2023

“This Ancient Atrocity”: The Return of Child Labor in the United States: Why Now? What Should be Done?

Heller in the News
December 20, 2023

In a Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center report, David Weil writes about the surge in child labor in the U.S.

What Do You Hear When Philanthropists Say "Community"?

Heller in the News
December 14, 2023

In Inside Philanthropy, Sheryl Seller '11, MA'13, assistant director of the Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy, contributes a piece about a research project the Sillerman Center conducted with grantmakers.

Overdose deaths in Mass. on track to top 2000 for the 8th year in a row

Heller in the News
December 13, 2023

On WGBH News, Andrew Kolodny comments on data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Most Caring Cities in America (2024)

Heller in the News
December 11, 2023

Rajesh Sampath offers commentary to WalletHub, which named Boston the second most caring city in America for 2024.

The Foundation to Combat Antisemitism Fellowship: Fighting all forms of hate

Heller in the News
December 07, 2023

Brandeis Stories interviews Benedict Owusu, MA SID'24, about his experience as a Foundation to Combat Antisemitism fellow.

Nursing home palliative, hospice care provide CNAs new opportunities

Heller in the News
December 07, 2023

McKnights Long-Term Care News reports on research by Professor Christine Bishop and colleague Kacy Ninteau.

Massachusetts Blues

Heller in the News
December 04, 2023

In the American Prospect, Robert Kuttner writes that a majority of voters in the Bay State favor progressive policies, but don’t get them.

Garbage in, garbage out: mitigating risks and maximizing benefits of AI in research

Heller in the News
December 01, 2023

In a commentary in Nature, Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld and co-authors argue that better ethical standards and more robust data curation are needed to fuel the artificial intelligence boom and prevent a bust.

Can’t Think, Can’t Remember: More Americans Say They’re in a Cognitive Fog

Heller in the News
November 16, 2023

Monika Mitra, director of the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, is quoted in a New York Times article on long COVID.

The power and pitfalls of AI: creating a just, equitable society with technology

Heller News Release
November 07, 2023

Ezra Tefera, MS GHPM’22, looks to tech to level the playing field across sectors.

Analyzing how hiring algorithms impact people with disabilities: Kartik Trivedi, PhD candidate

Heller News Release
November 07, 2023

A Q&A with Kartik Trivedi, PhD candidate.

Supporting community-based organizations: Meelee Kim, PhD’19

Heller News Release
November 07, 2023

A Q&A with scientist Meelee Kim, PhD'19.

Not all WWII veterans benefited equally from the GI Bill

Heller News Release
November 07, 2023

Research from Heller's Institute for Economic and Racial Equity finds that discriminatory implementation ripples through the generations.

Heller's Opioid Policy Research Collaborative sets its sights on drug overdoses

Heller News Release
November 07, 2023

OPRC researches harm reduction measures to curb fatal and nonfatal overdoses.

Uncovering inequities facing disabled people of color

Heller News Release
November 07, 2023

Teresa Nguyen launches projects to study racial disparities and reshape access to services.

The "fissured workplace" and child labor

Heller News Release
November 07, 2023

David Weil shines a light on bad actors who perpetuate child labor practices.

Increasing access to community-based mental health care

Heller News Release
November 07, 2023

Mary Brolin, PhD’05, and her team study a behavioral health model that enables patients to get the care they need.

Law, caste, and the pursuit of justice

Heller in the News
November 06, 2023

Brandeis Stories covers the 6th International Conference on the Unfinished Legacy of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, sponsored by Heller's Center for Global Development and Sustainability and the journal CASTE: A Global Journal on Social Exclusion.

Slavery, Citizenship, and the Afterlife of Gender-Based Violence

Heller News Release
October 31, 2023

Brandeis University Professor Anita Hill, Professor Sarah Deer (The University of Kansas) and Professor Crystal Feimster (Yale University) spoke recently during Slavery, Citizenship, and the Afterlife of Gender-Based Violence at the Heller School.

Public funding needed for childcare

Heller in the News
October 25, 2023

In the Star News, the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy outlines the need for childcare provision.

Can USDA’s efforts on equity help Black farmers overcome ‘toxic debt’?

Heller in the News
October 24, 2023

In The Center for Public Integrity, Sylvia Stewart, MPP'18, and work by Heller's Institute for Economic and Racial Equity are quoted on the topic of USDA debt.

Nonprofit Yolo Farm to Fork announces new executive director

Heller in the News
October 21, 2023

Heller alumnus Salvador Ramirez, MPP'14, has been named as the new executive director of Yolo Farm to Fork.

From Arkansas to New Hampshire, states are rolling back child labor laws

Heller in the News
October 20, 2023

Professor David Weil appeared on Callie Crossley's WGBH show "Under the Radar" for a 30-minute discussion of child labor.

Brandeis Women who Changed the World

Heller in the News
October 16, 2023

In a panel discussion, University Professor Anita Hill and women’s studies pioneer Joyce Antler ’63 spoke about the proud history of pioneering activist women who studied and taught at Brandeis.

Can States Plug Gaps in Federal Policy?

Heller in the News
October 09, 2023

In The American Project, Professor Robert Kuttner discusses expansion of the Child Tax Credit at a state and federal level.

Xylazine, a potent tranquilizer found in drugs, is showing up in Berkshire County drug samples at double the state average

Heller in the News
October 09, 2023

In the Berkshire Eagle, Traci Green discusses the challenges of treating overdoses caused by the combination of fentanyl and the animal tranquilizer xylazine.

Perdue, Tyson Face ‘Unique’ Probe in Child Labor Crackdown

Heller in the News
October 06, 2023

In Bloomberg Law, Professor David Weil comments regarding the U.S. Department of Labor’s rare inclusion of meatpacking giants Tyson Foods Inc. and Perdue Farms Inc. in its investigations of subcontractor child labor violations.

Temp jobs falling usually signals a recession. Maybe not this time.

Heller in the News
October 05, 2023

In Marketplace, Professor David Weil comments on recent employment statistics showing a drop in temporary help services.

Heller co-sponsors a panel discussion on the future of affirmative action

Heller News Release
October 03, 2023

The Heller School and the African and African American Studies Department co-sponsored a discussion on the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end affirmative action in college admissions featuring Anita Hill, Chad Williams, and Amber Spry.

A conversation with lawyer, educator, and author Anita Hill

Heller in the News
September 28, 2023

On Houston Matters, Anita Hill talks about her life’s work of fighting against sexual harassment and violence.

"The Future of Affirmative Action"

Heller News Release
September 27, 2023

The Heller School and the African and African American Studies Department co-sponsored a discussion on the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end affirmative action in college admissions.

Harmonious Innovation

Heller in the News
September 20, 2023

Brandeis Stories features Sam Aronson ’20, MBA’23, and Alden Kennedy, MBA’23, on their venture crafting guitars for a more sustainable future.

A retrospective cohort study on the cost-effectiveness analysis of kidney transplantation compared to dialysis in Cameroon: evidence for policy

Heller in the News
September 18, 2023

In the Pan African Medical Journal, Rene Njamnshi, MA SID/MS GHPM'22, and Prof. Don Shepard speak about their research.

Interim Dean Maria Madison welcomes new students to Heller

Heller News Release
September 12, 2023

The text of Interim Dean Maria Madison's welcome to the Heller community for the Fall 2023 semester.

A Summer Review: Projects, work placements, and achievements from Heller students

Heller News Release
August 21, 2023

A roundup of the activities of Heller students over the previous months, featuring work placements and projects from the U.S. and around the world.

How a Republican president could hobble the climate law

Heller in the News
August 16, 2023

In Politico, Michael Doonan is quoted on how Trump was able to weaken Obamacare.

Anita Hill remembers the life and legacy of Charles Ogletree

Heller in the News
August 08, 2023

Anita Hill joins WBUR for an interview to remember the life of Charles Ogletree.

Illegal child labor is on the rise in a tight job market

Heller in the News
July 30, 2023

In WSIL-TV, David Weil is quoted discussing the increase in child labor seen during tight labor markets and the systems that continue to perpetuate child labor.

Labor Made Peace With UPS, but What About UPS’s Chief Competitor?

Heller in the News
July 27, 2023

In The New Republic, the author references David Weil's "The Fissured Workplace" in arguing why UPS's competitors can't unionize around worker rights.

Fentanyl in Drug Supply Spurs Community Response

Heller in the News
July 12, 2023

In The Provincetown Independent, Traci Green discusses the increase of drugs contaminated with fentanyl in Provincetown and the Cape Cod area.

Why Racial Remedy Still Matters

Heller in the News
July 11, 2023

In The American Prospect, Robert Kuttner argues the need to continue considering race in higher education, employment, and promotion decisions amidst the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action.

To address fentanyl crisis, we need a 'cultural change'

Heller in the News
July 02, 2023

Dr. Andrew Kolodny, Medical Director of the Opioid Policy Research Collaborative, appears on NBC News' "Meet the Press."

The U.S. Supreme Court Overturned Affirmative Action. Now What?

Heller in the News
June 30, 2023

In The Juggernaut, Associate Professor Rajesh Sampath is quoted on the implications of the Supreme Court's decision.

Voices of Heller: Podcast Playlist

Heller News Release
June 27, 2023

A podcast playlist featuring Heller community members who moonlight as podcast hosts, or pinch-hit as guest experts on podcasts we all know and love.

Letter from the Interim Dean

Heller News Release
June 27, 2023

Interim Dean Maria Madison congratulates recent graduates who are prepared to re-enter a world of new challenges and opportunities, and looks ahead to celebrating the 75th and 65th anniversaries of Brandeis and Heller, respectively.

Larry Tobin, Hornstein MA’17, Heller MBA’17: Helping refugees resettle

Heller News Release
June 27, 2023

While Larry Tobin, Hornstein MA’17, Heller MBA’17, was at Brandeis, he had the opportunity to participate in the Myra Kraft Seminar in Israel, which he describes as the most transformative experience of his academic life. He now works to help refugees find belonging in host countries.

Morgan Crossman, PhD’15: One of Vermont’s Rising Stars

Heller News Release
June 27, 2023

When Morgan Crossman, PhD’15, was named a member of Vermont’s Rising Stars Class of 2022, she knew she had Heller to thank. VermontBiz chose 40 winners under the age of 40 to serve as examples of professional excellence and community service.

Summer Jackson, MA SID’13: Studying organizational inequality

Heller News Release
June 27, 2023

Different organizations across professions have their own unique symbols and rituals, from logos and industry lingo to hiring processes and corporate retreats. Summer Jackson, MA SID’13, studies these cultural markers as an organizational ethnographer.

Q&A: Meet Bawi Mang Lian, MS GHPM/MA SID’23

Heller News Release
June 27, 2023

Bawi Mang Lian, MS GHPM/MA SID’23, was a civil servant in Myanmar’s Ministry of Health in 2021 before the military deposed the democratically-elected government in a violent coup. He talks about navigating political unrest to provide critical health care.

Creating a Self-Sufficient Future

Heller News Release
June 27, 2023

Three Heller Social Impact MBA/MA in Sustainable International Development alumni share what they have learned from working with Fab Labs and Makerspaces.

Finding Home at Heller

Heller News Release
June 27, 2023

A chance encounter connected Joseph Assan and Laurence Simon, leading Assan to the MA in Sustainable International Development program.

Capturing Peace and Conflict with Photovoice and Everyday Peace Indicators

Heller News Release
June 27, 2023

In support of the Colombian Peace Process, Everyday Peace Indicators (EPI) has integrated photovoice into its Everyday Justice project in Colombia.

Sam Hyun, MPP/MBA’22: Featured in BOLD 9

Heller News Release
June 27, 2023

Brandeis recognized Sam Hyun, MPP/MBA’22, on its 2023 BOLD 9 list, which celebrates alumni who have graduated in the last ten years and have already made major contributions in their chosen fields.

Anita Hill: America "has lost confidence in the Supreme Court"

Heller in the News
June 22, 2023

During an interview with CNN, Anita Hill discusses implications of ethical issues surrounding the U. S. Supreme Court.

Democracy Under Siege

Heller in the News
June 20, 2023

In The American Prospect, Robert Kuttner writes about his perspective on the status of democracy in countries located in Central Europe and the Western world.

New MBTA Board Chair Thomas Glynn, MSW’72, PhD’77, Talks Reliability and Rider Safety

Heller in the News
June 16, 2023

The Brandeis Alumni Association talks with Thomas P. Glynn, MSW'72, PhD'77, the new MBTA Board of Directors Chair, about his appointment and future plans for the MBTA.

No Matter the Ruling, Student Loan Repayment Is Coming

Heller in the News
June 07, 2023

The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint cited research by the Institute for Economic and Racial Equity (formerly Institute on Assets and Social Policy) that found 20 years after starting college, Black borrowers still owed 95% of their original loan amount.

Building Bridges, not Bias: Navigating Relationships in Uncertainty

Heller in the News
June 05, 2023

At TEDxNewHaven, Sana Shaikh, PhD'20, discusses the extraordinary power of relationships in dismantling biases, stereotypes, and misconceived first impressions.

Heller Congratulates the Class of 2023

Heller News Release
May 21, 2023

Heller graduates were celebrated during a joint Brandeis University Graduate Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 21. The group included 19 doctoral graduates from the classes of 2022 and 2023, and 235 master's graduates from the classes of 2022 and 2023.

MS Commencement Speaker: Kingsley Ojeikere, MS GHPM’23

Heller News Release
May 21, 2023

Representing the MS in Global Health Policy and Management program, Kingsley Ojeikere, MS GHPM’23, talked about how the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the Heller community have enriched their education, forming meaningful connections that will last a lifetime.

MBA Commencement Speaker: Andy Mendez ’16, MBA/MA SID’23

Heller News Release
May 21, 2023

Representing the Social Impact MBA program, Andy Mendez ’16, MBA/MA SID’23, talked about how graduation is a start of a new chapter for the class of 2023.

SID Commencement Speaker: Sonam Deki, MA SID’23

Heller News Release
May 21, 2023

Representing the MA in Sustainable International Development program, Sonam Deki, MA SID’23, thanked her mother for her support and shared how the Heller community became like a new global family.

MPP Commencement Speaker: Lisa Thorn, MPP’23

Heller News Release
May 21, 2023

Representing the Master of Public Policy program, Lisa Thorn, MPP’23, described how the graduating class has become curious, visionary, and empowered through their time at Heller.

PhD Commencement Speaker: Yaminette Diaz-Linhart, PhD’23

Heller News Release
May 21, 2023

Representing the PhD in Social Policy program, Yaminette Diaz-Linhart, PhD’23, described how her graduate school experience was like a rollercoaster ride.

EMBA Commencement Speaker: Laura Lee, EMBA’23

Heller News Release
May 21, 2023

Representing the Executive MBA for Physicians program, Laura Lee, EMBA’23, shared the importance of being agents of change rather than victims of change.

COEX Commencement Speaker: María Fernanda Cabezas, MA COEX’23

Heller News Release
May 21, 2023

Representing the MA in Conflict Resolution and Coexistence program, María Fernanda Cabezas, MA COEX’23, talked about her journey from Chile to Massachusetts, as well as believing in a more peaceful future.

Two contrasting views on which books should be read in schools

Heller in the News
May 19, 2023

In a letter to the Boston Globe, Larry Bailis and Cindy Rowe, on behalf of the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, decry authoritarian measures such as book bans.

Nike could be fined over $530m for misclassifying thousands of workers

Heller in the News
May 18, 2023

In The Guardian, David Weil is quoted discussing how companies misclassify individuals who really are employees, freeing the employer of "basic obligations" to its workers.

Social Policy Summer Reading List

Heller News Release
May 16, 2023

With summer around the corner, a few Heller School administrators and faculty have shared their social policy book recommendations.

The Heller Community Remembers and Honors Professor Jon Chilingerian

Heller News Release
May 11, 2023

Professor Jon Chilingerian was a force of nature. He led innovation at the frontiers of health care and management with unmatched passion and insight.

Fentanyl Testing Strips Are Illegal in Many States — but That’s Changing

Heller in the News
May 09, 2023

In Everyday Health, Dr. Andrew Kolodny says people with opioid use disorder still account for the overwhelming majority of people killed by fentanyl.

Why Business Lobbyists Want to Stop Labor Secretary Nominee Julie Su

Heller in the News
May 08, 2023

David Weil, whose 2022 Senate confirmation to a Labor Department post was blocked, talks to Capital & Main about how fast food companies, ride-sharing services, and nonunion builders fear vigorous enforcement of labor laws.

How America Failed People with Disabilities During COVID

Heller in the News
May 07, 2023

Muhammad Azam, MA SID'23, has written an article in International Policy Digest on how COVID-19 had a harder impact on people with disabilities than other groups.

Us & Them - Escaping the Human Condition

Heller in the News
May 07, 2023

In an episode of the video podcast Meyerside Chats: Government, Policy, and Civility, Interim Dean Maria Madison discusses innate human propensity for hierarchy and "us and them," as well as social responsibility and investing in communities.

Lower opportunity areas have more child victims of firearm injuries in the U.S.

Heller in the News
April 28, 2023

Neighborhoods in the U.S. with limited social, health and educational opportunities, according to the Child Opportunity Index, have higher rates of youth firearm injuries, reports Open Access Government.

Brandeis students awarded prestigious fellowships, scholarships

Heller in the News
April 27, 2023

Victoria Zidek, MA SID/COEX’23 has received a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Award. Victoria Zidek and Andy Mendez, MBA/MA SID’23, also both received Boren Awards. Victoria will study Portuguese in Brazil, and Andy will study Turkish in Azerbaijan.

Is Your Dinner Brought to You by Child Labor?

Heller in the News
April 26, 2023

David Weil is quoted in Mother Jones discussing how the modern food industry has been shaped by several economic trends, leading to the exploitation of child labor.

The Heller School once again named a top-ranked graduate school

Heller News Release
April 25, 2023

U.S. News & World Report ranks Heller a top graduate school for social policy and for health policy and management.

Column: Julie Su would be a perfect Labor secretary. That’s why Big Business hates her

Heller in the News
April 24, 2023

A columnist for the L.A. Times writes that Julie Su, President Joe Biden's nominee for Labor secretary, is being criticized by Big Business representatives, adding that David Weil faced similar attacks last year for his support of workers and unions.

Healey replaces 3 MBTA board members — including chair

Heller in the News
April 21, 2023

WBUR reports that Tom Glynn, MSW’72, PhD’77 — who served as the T’s general manager under former Gov. Michael Dukakis and later led Massport — will be the new chair of the T’s Board of Directors.

2023 Heller Awards celebrate leaders in our community

Heller News Release
April 20, 2023

Each spring, the Heller School recognizes outstanding service in teaching, mentoring, teaching assistance, staff service, research, and equity, inclusion and diversity.

Battle Over Labor Secretary Nominee Reflects a Larger Fight for Biden

Heller in the News
April 20, 2023

David Weil is quoted in a New York Times article on Julie Su's confirmation battle to become labor secretary.

Bed Bath & Beyond stiffed thousands of workers on severance pay

Heller in the News
April 20, 2023

David Weil tells CNN the absence of severance pay requirements for frontline workers in the United States is “one of the many holes in our protective workplace legislation.

To understand American politics, you need to move beyond left and right

Heller in the News
April 19, 2023

In The Conversation, Graham Wright says research into what Americans actually want in terms of policy shows that many have strong political views that can’t really be characterized in terms of “right” or “left.”

The Child Workers Who Feed You

Heller in the News
April 18, 2023

In The Food and Environment Reporting Network, David Weil says the recent “explosion” of child labor violations has been a long time coming — and that he would expect these violations to be more prevalent in food-related industries.

When Your Boss Is an App

Heller in the News
April 17, 2023

In the New York Times Magazine, David Weil speaks about gig work and the fissured workplace.

Announcing the 2023 Heller Undergraduate Research Fellows

Heller News Release
April 06, 2023

This year's cohort of undergraduate fellows are all contributing to projects at the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy and Research, focusing on a variety of policy issues in global health, behavioral health, and health systems research.

Safety Net Barriers Add to Child Poverty in Immigrant Families

Heller in the News
April 06, 2023

In the New York Times, Dolores Acevedo-Garcia talks about the importance of including children of immigrants when providing access to child poverty aid.

“Closing the Equity Gap” with Impact Investors Freada Kapor Klein, PhD’84, and Mitch Kapor

Heller News Release
April 04, 2023

The founders of Kapor Capital join Dean Maria Madison for a conversation on their newly-released book and the success they’ve had investing in gap-closing tech startups.

Don’t let conservatives fool you: Anti-trans laws don’t protect youth and families, they endanger them

Heller in the News
April 03, 2023

In Youth Today, Jeremy Rosen, MPP'24, writes that by restricting access to medical care, conservative policymakers are causing harm to children they claim to be protecting.

How FDA approval of over-the-counter Narcan sales affects the opioid crisis

Heller in the News
April 01, 2023

Dr. Andrew Kolodny speaks to PBS about the FDA recently approving nationwide over-the-counter sales of Narcan.

Post-#MeToo, Progress for Women in Hollywood Has Stalled. Will It Get Back on Track?

Heller in the News
March 28, 2023

According to Variety, it’s not at all clear to Anita Hill that “everyday people” in the industry are facing the same type of accountability as the bigger names, for example. Her goal is to change that and a culture that has historically condoned or even joked about such behavior in the workplace, be it on the casting couch or elsewhere.

New Research Q&A: People with Disabilities Less Likely to Receive Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Heller News Release
March 23, 2023

Professor and Associate Dean for Research Cindy Parks Thomas, PhD’00, and Professor Sharon Reif, PhD’02, discussed their findings and policy recommendations with Heller Communications.

Child, caregiver mortality up in low-opportunity neighborhoods

Heller in the News
March 23, 2023

According to Medical Xpress, The Child Opportunity Index was used to measure neighborhood opportunity, which captures compounding inequities in access to opportunities for health. The researchers observed inverse associations between the Child Opportunity Index quintile and child and caregiver deaths.

Mortality and Where You Live – It’s Location, Location, Location

Heller in the News
March 23, 2023

The American Academy of Pediatrics cites a study featuring co-authors Dolores Acevedo-Garcia and Clemens Noelke on the connection between mortality and neighborhood resources and conditions.

Anita Hill visits Cleveland to promote mission of gender equity

Heller in the News
March 22, 2023

WKYC shares that Anita Hill visited Case Western Reserve University to promote Gender Equity.

Study: Disabled People Less Likely to Be Prescribed Medication for Opioid Disorder

Heller in the News
March 13, 2023

While a number of factors could contribute to people with disabilities having less access to opioid use disorder medications – including physical limitations that could complicate in-person visits to facilities – a general lack of comfort among some clinicians in providing care for either patients with opioid use disorder or those with a disability, could be behind the disparity, says lead study author Cindy Park Thomas in U.S. News.

‘Hard to ignore Julie Su’: Biden’s labor secretary pick fights for confirmation

Heller in the News
March 12, 2023

In The Guardian, David Weil comments on the challenges Julie Su may face during the Senate confirmation process.

Meet the women advocating for change

Heller in the News
March 06, 2023

BrandeisNOW highlights the work and research of six Heller students: Ilana Fitzpatrick, MPP’24, Ophelia Delali A. Akoto PhD’26, Vilma Uribe, PhD’26, Jamie Morgan, PhD’23, Kaitie Chakoian, PhD’24, and Hannah Wilcove, MPP’23.

Brandeis to host year-long seminar on gender-based violence

Heller in the News
March 06, 2023

“Gender-based violence has been embedded in many cultures, governments, and economic systems throughout history, and still to this day. In bringing together scholars who are examining how and why gender-based violence persists, who it harms and whose power it maintains, we hope to envision how nations and communities can identify and detach themselves from the foundations of gendered violence,” said Hill for BrandeisNOW.

Hundreds of migrant children work long hours in jobs that violate child labor laws

Heller in the News
March 05, 2023

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with David Weil about why hundreds of migrant children in the U.S. are working long hours and in dangerous jobs.

OPRC receives new grant on the emergence of xylazine in the drug supply

Heller News Release
March 01, 2023

The Opioid Policy Research Collaborative (OPRC), within the Institute of Behavioral Health at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, and its partners were awarded a grant from the University of Baltimore’s Center for Drug Policy and Prevention (CDPP) to investigate appropriate police and community responses to xylazine in the drug supply.

How proposed laws and medical innovation target better reproductive health care for women with disabilities

Heller in the News
March 01, 2023

“Across the board, women with disabilities are at a disadvantage because of different types of barriers: communication barriers, physical access barriers, or the attitudes of the staff,” said Monika Mitra, director of the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University, to Youth Today.

Are we really doing no harm by rejecting the End of Life Options Act?

Heller in the News
February 26, 2023

In a column for Metrowest Daily News, Ilana Fitzpatrick, MPP/MBA'24, writes in support of the Massachusetts End of Life Options Act, which would allow terminally ill residents to access medical aid in dying.

Midwest states consider loosening child workplace protections

Heller in the News
February 20, 2023

According to NBC News, with a U.S. job market struggling to fill various positions, legislators in at least two states are proposing easing child labor protections. David Weil is interviewed about how those bills would work.

Seattle City Council considers historic law barring caste discrimination

Heller in the News
February 20, 2023

According to PBS NewsHour, in December 2019, Brandeis University near Boston became the first U.S. college to include caste in its nondiscrimination policy. Laurence Simon, an international development professor at Brandeis, said a university task force made the decision “on the feelings and fears of students from marginalized communities.”

The HistoryMakers: Documenting untold stories of African American achievement

Heller in the News
February 19, 2023

On 60 Minutes, Brandeis alumna Julieanna Richardson ‘79 talks about her work highlighting stories of Black achievement in America, including interviewing Anita Hill.

Indy requires companies with tax breaks to pay $18 an hour wages

Heller in the News
February 16, 2023

In IndyStar, David Weil discusses how it's now uncommon to find lowest-paid employees working directly for the company. He says America's fissured workplaces carve out work to third-party companies, who then hire from staffing agencies or freelancers who don't have the protection of an employer.

N.Y.U. Chooses Linda Mills as Its Next President

Heller in the News
February 15, 2023

The New York Times reports that New York University has named Linda Mills, PhD'94, as the next president. She is the first woman to head the institution.

Caste discrimination in North America | ਨੋਰਥ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਜਾਤ ਅਧਾਰਤ ਵਿਤਕਰਾ

Heller in the News
February 15, 2023

Dr. Laurence Simon of Brandeis University shares his views and offers solutions to sort out the issue of Caste discrimination in North America.

Brandeis punches above its weight in social science research

Heller in the News
February 13, 2023

BrandeisNOW shares that Brandeis University is a leading institution when it comes to research in the social sciences, according to data from the National Science Foundation.

The IMF has No Idea how to Help Pakistan

Heller in the News
February 13, 2023

Muhammad Azam, MA SID'23, has written a new post in International Policy Digest, in which he explains that to help Pakistan, closer cooperation between the government and the IMF is necessary to expand and strengthen social programs to ward off a poverty crisis.

In a tight labor market, some states look to another type of worker: Children

Heller in the News
February 11, 2023

In The Washington Post, David Weil says because of the high demand for workers, unfortunately sometimes child laborers end up filling the holes in the system.

A Drug Meant to Sedate Large Animals Is Being Used on the Streets – And It's Causing Abscesses, Ulcers and More

Heller in the News
February 08, 2023

Traci Green speaks to NBC Boston about how cutting-edge technology is being used to detect xylazine in drug samples.

Championing Social Justice

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

Interim Dean Maria Madison embraces an equity-centered approach to leadership.

Letter from the Interim Dean

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

Interim Dean Maria Madison shares her strategic vision for building a stronger Heller and guiding our community through our new global normal.

Q&A: Meet Neh Meh, MA SID/COEX'23

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

Neh Meh, MA SID/COEX’23, recently completed her practicum at the Karenni refugee camp for individuals from Myanmar on the Thai border in a Peacebuilding Through Education project. As a former refugee, she talks about the importance of access to quality education for all.

Is the End of Child Poverty in Sight?

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

The Institute for Child, Youth, and Family Policy is tackling child poverty by focusing on racial and ethnic equity.

Drinking in the Data

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

Heller’s NIAAA training program prepares the next generation of researchers to investigate causes and solutions for alcohol use and misuse

Abdishakur Ahmed, MA SID’20: Advancing sustainable energy in Somalia

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

As an energy specialist for RTI International, Abdishakur Ahmed, MA SID'20, works to support power generation and bring electricity to more households and businesses sustainably in East Africa.

Dr. Jill M. Baren, EMBA’19: From physician to college president

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

Dr. Jill Baren, EMBA'19, spent nearly 30 years of her career in academic emergency medicine before becoming the 14th president — and first woman president — of Lake Forest College in Illinois in July 2022.

Yuqi Wang, MBA/MPP’20: Fostering equity in Kendall Square’s business sector

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

As the director of programming for Kendall Square Association (KSA) in Cambridge, Yuqi Wang, MBA/MPP'20, leads programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as corporate responsibility and community impact.

Isaac Cudjoe, MA COEX’18: The new Heller Alumni Association Board president

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

When Isaac Cudjoe, MA COEX’18, graduated from Heller, he always had the feeling he’d be back. He's now the Alumni Association Board president, and he continues his work inspiring young people around the world to be active in their communities and manifest change.

The Power of Girls’ Education

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

During her practicum at the SEGA Girls’ Secondary School in Morogoro, Tanzania, Beatriz Pleités, MA SID’23, finds inspiration in the students who are working to become community leaders

A closer look at the history of surveillance and racial inequity

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

Racial Justice x Tech Policy Associate Director Janelle Ridley recently traveled with SEED Institute (System Educated Expert Disrupters) researchers and game designers to the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in Alabama to research the history of surveillance of Black and brown people in the United States.

Heller welcomes new director of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

A visionary leader who has been part of the Brandeis community for over 18 years, Elena Lewis, GSAS MA’11, joins Heller as the new director of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity.

Welcoming New Faculty: Alexandra Piñeros-Shields, PhD’07, Visiting Associate Professor of the Practice of Racial Equity

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

“I am really, really excited to have a home at Heller where I can continue to focus the work on racial and economic justice, as I have been doing in the field.”

Welcoming New Faculty: Mursal Manati, Visiting Scholar

Heller News Release
February 06, 2023

“Heller is like a family — the people are very warm and kind. You never feel like you’re alone because everyone cares about you and is working to help you achieve your goals.”

Verisense Health Introduces Eminent New Board of Advisors

Heller in the News
February 05, 2023

Verisense Health, a digital health software and data management company, has announced William Crown among the founding members of its board of advisors, in Bio IT World.

The Regimen for Expanding Buprenorphine Access: Collaborative Pharmacy-based Induction

Heller in the News
February 03, 2023

Traci Green joined The Regimen podcast to discuss a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine about how pharmacies can offer more equitable access to addiction medicine.

The Dying Practice of Time and a Half

Heller in the News
February 02, 2023

In the New York Times, David Weil discusses how employers routinely misclassify workers in order to undermine longstanding overtime protections.

What Doctors Should Know About Xylazine in Fentanyl

Heller in the News
February 02, 2023

In MedPage Today, Andrew Kolodny is quoted saying, "Xylazine is making the opioid crisis worse."

‘They Made History’: Ms. Magazine’s Fave Features of Strong Black Women Over the Years

Heller in the News
February 01, 2023

Anita Hill is included in Ms. Magazine's article on some of the groundbreaking Black feminists who have been featured on the magazine’s covers and in its pages over the years, and who have made history.

National Academy of Social Insurance Welcomes Fifty-One New Members

Heller in the News
January 30, 2023

The Board of Directors of the National Academy of Social Insurance has approved the election of 51 distinguished experts to the Academy, including Lisa Lynch.

Biden Wage Rules Meet A Suspicious Judiciary

Heller in the News
January 24, 2023

In Law360, David Weil says the Biden administration needs to anticipate that its overtime rule will draw a lawsuit no matter what it looks like – but it doesn't mean it's a valid critique of the idea that the Department of Labor is within its authority to update the overtime rule.

Brandeis Net Impact Chapter Achieves Gold Status

Heller in the News
January 24, 2023

The Brandeis Net Impact chapter, co-hosted by Heller School for Social Policy and Management International Business School, has achieved gold status for 2022-23.

EducationUSA hosts annual alumni fair for Indian students exploring diversity of US higher education opportunities

Heller in the News
January 21, 2023

In The Print, The Heller School is listed as a school that participated in the EducationUSA event that welcomed Indian students to learn about education opportunities in the United States.

‘It’s kind of Russian Roulette’: How an animal tranquilizer is adding new risks to street drugs in New Hampshire

Heller in the News
January 20, 2023

According to NHPR, Traci Green, a professor at Brandeis University and the drug-checking program’s lead investigator, says that gives people who use drugs a better understanding of the risks they may face. It also helps inform the health workers and first responders on the front lines of the overdose crisis.

Dean Madison Presents Keynote Address at Campus-Wide MLK Day Event

Heller News Release
January 17, 2023

In her remarks, Heller Interim Dean Maria Madison describes Dr. King's historic visits to Brandeis University and encourages the campus community to consider the day a clarion call for action.

The radical, forgotten experiment in educational integration that changed my life

Heller in the News
January 17, 2023

Susan Eaton was quoted by The Boston Globe because in 2017, the Brandeis professor and desegregation researcher, co-wrote a report on emerging approaches to building diversity in public schools. Among its themes were “equal access to learning . . . equal status and power in a school and classroom . . . opportunities to build relationships across racial categories, and develop critical thinking skills and empathy.”

Ten Years of the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission

Heller in the News
January 17, 2023

In this video from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission, Stuart Altman discusses the first decade of the HPC and its work to help monitor and guide sustainable growth in total health care spending.

Binance Volunteers Work for Swag and Hope for Jobs. It’s Raising Red Flags.

Heller in the News
January 13, 2023

In Barron's, David Weil says Binance asking people in their "Angels" program to volunteer in exchange for hope for full-time positions with the company can be compared to unpaid internships, which is a source of concern for exploitation and employer leverage and power.

Fatal R.I. overdoses remained high in 2022. Here’s what two organizations want to do about it

Heller in the News
January 13, 2023

According to the Boston Globe, it’s too soon to say whether 2022 will be the deadliest year on record for accidental drug overdoses in Rhode Island. However, Traci Green, a research scientist at Lifespan and epidemiologist who studies drug overdose, explains that “the data are definitely still trending in the wrong direction.”

Let pharmacists prescribe addiction medicine

Heller in the News
January 12, 2023

In The Boston Globe, Traci Green and co-authors write that pharmacies can offer more equitable access to life-saving drugs — if states cut some red tape.

American Urological Association Names New Public Policy Council Chair

Heller in the News
January 12, 2023

The American Urological Association reports that Mark T. Edney, EMBA'17, has been named the next public policy chair. He will assume the role of chair-elect on June 1, 2023.

Burns & Levinson Partner Debra Rahmin Silberstein Elected to National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Board

Heller in the News
January 12, 2023

According to CityBiz, Burns & Levinson announced today that Debra Silberstein, PhD'05, a partner in the firm’s industry-leading Private Client Group, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Massachusetts Chapter (MassNAELA).

Study taps pharmacies as addiction treatment option during opioid crisis

Heller in the News
January 11, 2023

On WBUR, Traci Green, who co-directs the Center for Biological Research Excellence on Opioids and Overdose at Rhode Island Hospital, said that the study shows pharmacies are a safe and effective way to expand addiction treatment. “We need a lot more [options] if we’re going to try to turn the tide in the opioid crisis,” said Green. “And pharmacists are at the ready.”

What’s a ‘gig’ job? How it’s legally defined affects workers’ rights and protections

Heller in the News
January 09, 2023

In The Conversation, David Weil writes about the "gig" economy and its impact on workers’ earnings, workplace conditions, and opportunities.

The Labor Market and the Soft Landing

Heller in the News
January 09, 2023

In The American Prospect, Robert Kuttner writes that the economy is on track to avert a recession, unless the Federal Reserve creates one.

How Southwest can work its way back to the top

Heller in the News
January 06, 2023

In Dallas Morning News, Professor Jody Hoffer Gittell and co-authors argue that the beleaguered airline needs to reignite its culture of collaboration and improve its tense labor relations.

Better neighborhood conditions lower obesity risk in youth

Heller in the News
January 06, 2023

According to Contemporary Pediatrics, a recent study found that children were more likely to present with high BMI and obesity if they had low Child Opportunity Index scores early in life.

Eunice Adjei receives Outstanding Leadership Award at Education 2.0 Conference

Heller in the News
January 06, 2023

Eunice Adjei, MA SID'23, was honored with the Outstanding Leadership Award at the Winter Edition of the Education 2.0 Conference, which took place at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, USA, on December 19-21, 2022.

An appetite for nutrition justice

Heller News Release
January 05, 2023

As a public health official, Visiting Scholar Mursal Manati learned firsthand how nutrition is linked to social justice for children in her home country of Afghanistan and worldwide

Dr. Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, Ph.D., MPA-URP and HOPE National Resource Center Leadership to speak at Tufts’ Center for Community-Engaged Medicine 3rd Annual Virtual Summit – Practicing HOPE

Heller in the News
January 05, 2023

Digital Journal shares that the HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) National Resource Center invites the community to the Third Annual HOPE Summit – Practicing HOPE – a virtual summit on March 29-30, 2023, focusing on the impact positive childhood experiences (PCEs) have and how to implement HOPE practices in organizations, education, medical fields, and social work. Keynote speaker Dr. Dolores Acevedo-Garcia, Ph.D., MPA-URP, will speak on Child Opportunity Index practical applications.

‘Why am I having to explain this?’: Seven stories of barriers to reproductive care for those with disabilities

Heller in the News
January 04, 2023

In STAT, Monika Mitra is quoted saying the Dobbs ruling has a huge, unfortunate, and detrimental impact on people’s lives.