award in spring 2020, discusses his work on pregnancy and birth outcomes for women with disabilities, and his collaborations with Heller researchers in global and behavioral health.
Nearly 70% of ACOs Will Soon Offer Some Type of Home Visits
Heller in the News
July 06, 2020
In Home Health Care News, Rob Mechanic says coronavirus is only likely to help prove home-based care’s worth, as accountable care organizations increasingly offer home-based care.
Trash is Piling Up in Rural Colombia—That’s a Bad Sign for Peace
Heller in the News
July 02, 2020
In Political Violence at a Glance, Pamina Firchow and her team discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic and national State of Emergency are weakened an already fragile peace process, which needs to be nurtured at the local level.
Arlington resident elected medical society president
Heller in the News
July 02, 2020
Wicked Local Arlington reports that Carole Allen, EMBA'17, was elected as president-elect of the Massachusetts Medical Society at the organization’s annual meeting.
Bridging the Disparities Gap in the Opioid Crisis
Heller News Release
June 30, 2020
Maria Madison and Andrew Kolodny discuss how the prevailing narrative around the opioid addiction epidemic fails to recognize its effects on nonwhite populations.
A Cheap, Race-Neutral Way to Close the Racial Wealth Gap
Heller in the News
June 29, 2020
In the Atlantic, Tom Shapiro discusses baby bonds and racial wealth inequality, saying it’s not about savings but instead about institutional practices.
Virus Link to ‘Double Damages’ Rollback Skewered by Obama Alums
Heller in the News
June 26, 2020
In Bloomberg Law, David Weil says a new Department of Labor policy is particularly damaging during the coronavirus-induced recession and the increased risk of wage theft that many low-wage workers in essential jobs face.
Karen Donelan to join Heller School faculty as inaugural Stuart H. Altman Chair in U.S. Health Policy
Heller News Release
June 25, 2020
Donelan will be a senior member of the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy at the University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management.
DOL Pulls Back From Use of ‘Double Damages’ in Wage Cases
Heller in the News
June 25, 2020
In Bloomberg Law, David Law comments on a new Department of Labor policy curtailing its use of liquidated damages, which double the amount of back pay workers receive in wage settlements.
Is Home Care Going Mainstream in the United States?
Heller in the News
June 24, 2020
In AJMC coverage of the spring virtual meeting of the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations, Rob Mechanic says in recent years, technology has allowed people to deliver more health care in the home with mobile diagnostics, remote monitoring, and telehealth capabilities, but the financing model has not quite caught up.
The Advocate's 2020 Champions of Pride
Heller in the News
June 17, 2020
The Advocate names Sandy Ho one of its 2020 Champions of Pride, which honors LGBTQ+ people who are changing the world for the better.
10 books to read if you want to learn about the future of work
Heller in the News
June 17, 2020
Business Insider recommends David Weil's book, "The Fissured Workplace: Why Work Became So Bad for So Many and What Can Be Done to Improve It," to learn about how employer-employee relationships have weakened since the mid-20th century.
AskAPSIA - Heller School Dean reflects on International Affairs Post COVID-19
Heller in the News
June 16, 2020
In an APSIA video, David Weil says COVID-19 has revealed deep-seated structures of social inequality and disparities in the United States around the world that require multidisciplinary policy solutions.
Reckoning with another dangerous time for Black people in America
Heller in the News
June 16, 2020
Brandeis Now covers a panel featuring Anita Hill and other Brandeis professors on the complex intersections of history, politics, the law, race and white supremacy.
Sharing the Impact of Emergency Cash
Heller in the News
June 15, 2020
In the Workers Lab blog, David Weil says emergency cash can be helpful but is not a silver bullet, and must be integrated in public and private policy responses.
Union’s Death by Many Cuts Shows Precarious Perch in Digital Age
Heller in the News
June 12, 2020
A Bloomberg Law story about the erosion of unions references David Weil's concept of the fissured workplace, or the practice of outsourcing business functions that used to be handled internally.
She Was A Victims’ Advocate Long Before #MeToo
Heller in the News
June 12, 2020
Berkeley's California Magazine highlights Freada Kapor Klein, PhD'84, named Alumna of the Year, for her efforts as a researcher, an activist, and a formidable advocate for women’s rights decades before the current #MeToo movement.
Despite pandemic, health care jobs may be lost
Heller in the News
June 11, 2020
In Commonwealth Magazine, Stuart Altman comments on the increase of telemedicine due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how that may impact total health care spending.
Adapting Management Values to Remote Work
Heller in the News
June 11, 2020
In HR People and Strategy Blog, Sarah Taghvai-Soroui says successful remote work requires "organizations to critically re-examine their traditional workplace regimes and the values and assumptions that have carried over into their remote work operation."
VIEWS ON THE NEWS: The death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement
Heller in the News
June 10, 2020
In the Justice, Rajesh Sampath reflects on the recent racial justice protests and the steps can non-Black people take to address the prejudices they may hold.
Low-Income Children Are Most Vulnerable To Pandemic’s Long-Term Effects
Heller in the News
June 10, 2020
On the Connecticut Public Radio, Dolores Acevedo-Garcia says segregation and neighborhood inequities lead to an unfair concentration of health vulnerability in minority communities.
Heller holds first Sankofa Community Conference on racial justice
Heller News Release
June 09, 2020
On June 2 and 3, the Heller School held its first Sankofa Community Conference, “Advancing Racial Justice Through Life and Work,” with more than 500 participants over two days.
Op-Ed: How to determine if a business is COVID-19 safe? Create a restaurant-style grading system
Heller in the News
June 09, 2020
In an op-ed in the LA Times, David Weil says government standards and a ratings system should be put in place to help people make informed choices about which businesses to enter amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
18 books on race and white privilege that will show you what's really happening in America right now
Heller in the News
June 08, 2020
Business Insider recommends Tom Shapiro's "Black Wealth/White Wealth" as a book to learn about how large the wealth gap is between black and white Americans.
Samoan Fulbright scholar graduates, ready to come home
Heller in the News
June 05, 2020
In the Samoa Observer, Sita Leota, MA SID'20, discusses her studies at Heller and goals when she returns to Samoa, using sustainable development to fix systems that keep people poor.
Brandeisians come together to face systemic racism
Heller in the News
June 05, 2020
BrandeisNow covers a virtual gathering of more than 700 Brandeis community members, where Maria Madison said, “Think of one action you can do as an individual to help make Brandeis an anti-racist institution. How can we create educational moments? Who can we reach out to?”
DOL Watchdog’s Exit Creates Crucial Virus Oversight Vacancy
Heller in the News
June 04, 2020
In Bloomberg Law, David Weil comments on the surprise retirement of the inspector general of the Labor Department, saying there is a critical need for experienced and independent watchdogs in government agencies.
Peak Inspiration
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
Daniel Mazur, PhD'00, scales the planet's highest summits and gives back to the communities that call those mountains home.
Tracking fentanyl in the drug supply
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
Traci Green, director of the Opioid Policy Research Collaborative, puts public health first with new services for users to test their drugs.
Reflections on Heller’s 60th Birthday
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
Dean David Weil looks back on Heller's first 60 years and shares his vision for Heller's next chapter, working to address social and economic disparities and make the world a more just, peaceful and humane place for all.
Deans' Stories
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
Former deans Stuart Altman, Jack Shonkoff and Lisa Lynch look back on their time leading the Heller School.
60 Heller Alumni Around the World
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
Heller’s 4,500 alumni are scattered across the globe, creating social change on virtually every continent.
The Best Lessons I Learned at Heller
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
Alumni share stories about their favorite professors, who served not only as teachers in the classroom, but as mentors, research advisers and even friends.
Then and Now: Heller by the Numbers
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
How Heller has changed over the last six decades, from gender makeup to number of academic programs.
Professor Emerita Donates Retirement Fund to Support Heller Students
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
Mari Fitzduff, professor emerita of the MA in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence (COEX) program, has created “The Fitzduff Family Fellowship,” a scholarship that will be awarded each year to an international COEX student from a war zone.
Then and Now: Heller Policy Impact
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
Since 1959, Heller's policy impact has grown in a variety of areas, including improving health policies, exposing labor inequities, providing HIV/AIDS expertise, revealing the effects of racial discrimination, and advancing the lives of people with disabilities.
Letter from 60th anniversary steering committee co-chairs
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
Thomas P. Glynn III, MSW’72, PhD’77 and Susan Windham-Bannister, PhD’77, H’19 look back at Heller's last 60 years and urge community members to stay connected.
Creating social change through philanthropy
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
Evan Hochberg, MMHS'96, asks, “What’s the role for business and philanthropy in making the world a better place?”
Kathy Byers, MSW’71, honored as National Association of Social Work Pioneer
Heller News Release
June 03, 2020
Kathy Byers, MSW’71, was recognized as a Social Work Pioneer by the National Association of Social Workers Foundation for her work as a founding member of Influencing Social Policy (ISP).
Anita Hill-Led Hollywood Commission Urges Industry To Step Up In Wake Of Killing Of George Floyd
Heller in the News
June 03, 2020
In Deadline, the commission led by Anita Hill says it "mourns the murder of George Floyd” and urges the film and TV industry to make workplaces "safe from harassment, discrimination, abuse and bullying" that replicates harmful power imbalances in society.
Study shows inpatient psychiatric units less likely to use health information exchange
Heller News Release
June 01, 2020
This new publication, led by Heller PhD candidate Morgan Shields appears in the June 2020 issue of Health Affairs.
The Risks Of Remaining In The Medicare Shared Savings Program During The COVID-19 Pandemic
Heller in the News
June 01, 2020
In the Health Affairs blog, Robert Mechanic discusses pandemic-related financial risks arising from the MSSP payment model and new policies that substantially reduce but do not eliminate risks to MSSP ACOs in the current year.
EMBA Commencement speaker: Shaneeta Johnson, EMBA'20
Heller News Release
May 31, 2020
Shaneeta Johnson, EMBA'20, shares how the EMBA program has given her and her physician classmates the tools to improve health care and health care delivery, especially during disasters like Hurricane Dorian in her home country of the Bahamas, and the current COVID-19 crisis.
SID Commencement speaker: Prince Mujumbe Salama, MA SID'20
Heller News Release
May 31, 2020
Prince Mujumbe Salama, MA SID'20, shares how growing up as an internally displaced person and losing his father shaped him, and his appreciation for the support of the Heller community, especially during a challenging final semester.
COEX Commencement speaker: Winnie Rugamba, MA COEX'20
Heller News Release
May 31, 2020
Winnie Rugamba, MA COEX'20, shares her journey from Rwanda to Massachusetts, and what she loves about studying with a cohort of students from different beliefs, values, and backgrounds, all fighting to change the status quo.
PhD Commencement speaker: Robyn Powell, PhD'20
Heller News Release
May 31, 2020
Robyn Powell, PhD'20, shares how she has continuously sought opportunities to advance the rights of people with disabilities, first as a social worker, then an attorney, and now a researcher.
MS Commencement speaker: Blessed Ovie, MS'20
Heller News Release
May 31, 2020
Blessed Ovie, MS'20, shares why he decided to pursue a degree in global health policy and management after working for 10 years in Nigeria's public health sector, and the obstacles he had to overcome for four years before arriving at Heller.
MPP Commencement speaker: Bishar Jenkins, MPP'20
Heller News Release
May 31, 2020
Bishar Jenkins, MPP'20, shares how his HIV diagnosis spurred him to pursue an MPP in order to change policies for Black and Queer young people like himself.
MBA Commencement speaker: John Valinch, MBA/MPP'20
Heller News Release
May 31, 2020
John Valinch, MBA/MPP'20, shares how growing up in Chelsea, Massachusetts, a primarily immigrant and Latinx community, shaped his dedication to fighting for working-class communities and belief in the power of collective action and solidarity.
Virtual Graduation 2020: "Creating a better future for our generation and generations to come"
Heller News Release
May 31, 2020
Heller held its first-ever virtual graduation celebration for its class of 2020 graduates on Sunday, May 31. The 143 graduates — 139 master’s and 4 doctoral degree recipients — represent seven programs and 40 countries, speaking 35 languages.
"Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere."
Heller News Release
May 29, 2020
Dean David Weil and Associate Dean Maria Madison address the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, and offer resources for the Heller community.
COVID-19 doesn't cancel out the ADA: disability rights during a pandemic
Heller in the News
May 27, 2020
On KUOW, Robyn Powell discusses the rights of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic as states begin to reopen.
Economic impact of an outbreak
Heller in the News
May 26, 2020
Boston College highlights a webinar featuring Diana Bowser as a panelist, discussing the impact on of the coronavirus pandemic on the global economy.
Campaign to Partially Ban Abortion in CO Attempts to Portray Abortion as Disability Discrimination
Heller in the News
May 26, 2020
In the Colorado Times Recorder, Robyn Powell, PhD'20, says bans on abortion in the case of a Down Syndrome diagnosis don't help the disability community and are an opportunity for anti-choice individuals to use disability as their pawn.
Winner of the 2020 Conflict Research Society Book of the Year Prize
Heller in the News
May 26, 2020
The Conflict Research Society congratulates Pamina Firchow on winning the 2020 Conflict Research Society Book of the Year Prize for her book titled Reclaiming Everyday peace: Local Voices in Measurement and Evaluation After War published by Cambridge University Press (2018).
The Workers Lab Unveils Findings of Largest Ever Gig Worker Cash Transfer Experiment
Heller News Release
May 22, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, David Weil contributes to a Workers Strength Fund experiment that reveals great need for low-income gig worker and contractor safety net.
'All the psychoses of US history': how America is victim-blaming the coronavirus dead
Heller in the News
May 22, 2020
In the Guardian, Finn Gardiner, MPP'18, discusses how fat-shaming coronavirus victims during the pandemic, particularly those of color, left people feeling “expendable” and that they were “an acceptable sacrifice.”
Setting a Higher Bar for Multicultural Inclusion in Higher Education
Heller in the News
May 21, 2020
In Higher Education Today, Maria Madison says higher education needs to transform itself to address recent demographic changes and work toward equitable student graduation and employment rates.
The Post-Corona World
Heller in the News
May 21, 2020
In a podcast for the American Prospect, Robert Kuttner and other editors discuss the post-pandemic future for labor, manufacturing, corporate power, and democracy.
OLOL, other providers see huge increases in telemedicine visits
Heller in the News
May 21, 2020
In the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report, James Craven, EMBA'20, comments on the dramatic increase in telemedicine during the COVID-19 crisis, saying the old model of health care delivery is forever changed.
Boston Speaks Up: Meet WorkAround CEO Wafaa Arbash
Heller in the News
May 19, 2020
In American Inno, Wafaa Arbash, MA SID/COEX'17, chats about her Boston-based startup WorkAround and why she, as a Syrian immigrant, is determined to restore dignity to refugees globally.
Student launches kosher delivery service for front-line workers
Heller in the News
May 18, 2020
Brandeis Now covers a new service, JewBer, created by Ana Sazonov, MA/MBA’21 and Simon Luxemburg, MA/MBA’21 to deliver kosher Shabbat, Passover and other meals for Jewish frontline workers in the Boston area, including medical professionals caring for COVID-19 patients.
Dr. Jill M. Baren Named Provost at University of the Sciences
Heller in the News
May 15, 2020
The University of the Sciences names Jill M. Baren, MD, EMBA'19, a national leader in academic medicine, healthcare, and higher education, provost and vice president of academic affairs.
Blockchain in Boston: Combining Tech and International Development
Heller in the News
May 15, 2020
William and Mary's Global Research Institute interviews Gabrielle Hibbert, MA SID'21, about her career path, studies at Heller and future work in blockchain technology.
Anita Hill: Why a Safe Working Environment Also Includes Protections Against Abuses
Heller in the News
May 14, 2020
In Variety, Anita Hill discusses how Hollywood should approach its return to work after COVID-19, including adding protections against ageism and racism, as workers vie for fewer jobs.
Iran's financial crisis weakens its coronavirus response
Heller in the News
May 14, 2020
In Futurity, PhD candidate Hadi Kahalzadeh discusses the humanitarian and economic crisis in Iran and the impact of US sanctions as it works to combat the coronavirus.
Steve Bannon Strikes Again
Heller in the News
May 12, 2020
In the American Prospect, Robert Kuttner describes a recent interview with former Trump administration official Steve Bannon on COVID-19, China and reopening the United States.
Butte County’s low-income children suffer in coronavirus pandemic
Heller in the News
May 12, 2020
In the Enterprise-Record, Dolores Acevedo-Garcia says impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are felt harder by children in low-income families, and that they are experiencing high stress, routine disruptions, fear and economic insecurity.
Virus shaking up Mass. health care dynamics
Heller in the News
May 06, 2020
In the Worcester Business Journal, Stuart Altman discusses the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has disrupted the health care system in Massachusetts, cutting into provider revenues and possibly translating to longer-term shifts in care delivery.
Why is COVID-19 hitting black communities harder? Residential segregation is a key factor.
Heller in the News
May 05, 2020
In the Appeal, Dolores Acevedo-Garcia says that residential segregation concentrates social conditions that are conducive to transmission of diseases like COVID-19.
Why Americans don't know about their right to paid sick leave
Heller in the News
May 04, 2020
In Newsweek, David Weil and his former Obama administration Department of Labor colleagues say the Trump administration must increase DOL staffing, expand labor protections and make it easier for American workers to learn about and qualify for paid sick leave.
Risks of inpatient psychiatry during COVID-19 and beyond
Heller in the News
May 04, 2020
In the Medical Care Blog, Morgan Shields discusses the risks of COVID-19 for inpatient psychiatry patients, and how community-based alternatives could provide better value for patients and society.
The Allegation Is Against Joe Biden, but the Burden Is on Women
Heller in the News
May 04, 2020
In the New York Times, Anita Hill says there needs to be a full investigation into the allegations of sexual assault made by Tara Reade against presidential candidate Joe Biden.
Don’t Forget the Other Pandemic Killing Thousands of Americans
Heller in the News
May 04, 2020
In the Daily Beast, Traci Green says people with opioid use disorder need extra support during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as easy access to treatment and telemedicine for prescribing buprenorphine.
USAID Provides $2.9M to Support India’s COVID-19 Efforts
Heller in the News
May 01, 2020
USAID announces $2.9 million to support India in its response to the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, a plan developed with the support of A.K. Nandakumar, advisor to USAID health office in India.
How COVID-19 is Impacting Health Policy at Federal, State and Local Levels
Heller News Release
April 30, 2020
Associate Professor and MPP Program Director Michael Doonan utilizes his expertise in health policy and federalism to help explain how COVID-19 is impacting health policy at every level of government.
Class action suit aims to free all transgender ICE detainees
Heller in the News
April 30, 2020
On NBC, Traci Green says ICE detention facilities, in terms of social distancing, are “even worse than prison or jail, and they’re not equipped for COVID-19.”
Long-sought U.S. labor rule change raises worker safety questions in coronavirus crisis
Heller in the News
April 30, 2020
In Reuters, David Weil comments on National Labor Relations Board rule change regarding joint employment, and estimates joint employment affects at least 19% of the U.S. workforce.
Amplifying the voices of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic
Heller News Release
April 29, 2020
Robyn Powell, PhD’20, discusses how the pandemic has exacerbated inequities for people with disabilities and why it's essential for them to have a seat at the table as policymakers make critical decisions.
Could ICE detention centers be the next coronavirus hotbed?
Heller in the News
April 29, 2020
In the Hill, Traci Green says keeping immigrants in detention is exacerbating what is already a public health crisis, and her team recommends a prompt widespread release of immigrants from these dangerous environments.
New Laws for the Fissured Workplace
Heller in the News
April 29, 2020
In the American Prospect, David Weil says the COVID-19 pandemic reveals the long-term need for wide access for all workers to safety-net protections like unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation as well as to comprehensive paid-leave policies.
Study Projects Significant Impact on Immigrants and Local Health Care if ICE Detention Populations are not Decreased
Heller in the News
April 27, 2020
A new study from Traci Green, to be published in the Journal of Urban Health, shows how the spread of COVID-19 in immigration detention will impact facility populations and local health care systems.
The recovered: How it feels to be alive on the other side of the pandemic
Heller in the News
April 27, 2020
In the Washington Post, Dr. Jill Baren, EMBA'19, shares her experience being both an emergency room physician and COVID-19 patient during the pandemic.
Remote learning in the age of COVID-19
Heller in the News
April 27, 2020
Alain Lempereur and Brenda Anderson share how they have adjusted their teaching methods for online instruction during COVID-19.
Looking Ahead to COVID-19 Response in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Q&A with Professor Nandakumar
Heller News Release
April 24, 2020
For many sub-Saharan African countries, the COVID-19 pandemic looms on the horizon. Global health experts like Professor Allyala Nandakumar are stepping up to help them prepare.
2020 Heller Awards winners announced during virtual celebration
Heller News Release
April 24, 2020
Each spring, the Heller School recognizes individuals for outstanding service in teaching, mentoring, teaching assistance, staff service, research, and equity, inclusion and diversity.
Professors Anita Hill and Susan Lovett elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Heller in the News
April 23, 2020
University Professor Anita Hill was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which honors exceptionally accomplished individuals and engages them in advancing the public good.
Taking advantage of unpaid leave can increase the chances that workers will face economic hardship
Heller in the News
April 22, 2020
In the Conversation, Pam Joshi discusses how U.S. family and medical leave policies make it difficult for Americans to take time off, even if they or their loved ones get COVID-19.
What America Can Do to Fight Mass Unemployment
Heller in the News
April 22, 2020
In the New York Times, Robert Kuttner says federal and state governments should hire thousands of new college graduates to reinforce understaffed employment agencies.
National Covid-19 Testing Action Plan
Heller in the News
April 21, 2020
The Rockefeller Foundation releases its testing action plan for the United States, created by a team of experts on science, industry, academia, public policy, and government, including Allyala Nandakumar.
José Gaston Guillem, MD, MPH, MBA Joins UNC Surgery as the new Chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Heller in the News
April 21, 2020
UNC School of Medicine interviews José Gaston Guillem, EMBA'19, who shares what inspired him to become a doctor, how influential mentors lead to his specialty in colorectal surgery and his goals for the GI Division.
Public health expert: ‘Marshall Plan’ needed to redress coronavirus race disparities
Heller in the News
April 20, 2020
In the Chicago Sun-Times, social scientist David R. Williams cites the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy's Child Opportunity Index 2.0 for showing that inequities that have long-term effects on lifelong health are created early in life, at the neighborhood level.
Gig Workers Still Waiting for Help After 22 Million Jobs Vanish
Heller in the News
April 17, 2020
In Bloomberg, David Weil says the fissured nature of the U.S. workplace allows companies to evade their traditional responsibilities, and COVID-19 revealed how vulnerable gig workers are.
What it’s like to be a delivery person during the coronavirus pandemic
Heller in the News
April 16, 2020
On CNBC, David Weil discusses how gig workers for delivery services like Amazon Flex, Uber Eats and Instacart need protections more than ever as they continue to work during the COVID-19 crisis.
Coronavirus pandemic shines a light on gig workers’ scant protections
Heller in the News
April 15, 2020
In the Boston Globe, David Weil says the lack of paid sick leave and other protections shows for gig workers, such as those delivering groceries for Instacart, shows that the workplace social safety net has major holes.
Brandeis University Study Shows Few Opioid Prescribers Warned Patients of Risk of Addiction Before State Requirement
Heller in the News
April 15, 2020
A new study from Andrew Kolodny shows that a New Jersey law requiring conversations between prescribers and patients to discuss risks of addiction before an opioid-based pain reliever is prescribed resulted in a significant drop in patients started on opioids.
Neighborhood inequities and COVID-19
Heller in the News
April 15, 2020
In a blog post on DiversityDataKids.org, Dolores Acevedo-Garcia says during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Child Opportunity Index can help identify and direct resources to vulnerable neighborhoods to prevent existing inequities from deepening.
Accelerating Equity and Justice: Basic Income and Generational Wealth
Heller News Release
April 14, 2020
New report from the Institute on Assets and Social Policy (IASP) shows combining monthly Basic Income with generational wealth-building Kids' Futures Accounts significantly reduces income and wealth disparities.
How A Factory In Lawrence Went From Athletic Apparel To Medical Gowns
Heller in the News
April 14, 2020
WBUR covers a news conference featuring Gov. Charlie Baker and Brenna Schneider, MBA'12, who unveils the isolations gowns her company 99 Degrees Custom is making for health care workers as they fight COVID-19.
We are in this together
Heller in the News
April 14, 2020
In a Facebook Live broadcast with Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, Sam Hyun, MPP'21, discusses his work to combat the anti-Asian racism that has sprung up around COVID-19.
Tackle inequality, coronavirus with tax credits for working families
Heller in the News
April 13, 2020
In the North Jersey Record, Nicole Rodriguez, MPP'14, says it's critical to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, one of the nation's most successful anti-poverty programs, to help families struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
Could coronavirus-induced recession be more deadly than disease?
Heller in the News
April 13, 2020
In Al Jazeera, Clemens Noelke discusses the relationship between recessions and mortality among older US adults, including research that shows older workers are more likely to die after losing their jobs, especially if they lose them during a recession.
Coronavirus may bring a labor reckoning for Amazon
Heller in the News
April 10, 2020
In Digital Trends, David Weil says the COVID-19 pandemic situation may have systematic effects on labor practices in the U.S., including at Amazon.
Consistent, transparent messaging from leaders needed in coronavirus crisis, expert says
Heller in the News
April 10, 2020
In the Boston Herald, Leonard Marcus, PhD'83, says consistent, transparent and unified messaging from state, local and federal leaders is needed to push through the coronavirus crisis and get the public to follow vital instructions.
Ohio doctors, pharmacies slash number of opioid pills distributed last year
Heller in the News
April 09, 2020
In the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Andrew Kolodny says the drop in opioid prescriptions in Ohio is encouraging, but there is still more to be done to decrease opioid prescribing.
Asian Americans Are Not a Monolith, But We Have to Come Together
Heller in the News
April 09, 2020
In an op-ed in NextShark, Sam Hyun, MPP'21, says even as Asian Americans grappled with racism due to the coronavirus, they must work to dismantle systems of oppression, eradicate racism or end all injustice.
Latinas Who Lead: Lisa Cacari Stone Brings a Passion for Mentorship to UNM College of Population Health
Heller in the News
April 06, 2020
Lisa Cacari Stone, PhD'04 is profiled about her path to the University of New Mexico, where she is now teaching the next generation of scholars of color to promote behavioral health equity in diverse and underserved communities.
Institute estimates Miss. could have 918 COVID-19 deaths by early August
Heller in the News
April 05, 2020
On WLBT, Dr. Clay Hays, EMBA'21, says a new prediction about the number of deaths from COVID-19 in Mississippi has helped convince state leadership to implement more stringent social distancing measures.
P.A.A.R.I. Announces Fentanyl Test Strip Pilot Project
Heller in the News
April 03, 2020
The Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.) announces that Traci Green is the principal investigator of a three-month pilot project with 11 Massachusetts police departments to utilize fentanyl test strips as a new tool to engage people with opioid use disorder and help prevent overdose deaths.
Sanctions Make the Coronavirus More Deadly
Heller in the News
April 02, 2020
In Foreign Affairs, PhD candidate Hadi Kahalzadeh urges the United States to lift sanctions so that Iran can better fight COVID-19 and save its citizens' lives.
Brandeis publishes its first academic journal on caste and social exclusion
Heller News Release
April 01, 2020
“CASTE: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion” released its first issue on Feb. 26, marking Brandeis University’s first-ever peer-reviewed academic journal. J-CASTE advances peer-reviewed scholarship across disciplines into caste systems in South Asia and beyond.
Manufacturing a coronavirus defense: companies like L.L. Bean transition to medical gear production
Heller in the News
April 01, 2020
In the Boston Globe, Brenna Schneider, MBA'12, says her company 99 Degrees Custom, based in Lawrence, Massachusetts, is planning to pivot from making athletic wear to isolation gowns for front-line health care workers.
Drugmakers Poised to Profit Off of Opioid Settlement Strategy
Heller in the News
March 31, 2020
In Bloomberg Law, Andrew Kolodny says it's important to treat people with opioid addiction with a combination of medication and supportive services.
U.S. Civil Rights Office Rejects Rationing Medical Care Based on Disability, Age
Heller in the News
March 30, 2020
In the New York Times, Ari Ne'eman says a new bulletin from the U.S. Civil Rights Office is an important first step in protecting the rights of people with disabilities in the COVID0-19 crisis.
People With Intellectual Disabilities May Be Denied Lifesaving Care Under These Plans as Coronavirus Spreads
Heller in the News
March 30, 2020
In ProPublica, Ari Ne'eman says the U.S. is currently facing a clash between disability rights law and ruthless utilitarian logic during the COVID-19 crisis.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought out society's alarming disregard for people with disabilities
Heller in the News
March 27, 2020
In the Appeal, Robyn Powell says politicians and the general public are ignoring the health and safety needs of those with disabilities and chronic conditions.
People With Disabilities Say Rationing Care Policies Violate Civil Rights
Heller in the News
March 26, 2020
On NPR, Ari Ne'eman says several state policies for crisis care ration care at the expense of people with disabilities, which violates civil rights laws.
Kuttner: U.S. Economy Saving Effort 'Has To Be A Lot Bigger Than $2 Trillion'
Heller in the News
March 25, 2020
On WGBH, Robert Kuttner says the $2 trillion dollar aid bill from Congress won’t be enough to save the U.S. economy, and that the U.S. could ease economic distress by reimbursing for lost wages and investing in massive infrastructure projects.
Delivery drivers face pandemic without sick pay, insurance, sanitizer
Heller in the News
March 25, 2020
In Reuters, David Weil says the coronavirus pandemic has revealed the precarious environment that has been a daily reality for gig workers as they now take on much greater risks in delivering essential goods.
Could Pandemic Shutdowns Lead to More Worker Protections?
Heller in the News
March 23, 2020
On KCET, David Weil says COVID-19 has revealed the dangers of gig work, which leaves people without sick leave, unemployment insurance, or medical insurance. "There is no safety social net for any worker in that situation,” he says.
‘I Will Not Apologize for My Needs’
Heller in the News
March 23, 2020
In the New York Times, Lurie Institute for Disability Policy Visiting Scholar Ari Ne’eman argues that doctors cannot abandon the practice of nondiscrimination during the COVID-19 crisis.
The End of American Exceptionalism
Heller in the News
March 23, 2020
In the American Prospect, Robert Kuttner says that although the America has long managed to avoid disasters that have struck other nations, such as famine or war on home social, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that American exceptionalism is over.
Virus Stokes Discrimination Concerns From Disability Groups
Heller in the News
March 23, 2020
In Bloomberg Law, Ari Ne'eman says protecting vulnerable populations during a pandemic is a civil rights issue, citing the Americans with Disabilities Act.
16 more coronavirus cases in L.A. County; total number at 69
Heller in the News
March 23, 2020
In the LA Daily News, Barbara Ferrer, PhD'94, L.A. County’s Public Health director, discusses the new cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles.
This Stimulus Bill Will Not Save the Economy From Collapse
Heller in the News
March 22, 2020
In the New York Times, Robert Kuttner argues that the U.S. needs huge investment in hospitals and medical supplies, major infrastructure projects and investment in stopping climate change to help stimulate the economy after COVID-19.
Mass. CEO op-ed: We need a shelter-in-place order
Heller in the News
March 18, 2020
In an article for Boston Business Journal, Brenna Schneider, MBA'12, urges elected and business leaders to "shut down all non-essential businesses" including her own manufacturing company "under a shelter-in-place order" in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
2020’s Most & Least Federally Dependent States
Heller in the News
March 18, 2020
In Wallethub, Robert Tannenwald argues that United States' federal government should continue to "redistribute resources among states."
The Heller School at Brandeis University named top-10 school for social policy
Heller News Release
March 17, 2020
U.S. News and World Report recognizes Heller as 9th for social policy, 12th for health policy and management.
York Hospital CEO Jud Knox exits
Heller in the News
March 16, 2020
Sea Coast Online reports that Jennifer Cutts, EMBA'19, is now serving as joint CEO of York Hospital after Jud Knox stepped down as the hospital's president and CEO.
Rollins: Virus-related discrimination won’t be tolerated
Heller in the News
March 12, 2020
In SouthCoastToday, Asian American Commissioner Sam Hyun, MPP'21, urges Asian American communities to defer to experts when it comes to COVID-19 best practices.
As coronavirus outbreak accelerates, youthful faces may mask mortal risk
Heller in the News
March 11, 2020
In LA Times, Robyn Powell says the "recommendations that government officials are making" with regards to people with compromised immune systems in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic "are really unobtainable.”
Let’s Get Serious About Fighting the Corona Depression
Heller in the News
March 10, 2020
In the Prospect, Robert Kuttner writes about the fallout of the COVID-19 virus epidemic on the economy, assessing that the effects are now "comparable to those of a major economic depression."
After FDA bans Judge Rotenberg Center from using electric shock devices, advocates seek public apology, reparations
Heller in the News
March 09, 2020
In MassLive, Ari Ne'eman says there are alternative treatments to electric shock devices outside the Judge Rotenberg Center such as "community based services."
Testing drugs could be key to preventing overdoses
Heller in the News
March 09, 2020
In Boston25news, Traci Green weighs in on AHOPE's new high-tech machines which can check the presence of fentanyl in drugs: "without any information, we’re in this big black box of great unknowns and huge risk.”
Why having fewer OSHA inspectors matters
Heller in the News
March 06, 2020
In The Conversation, David Weil warns about the decreasing numbers of Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors. "When businesses know they’re not likely to be inspected, they are less likely to devote resources to create safe workplaces," he says.
100 Women of the Year: Anita Hill
Heller in the News
March 05, 2020
Time magazine features profile of Anita Hill on its list of the most influential women of the past century for her contributions to the movement opposing sexual harassment against women.
Democratic Socialism—American Style
Heller in the News
March 05, 2020
Watch Robert Kuttner and his colleagues at the Prospect discuss how socialism is an American tradition, how corporate power presents such an ever-present obstacle to its goals, and whether a socialist could lead the US.
Companies are contracting out more jobs—that’s not great for workers
Heller in the News
March 03, 2020
In Ars Technica, David Weil lays out the many challenges posed by companies' increased reliance on contract workers, highlighting labor violations, safety risks and possible improvements from laws like California's AB 5.
Letters reveal tensions between love and politics
Heller in the News
March 03, 2020
The Justice reports on a Rose Art Museum event featuring Rajesh Sampath in which he discussed the exchange of letters between political theorist Hannah Arendt and philosopher Martin Heidegger.
House Appropriations Committee on Reducing Child Poverty
Heller in the News
March 03, 2020
Dolores Acevedo-Garcia testifies before the House Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on reducing child poverty. "We have a responsibility to reduce child poverty by half because we know how to do it," she said. (Remarks begin at 2:10)
Congresswoman Clark Votes To Stop Youth Tobacco Epidemic
Heller in the News
March 03, 2020
In Framingham Source, Carole Allen, EMBA'17, says “the proliferation of electronic nicotine delivery systems, offering flavors attractive to youth, has fueled a new epidemic of tobacco use.”
Disability policies highlight major differences among U.S. presidential hopefuls
Heller in the News
March 03, 2020
In the Spectrum, Finn Gardiner says both Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren address classroom inclusion, interactions with law enforcement, employment and sub-minimum wages more thoroughly than other candidates have.
Human Rights Lessons from the Past for Today’s Problems
Heller News Release
March 02, 2020
Christine Rostampour, MA COEX'20, talks to Professor Theodore Johnson about the history of human rights in the hope that reviewing the past can inspire us for a better future.
Inside Opening Night of Audible's In Love and Struggle Off-Broadway
Heller in the News
March 02, 2020
Anita Hill features in a three-night special event bridging Black History Month and Women's History Month called "In Love and Struggle."
In Prosperous California, Anxiety Over Inequality Abounds
Heller in the News
February 29, 2020
The New York Times references the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy's Child Opportunity Index 2.0 that showed Bakersfield, California was the worst place in America to raise children.
NLRB rule could make it harder for millions of workers to organize
Heller in the News
February 27, 2020
On Marketplace, David Weil comments on the rolling back of an Obama-era doctrine that held some corporations accountable for violations of federal labor law by subcontractors or franchisees.
Teach NJ Announces Katie Schlussel Katz as Executive Director
Heller in the News
February 27, 2020
In JewishLinkNj, Teach NJ announces Katie Schlussel Katz ’10, MBA/MA Hornstein'11, as its new executive director. Teach NJ is a project of the Orthodox Union that advocates for fair government funding for New Jersey’s non-public schools.
‘Puro cash’: Latinos are opening more small businesses than anyone else in the US
Heller in the News
February 25, 2020
USA Today cites research by the Institute on Assets and Social Policy, to conclude that "historic disenfranchisement of people of color has led to those very people having less generational wealth than white people."
Phi Kappa Phi lecture discusses student debt crisis, racial disparities
Heller in the News
February 25, 2020
The Badger Herald reports on University of Wisconsin Associate Professor Nick Hillman's lecture at a Phi Kappa Phi event. During his lecture, Hillman cited research by the Institute on Assets and Social Policy which showed that "while the typical Black borrower owes 95% of debt, white borrowers owe just 6%".
Four New Members Join Asian American Commission
Heller in the News
February 25, 2020
Sam Hyun, MPP'21, has been appointed as one of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Asian American Commissioners by Speaker Bob DeLeo.
How 2020 Democrats' Health Care Plans Would Rock Hospital Budgets In Mass.
Heller in the News
February 25, 2020
In WBUR, Stuart Altman says no one knows what can be lost in a move to "Medicare for All," including possible cuts to research, training, salaries and amenities, as well as effects on patient care.
Deadline Approaching for Agencies to Post Regulatory Guidance
Heller in the News
February 24, 2020
In Bloomberg Law, David Weil discusses why he issued guidance documents while he was administrator of the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division during the Obama administration.
Anita Hill Says Harvey Weinstein Conviction Is ‘Only the Beginning’
Heller in the News
February 24, 2020
The Wrap reflects Anita Hill's comments about Harvey Weinstein’s guilty verdict, saying that although many deem it as a victory for the #MeToo movement, she sees it as "only the beginning."
COEX student Soroush Kazemi’s work featured in Oscar-winning documentary
Heller News Release
February 20, 2020
The 2020 Academy Awards honored “Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone (If You’re a Girl)” with the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject, which features the work of Soroush Kazemi, MA COEX’21, who led the nonprofit Skateistan-Kabul as general manager for nearly four years.
National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Heller in the News
February 20, 2020
Constance Horgan discussed health services research to improve the delivery of alcohol services during a presentation at a NIAAA meeting. "Early in my career, I became intrigued as to why so little was being done with the tools of health services research to improve the delivery and quality of alcohol, drug and mental health services. This has become my professional passion."
25 Years Later, Women’s Rights Icon Anita Hill Returns to UCSB
Heller in the News
February 20, 2020
Daily Nexus covers Anita Hill's speech at Campbell Hall. “We can relate to the individual stories, but it is just as important for us to see what is happening on a larger scale, on the social scale, if we are going to address it,” Hill said to a sold-out crowd.
We Tried to Find the Most Equal Place in America. It Got Complicated
Heller in the News
February 20, 2020
Time Magazine website dedicates an article to the Child Opportunity Index 2.0, a report complied by the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy. According to Time, the report "has helped local policymakers and institutions understand where to target programs to improve outcomes for their cities’ children."
Fewer CT doctors report taking money from embattled Purdue Pharma
Heller in the News
February 19, 2020
In CT Post, Andrew Kolodny criticizes doctors who have received large amounts of money from conglomerate Purdue Pharma which has come under fire for its alleged role in the opioid crisis.
Anita Hill Receives Sankofa Freedom Award
Heller in the News
February 17, 2020
KRJH-TV shares news and footage of Anita Hill receiving the Sankofa Freedom Award for decades of advocating for gender and racial equality. "I kept hearing about so many people who had no awareness of what their rights were, I realized I had an opportunity and calling," said Hill upon receiving the award.
Heller teams take top spots at Brandeis Innovation’s SPARKTank
Heller News Release
February 12, 2020
In early February, Heller teams took four of the top spots and won $16,000 in prize money at Brandeis Innovation’s 6th Annual SPARKTank startup pitch competition.
Anita Hill Says The Hollywood Commission Intends “To Change The System” That Allows Harassment And Bias
Heller in the News
February 11, 2020
Deadline.Com reports on Anita Hill's interview at the 2020 Makers Conference. She said, during the event, that the Commission on Eliminating Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality “is a manifestation of the collective action” that must be taken “if we are going to have solutions.”
A match made at Heller
Heller News Release
February 10, 2020
This Valentine’s Day, alumni share stories about how Heller brought them together. "The Heller community is the perfect place to fall in love because it is a place full of love," says Marwa Farag, MS'05, PhD'10, who met her husband at Heller.
Visionaries in geriatric nursing: A legacy for the future
Heller in the News
February 07, 2020
ScienceDirect publishes paper co-authored by May Futrell, PhD'76, Diane Feeney Mahoney, PhD'89 and Karen Devereaux Melillo, PhD'90. The paper highlights the exemplary gerontological nurses that contributed and are contributing to the field.
Women vying for Oscars salute their progress, snubs aside
Heller in the News
February 06, 2020
In AP News, Anita Hill, says listening to women vying for the Oscars complain about being treated unfairly "has inspired me to do my work even harder." Hill heads a commission scrutinizing sexual abuse and harassment in the entertainment and media sectors.
Chopping Down Trees For Solar Panels?
Heller in the News
February 06, 2020
Speaking to WBUR, Eric Olson comments on the Trinity Episcopal Church's decision to cut down a small forest to install a carbon-saving solar energy farm. "The solar array would pay back the loss of the forest in about two-and-a-half years. The forest can't defend itself, I'm afraid, on the basis of carbon. But on the other hand, it's a habitat for birds and butterflies. And it's really pretty."
Four More Years of Trump?
Heller in the News
February 06, 2020
In the New York Times, Robert Kuttner says Republicans' vote to acquit Trump might hurt them in the long run. "Their vote to excuse Trump’s dictatorial behavior by refusing to convict will force them to answer extremely damaging questions during the campaign," he says.
Health care panel, Gov. Baker in alignment on primary care focus
Heller in the News
February 05, 2020
Speaking to Telegram, Stuart Altman says health care cost growth in Massachusetts has been below the U.S. average since a 2012 cost-control law. He adds, however, that "absent any further policy action to strengthen the state’s oversight tools, improve health care market functioning, and enhance affordability, this progress will be short-lived."
California has some of the best and worst places in U.S. for raising children, report finds
Heller in the News
February 03, 2020
Speaking to Cal Matters, Dolores Acevedo-Garcia says she finds California to be a fascinating case "because there is such inequity within the state," in terms of opportunities for children in different neighborhoods.
Celebrating Black History Month: 10 Prominent African-American Life Science Leaders
Heller in the News
February 03, 2020
PharmaLive.com names Susan Windham-Bannister, PhD'77, among its list of top African-American leaders in life sciences. Windham-Bannister is currently the CEO of Biomedical Growth Strategies.
Weird (Amazon) Flex, But Okay
Heller in the News
January 30, 2020
On the Indicator from Planet Money, David Weil comments on Amazon Flex, saying, "When you have that much control over what a worker does and the consequences of failing to do that, we call that employment."
A black epidemic we don't talk about
Heller in the News
January 30, 2020
Newsday cites the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy's Child Opportunity Index in a story about the epidemic of black teens committing suicide.
“What happens when we forget?” Commemorating Ford Hall 2015
Heller News Release
January 29, 2020
Heller’s Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity (EID) organized a two-part event January 21-22 called Ford Hall: Closing the Disparity Gap, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Ford Hall 2015 protests.
Study led by R.I. Hospital researcher: portable devices can detect fentanyl in street drugs
Heller in the News
January 28, 2020
Lifespan reports on a new study from Traci Green that shows how portable field devices can be used to test street drugs for the presence of fentanyl.
Minneapolis, St. Paul officials watch federal rule change on wages that could affect 1 in 5 workers
Heller in the News
January 27, 2020
In the Minneapolis Star Tribune, David Weil comments on the new Labor Department guidelines around joint employment, which he estimates will affect about 20% of the workforce.
Massachusetts Bail Fund wins Social Justice award
Heller in the News
January 26, 2020
Salem News announces PhD student Brandy Henry and her colleagues at the Massachusetts Bail Fund (MBF) as the 2020 recipient of The Salem Award for Human Rights and Social Justice. The award is dedicated to remembering the Salem Witchcraft trials of 1692 and celebrates efforts to protect and defend the unjustly accused.
Former OU professor Anita Hill speaks at gala honoring Clara Luper
Heller in the News
January 26, 2020
OU Daily highlights Anita Hill's speech at a gala in honor of Clara Luper. "I want to celebrate all of you who are here tonight, and especially the young people who she [Luper] led in 1958. Not simply into those dark stores and lunch counters, but into American history," Hill said.
What shapes a kid’s opportunities? Researchers say look to the neighborhood.
Heller in the News
January 24, 2020
Washington Post says the Child Opportunity Index 2.0 compiled by the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy has found "stark divides along racial and ethnic lines" as well as "glaring opportunity gaps".
Madison ranked No. 1 in U.S. for child opportunity, but racial disparities remain
Heller in the News
January 23, 2020
In Madison.Com, The Wisconsin State Journal celebrates having ranked first in the Child Opportunity Index 2.0 but remains concerned due to the region's racial disparities as shown in the report.
Anita Hill Told An Iowa Crowd That It’s Too Late For An Apology From Joe Biden
Heller in the News
January 23, 2020
In BuzzFeed News, Anita Hill said that it was too late for a proper apology from Joe Biden, reopening a decades-old conflict that has followed Biden into his third run for president. “The statute of limitations for his apology is up,” Hill said at the University of Iowa, where she gave a lecture on ending sexual harassment.
diversitydatakids.org announces the Child Opportunity Index 2.0
Heller in the News
January 22, 2020
The Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy has released the Child Opportunity Index 2.0, which reveals pervasive geographic and racial inequities in neighborhood opportunity for children nationwide.
America's hardest places to grow up
Heller in the News
January 22, 2020
Axios cites data from the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy's new study to reveal the least and the most desirable places in the country for a growing child. According to the newly-released Child Opportunity Index, Bakersfield, California offers the least amount of opportunities for youths; On the other hand, Madison, Wisconsin, is on top of the list.
How healthy is your neighborhood for your child? Take a look
Heller in the News
January 22, 2020
CNN cites and praises the Child Opportunity Index 2.0 compiled by the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy. "The Index has amassed a treasure trove of information that can tell parents, and policymakers, how their neighborhood could impact their child's development," the news outlet writes.
Study: White Children in Denver Have Huge Edge Over Hispanic, Black Kids
Heller in the News
January 22, 2020
Westword cites the Child Opportunity Index 2.0, compiled by the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy, to conclude that Denver's white children tend to enjoy enormous advantages over their Hispanic and black peers, in part because of the neighborhoods where they live.
Boston is One of the Best Places to Grow Up in America: Report
Heller in the News
January 22, 2020
NBC Boston cites the Child Opportunity Index to acknowledge Boston's high rank in providing opportunity for children overall but warns that the city has one of the widest opportunity gaps between white and Hispanic children.
Index compares child opportunity in the 100 largest US metro areas
Heller in the News
January 21, 2020
Albuquerque Journal cites the Child Opportunity Index 2.0 as a tool that can help plan for children's development. "By tracking the changes within these neighborhoods, local governments, city planners, nonprofits and even families can measure and improve the resources necessary for a child’s healthy development," the journal writes.
Health Foundation grants deliver results across Central Mass.
Heller in the News
January 18, 2020
Mary Brolin talks to Telegram about her role as an evaluator specialist with the Quaboag team which is working to solve Central Massachusetts' transportation issues by developing "a sustainable, scalable model for rural transportation."
Methadone can help people beat opioid addiction — if they can afford it
Heller in the News
January 16, 2020
In Vox, Sharon Reif explains that while methadone treatment might help people with an opioid addiction save money and get off opioids, not everyone can use this option. “If you’re somebody who has active opioid use disorder and you can no longer hold a job, now you’re no longer commercially insured. So insurers’ longer-term costs [due to untreated opioid addiction] may disappear fairly quickly," she says.
Elizabeth Warren Wants to Start Erasing Student Debt on Her First Day in the White House
Heller in the News
January 15, 2020
Rolling Stone discusses U.S. presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren's plan to erase student debts which cited a study by Institute on Assets and Social Policy at the Heller School.
Black China: Africa's First Superpower Is Coming Sooner Than You Think
Heller in the News
January 15, 2020
Speaking to MSN about Nigeria's booming growth in economy and human development, Oge Onubogu, MA SID'07 says: "Nigeria lurches from one crisis to another, but whenever you think it's about to topple over, it pulls itself back." Onubogu currently leads the Africa programs at the U.S. Institute of Peace.
New Joint Employer Rule Hinges on Reception in Court
Heller in the News
January 14, 2020
In Bloomberg Law, David Weil comments on a new Trump administration regulation making it harder for workers to sue multiple employers for wage violations.
Trump’s joint-employer rule curbs wage theft lawsuits, but not in California
Heller in the News
January 14, 2020
In the LA Times, David Weil calls the concept of joint employment critical because in many industries, workers’ pay and job conditions are affected by multiple employers.
The new normal: How we redefine fair pay for low-wage workers
Heller News Release
January 13, 2020
Dean David Weil leads research team in national study of labor market shocks and evolving wage norms.
Albany Leaders Respond To Disparities Highlighted In National Report
Heller in the News
January 13, 2020
In response to WAMC, Albany leaders vow to work on racial disparities reported by the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy. Statistics gathered by the institute showed a sharp racial divide in access to opportunities in almost every major metropolitan area in the US, with Albany being among the worst.
Regis College trustees extend presidency of Hays to 2023
Heller in the News
January 10, 2020
The Regis College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to extend the presidency of Antoinette Hays, PhD'90, until 2023. "I am humbled by the confidence the trustees have in me. Together we will continue to grow this great university and produce graduates who have the knowledge and compassion to improve our global condition," she said. Hays was appointed the 10th president of Regis College in 2011.
Anita Hill Appears In Video Urging Hollywood To Take Survey On Harassment, Abuse And Discrimination
Heller in the News
January 09, 2020
Deadline Hollywood shares a public service announcement featuring Anita Hill, in which she urges entertainment industry workers to take part in a survey to gauge the extent of harassment, abuse and discrimination in the workplace.
How Racial Bias Shielded Thousands Of Black Americans From The Opioid Crisis
Heller in the News
January 03, 2020
In WBUR, Andrew Kolodny says he fears addiction stereotypes about black and white drug users may continue to fuel the deadly opioid addiction crisis.
In Library Renovations, When Do Discussions of Disability Arise?
Heller in the News
January 03, 2020
In the Book Riot, Sandy Ho reminds libraries and other public spaces why meeting the minimum accessibility requirements for people with disabilities is not enough. "Spaces often forget to consider that people with disabilities could be patrons, but also they could be consumers, leaders, and/or employees in that public space as well," she says.
Lagging in 2020, Buffalo needs to close gaps to prosper by 2030
Heller in the News
January 01, 2020
Buffalo News cites the Child Opportunity Index compiled by the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy to suggest a roadmap for Buffalo County towards minimizing its socio-economic inequalities.