Winter 2023 Heller Magazine

Features

Assistant Dean Jasmine Waddell, Interim Dean Maria Madison, Associate Dean Cindy Thomas, PhD'00

Championing Social Justice

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

Is the End of Child Poverty in Sight?

The Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy is pushing to end child poverty — without losing sight of equity

Drinking in the Data

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

Welcoming New Faculty

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

“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.”

Mursal Manati, Visiting Scholar

“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.”

Departments

Q & A with Neh Meh, MA SID/COEX’23

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.

In Focus: The Power of Girls’ Education

Beatriz Pleités, MA SID’23, with students from SEGA Girls’ Secondary School in Morogoro, Tanzania

During her practicum at the SEGA Girls’ Secondary School in Morogoro, Tanzania, Beatriz Pleités, MA SID’23, found inspiration in the students who are working to become community leaders. Pleités, who is from El Salvador, says she enjoyed connecting with the students and learning from their cultural differences.

Letter from the Interim Dean

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

“With your partnership, we connect our work around the world. Our alumni hold key positions in agencies and organizations locally and around the globe. Our community also leads by example, embodying the Heller mission and principles as well as the anti-racism plan to guide us in financial viability, rightsizing, and collaborating to solve some of the world’s most concerning issues.”

In Case You Missed It

Janelle Ridley, Associate Director, Racial Justice x Tech Policy Project

A closer look at the history of surveillance and racial inequity

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.