Brandeis University Heller Alumni F a l l 2 0 0 9 N e w s a n d V i e w s

A magazine for the alumni of the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University Heller Alumni Fall 2009 News and Views

Contents

page 1 Q&A with Lisa Lynch, Dean of the Heller School

pages 2–5 Policy Briefs by Heller Faculty Toward the End of Global Poverty By Laurence R. Simon Social Policy and Philanthropy: Changes on the Horizon By Andrew Hahn, PhD’78 Aging in America By Sarita Bhalotra, PhD’99 Health-Care Reform Encore By Michael Doonan, PhD’02 Health-Care Outliers Own the Best-Practice Frontier By Jon Chilingerian Balancing the Wealth Budget By Thomas Shapiro It’s Time for a National Youth Strategy By Susan Curnan

pages 6–7 Heller 50th anniversary program

pages 8–11 TRAVELING FIRST CLASS Articles by and about graduates in the first class of each degree program Traveling First Class Bernard Olshansky, DSW’61 the Heller School Adds a Master’s Program A Tribute to Phyllis Busansky, MMHS‘78 Wish I Could Do It All Over Again… Toni Gustus, MBA’99 A Bold and Controversial Idea By Robert Perlman, PhD’61 Diversity, a Memorable Feature of SID Program Cedric M. Shuster, MA’99 Unexpected Lessons By Sarah K. Emond, MPP’09 the Right Stuff Marwa Farag, MS’05

pages 12–13 Thank you to Alumni Donors FY‘09 pages 14–17 Milestones A magazine for the alumni of Heller School Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University

MS 035 Lisa M. Lynch Paula Paris, MMHS’79 Brandeis University Dean President, Heller Alumni PO Box 549110 Association Board Waltham, MA 02454-9110 Samuel O. Thier, MD Chair, Heller Board of Overseers Claudia J. Jacobs ’70 Editor and Director of Communications Initiatives

Brandeis University Q&A with Lisa Lynch, Dean of the Heller School

As Heller celebrates What are some key issues that will take center stage in social its fiftieth anniversary, policy and management in the near future? what things make the The current recession, which has been labeled by some school special? as the Great Recession, has challenged all areas of social First, I am struck by policy. As unemployment rates rise to levels not seen in the unique vision of its more than twenty-five years, the need for social support founders—Brandeis president Abram Sachar, Florence Heller, and Heller’s first dean, Charles Schottland. To establish a school that would “break a barrier” in the professional training and development of a new generation of leaders in social policy fifty years Lisa Lynch is dean and professor of ago was a risky venture. economics at the Heller School. Developing and using social- science theory along with the most advanced quantitative and qualitative methods, scholars at Heller have been on the academic and policy frontier. Their scholarly work has redefined social policy.

Second, by design, the school has had a long tradition of In 1961, British economist and social reformer Lord William Beveridge (right, advancing organizational innovation in the delivery of social pictured with former faculty member David French), received an honorary degree from Brandeis. The university's commitment to a global perspective is even more services and programs. important now than it was fifty years ago.

Third, the experience and diversity of Heller students have from government has never been greater. But how we always been unique features of the school. The first class balance the provision of social-services support among of seventeen doctoral students included lawyers, social the government, the private sector, and the not-for- workers, theologians, experts on alcoholism, educators, profit sector is as problematic today as it was fifty years researchers, and authorities on the problems of juvenile ago. Among the issues that will take center stage are the delinquency. The most recent graduating class of Heller ongoing disenfranchisement of a subsector of our youth; students came from forty-four countries and represented rising inequality and persistent poverty; globalization of even more occupations. But throughout fifty years, there labor markets and the impact this has on immigration has been a common commitment to the school’s mission policy and trade and labor; the need to reinvent our labor- of “knowledge advancing social justice.” market institutions (for example, workforce training and development, social security, unemployment insurance, and What are your goals for the Heller School as it enters health care) for an aging population; and establishing new the next decade? methods to achieve sustainable international development. My first priority is to find the means to provide more financial support for our students so that they can choose Do you have any reflections on your first year as dean? to pursue careers in government and the nonprofit During my year at Heller, I have found that the core values sector without the ponderous yoke of financial debt identified in the initial consultant’s report as crucial in the around their necks. My second priority is to integrate our Heller School’s establishment remain important today. These outstanding research scholars and scientists more fully include intellectual curiosity; creativity; leadership; personal, into our educational programs. My third priority is to professional, and scholarly discipline; flexibility; and adapt- maintain our strength in health-care policy while at the ability. These are abundantly evident among our alumni, stu- same time strengthening our research and educational dents, faculty, researchers, and staff. I am sure the founders concentrations in poverty and inequality; children, youth, of the school would be pleased to see all that has developed and families; and global health and development, as well as at Heller over the past fifty years. But they would be just as re-emphasizing our work in aging, an area of historical adamant that we must not rest on our laurels, but must con- strength at Heller. tinue to innovate to produce the next generation of leading scholars and practitioners in social policy and management.

1 POLICY BRIEFS

Toward the End of Global Poverty By Laurence R. Simon

Nearly two billion of the world’s Falling short of these goals will provide an incentive to people, millions of them children, will re-examine national development policies. This will require the be malnourished this year, partly as the implementation of methods such as those we teach at Heller result of the struggling world economy. in the sustainable international development program. For us, But the chronically poor and acutely development begins by defining the problem, theorizing its hungry are not as much affected by the causation, and testing policies and programs aimed at correcting economy as they are by social exclu- the problem. The failure to achieve the MDGs will be the cue for sion. There have been advances in tens of thousands of nongovernmental organizations, scores of Eastern Asia, where the United Nations governments, and multilateral institutions to take a hard look at Development Programme reports that assumptions that shape development. the proportion of underweight children For instance, we may discover that tribal societies of Africa do was reduced by half since 1990. Yet not follow the same pattern of development as industrialized half the children of Southern Asia remain underweight. And societies. It may be more crucial to reinforce village institu- the stagnant economies of many sub-Saharan nations show little tions and tribal leadership—despite their erosion by apartheid, progress toward poverty reduction. corruption, and modern concepts of development—than to In 2000, the governments of 189 nations agreed to eight targets, promote foreign investment and industrialization. Or it may be called the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to end shown that in South Asia, as in Latin America, progress has extreme poverty by 2015. They address hunger, universal education, been spurred by social movements concerned with human and gender equity, child and maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and environ- development rights. For every Grameen Bank practicing micro- mental sustainability. They are embedded in global and national finance, there are hundreds of lesser-known activist organiza- policies and delimited by timeline and deadline. It is estimated tions challenging barriers to inclusion. How many of these have that the MDGs will require about $50 billion in investment been invited to sit at the table of the Millennium Development annually to meet targets, but much of this funding has not campaign? been committed. Laurence Simon is professor of international development and directs Heller’s sustainable international development programs.

Social Policy and Philanthropy: Changes on the Horizon By Andrew Hahn, PhD’78

Policy and social justice any, guidelines should be applied to this largely unaccountable are themes the new sector. This topic has recently ignited with the publication of Sillerman Center for the two reports. One was released by the Greenlining Institute in Advancement of Philan- California and the other by a philanthropy watchdog group, the thropy shines a light National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. Both have on to advance the field put forward policy proposals that require more transparency on of philanthropy. One diversity (staff, board, grantees) and more targeting of grants concern is helping toward social-justice concerns. family foundations gain interest and expertise The reports provoked heated discussion about what social justice in policy change. is and who should define it. Critics of these guidelines question whether racial or social justice quotas are being suggested. While family founda- tions support myriad The philanthropy field is in a tumultuous period of introspection, direct services, there is rich with suggestions and new ideas, in line with the current often more reluctance economic conditions and severe recession. Consider an inde- to fund activities that pendent-sector proposal for reform of the caps on the amount might impact social of tax-deductible contributions individuals can claim on their tax policy. Examination returns, and a suggestion to remove limits on the amount of some major barriers that inhibit family foundations from individuals can contribute tax-free to charitable nonprofits engaging in policy, advocacy, and reform will result in a paper through their individual retirement accounts. to be published by the center this fall. Policy debates are plentiful about and within the field. The The center is closely watching the important debate concerning Sillerman Center works to help Heller students reflect on the how such foundations monitor their own behavior and what, if meaning of these proposals. It prepares them to join the debates

2 and to build a pipeline of social justice the old than on the young. Yet we still do of real reform. Still, politics, as the old and social-policy research. Ultimately, the not provide the best care, but continue saw goes, is like making sausage: messy. hope is to stimulate practical experiences to deliver care that is fragmented and At the end of the day, health-care reform that will create greater impact on social- uncoordinated. And despite public health- may not be comprehensive or fully justice philanthropy and on philanthropy care funding for those sixty-five and older, address pressing access and cost issues. that can have a broad impact by influencing about half of the expenditures come from But recent statewide reform in Massa­ social policy. private sources, exerting enormous pres- chusetts demonstrates that major gains sures on the assets of an aging population. Andrew Hahn is a professor and directs Heller’s are possible. Here reform led to health- Sillerman Center for the Advancement of The ramifications are everywhere; for care coverage for more than 97 percent Philanthropy. example, appropriate housing becomes of the state’s residents and jump-started an important consideration as elders find critical discussions about improving the Aging in America themselves disabled or frail and cannot cost and quality of health care. Achieving By Sarita Bhalotra, PhD’99 live on their own, creating a situation that reform nationally using the Massachusetts grows even more dire without financial model would be quite an accomplishment. We now live long enough to develop resources. age-related problems that touch on Under the leadership of veteran health every aspect of life. As the dependency ratio (a greater economist Stuart Altman, the Heller number of retired elders as compared to School will continue to help shape the persons still in the work force) increases, evolving national health-care debate. finding both sufficient and adequately While Altman testifies before Congress trained workers and the means to pay and meets regularly with administrative them is also a looming issue. And finally, and congressional officials, faculty at we still struggle with providing our elders Heller’s Schneider Institutes for Health with the dignified death we all want. Policy are developing an alternative- payment system; researching a national The fiftieth anniversary of the Heller health-insurance exchange; conducting School provides a wonderful opportunity cost-effectiveness analysis and quality to reflect on the past and the future of improvement; and evaluating the lessons aging policy. of Massachusetts reforms for the nation.

Sarita Bhalotra is an associate professor and These essential building blocks of reform associate program chair of the health: science, society, and policy program and directs Heller’s are critical to the success of any national aging-policy program. health-care reform.

Michael Doonan is an assistant professor and Health-Care directs Heller’s master of public policy program and the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum. Reform Encore By Michael Doonan, PhD’02 Within the last hundred years, Americans Once again the United States has an have gained on average three decades opportunity to reform its health-care of life, closing out the twentieth century system and join the rest of the industrial- with an average lifespan of seventy- ized world in extending health-insurance seven years. Many factors account for coverage to all residents. While some this spectacular advance, including better 47 million people are uninsured, others standards of living and public health inter- fear losing their coverage. Everyone feels ventions, coupled with improved medicine the sting of rising health-care costs, and advanced medical technology. particularly in a struggling economy. We now live long enough to develop Current reform proposals reflect the more degenerative and lifestyle-related lessons of the Clintons’ failed efforts. illnesses, spend down more assets, and While the Clintons alienated both have fewer caregivers. Meanwhile, we Congress and key interest groups, the face escalating costs for the continuum of Obama administration is doing a far care needed by a rapidly aging popula- better job engaging lawmakers and tion. Indeed, the United States is the only stakeholders, increasing the likelihood country in the world that spends more on

3 Health-Care Outliers Own the Best-Practice Frontier By Jon Chilingerian

In the coming years, are able to sustain performance on a best-practice frontier? And health and human- what explains the differences in operational excellence? service leaders will face two mandates. The first Today, performance and accounting measures focus on industry is simple to understand, ratios and averages, without paying much attention to outliers, though difficult to or extreme performers. Statistical analyses often ignore outliers, fulfill: offer high-quality assuming that extreme values represent errors. Studies of perfor- services at low cost. mance suggest, however, that when measured correctly, outliers The second, related to represent organizations that have achieved excellence or the first, is to provide “best practice.” Consequently, performance outliers could be the best benchmarked the most important service providers for future leaders to study results. and observe.

With increasing Increasing demands for greater accountability will require lead- demands for account- ers who focus more time and attention on best-practice perfor- ability, “pay for per- mance management. For starters, leaders will need tools to mea- formance,” and other sure, assess, and benchmark their organization’s performance incentives, performance that is merely better than average, or against that of similar organizations. Once leaders can measure even superior, will soon be inadequate. Consequently, health the relative performance of their providers and organizations, and human-service organizations of the future will face a man- they will be able to build commitment to achieve operational date to benchmark their performance against the “best results excellence. observed in practice,” and they will be paid according to the Future mandates for quality and productivity will be taken more results they achieve. seriously as health and human services face deepening social Comparative studies of organizations reveal wide variations in and economic problems. Meeting the growing imperative will innovation and performance among health and human-service require a new breed of leader who can mobilize his or her orga- organizations. Over time, the best organizations innovate and nization to create value for clients, service providers, and staff; improve their services by shifting their performance frontiers far for external stakeholders; and for the organization as a whole. ahead of others. The other organizations then are pressured not Emulating, rather than ignoring, the behavior of extreme per- only to sustain their performance, but also to compete and catch formers represents the cutting edge in performance measure- up with their rivals. ment and operational excellence.

When confronted with these performance mandates, leaders must Jon Chilingerian is an associate professor of human services management in solve a performance puzzle—how is it that some organizations Heller’s MBA program and directs Heller’s executive education program.

Balancing the Wealth Budget By Thomas Shapiro

Wealth-building policies have earning more than $1 million, received 45 percent of the tax great potential to help low- and benefits, while the bottom 60 percent received only 3 percent. moderate-income families build assets critical for their own secu- A big policy issue for the twenty-first century is to put the rity and their children’s futures. asset-building provisions of the tax code on the public policy, Current tax policies increase organizing, and political agendas to democratize opportunities. inequality and do little to build A just tax code that democratizes opportunities will enable low- assets among low-, moderate-, and moderate-income families and families of color to and many middle-income families. build assets that provide a foundation for economic security and upward mobility. During this period of historic­​‑ ally extreme income and wealth Achieving an overhaul of tax policies will entail a national con- inequality, individual wealth- versation about economic democracy and why it is important— building tax policies etched into the U.S. tax code foster greater something long overdue in this country. inequality rather than promote economic democracy. In 2005, Thomas Shapiro is the Pokross Professor of Law and Social Policy and directs the United States invested $370 billion in individual wealth- the Institute on Assets and Social Policy. building tax provisions. The wealthiest 1 percent of families,

4 He al t h -C ar e Ou t li e rs

Ow n t h e Be s t-P rac t ic e F r ont i e r

By JonChilingerian risky behavior. substance abuse,andengagementin cant predictorofdroppingout,suicide, Victimization ofthesegroups isasignifi- business forlesbianandgayyouth. has madetraditionaleducationarisky harassment andviolenceintheschools proposition. Anepidemicofantigay graduation isevenworse—afifty-fifty American andHispanicstudents,on-time catastrophe byanymeasure.ForAfrican ate fromhighschoolontime—anational Thirty percentofstudentsdonotgradu- these kids. an impossibleprospectformillionsof tion makeachievingtheAmericandream flict, discrimination,andsocialdisconnec- munities. Economic insecurity, family con- of fiveandtwenty-fourliveinU.S.com- Eighty millionyouthsbetweentheages It’ s

Tim e f o r

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Na t i on al Yo the CenterforYouth andCommunities. Susan Curnanisassociateprofessoranddirects Our kidsareworthit! business, andcommunitypartnerships. innovation ingovernment,philanthropy, policy leadershipandmanagement Progress requirestheHellerbrandof federal government. offered acrosstwelvedepartmentsinthe education, work,andserviceprograms nation andstreamlinethehundredsof Youth. Thisofficewillimprovecoordi- a WhiteHouseOfficeonChildrenand will bringthemtoscale.Let’s establish do—and wehavepolicyproposalsthat between whatweknowand tions onthegroundtoclosegap national youthstrategy. We havesolu- community serviceandfinallycreatea development, workandlearning, edge explosionaboutpositiveyouth Congress shouldexploittherecentknowl- The ObamaAdministrationandthe111th recession. nomic equivalentofapermanentnational force challengeshavecreatedtheeco- Combined, theseeducationalandwork- generation. be worseoffasadultsthantheprior said theybelievetoday’s childrenwill report, halftheU.S.adultssampled ladder. InarecentPewResearchCenter on thebottomrungofeconomic work skills,essentiallysealingtheirfate 40 percentofstudentslackessential Moreover, employersreportthat u t h St ra te gy

By Susan Curnan 5

heller’s 50th anniversary celebration > See next page for event listings. heller’s 50th anniversary celebration

october 16–18, 2009

shaping the future of social policy: the heller challenge

6 friday, october 16, 2009

6:00 p.m. keynote Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President, Children’s Defense Fund

7:00 p.m. Reception to honor Professor David Gil saturday, october 17, 2009

8:30–10:00 a.m. Past and Current Deans Panel and Breakfast

10:15 a.m.–noon Concurrent Workshops: Morning Sessions Building Assets and Communities across the Life Course

Leveraging Human Capital for Economic Recovery: A Social Justice Agenda

Living Till We Die: Social Justice in Aging

The Role of the States in Health Reform: Past Lessons and Future Hope

12:15–2:00 p.m. Luncheon Keynote: A Better Health-Care System Atul Gawande, MD, General and Endocrine Surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute; Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

2:00–5:00 p.m. Networking and Video Booth Come to the “Heller Story Booth” to record your commentary about fifty years of Heller and its impact on you (for posterity)!

2:15–4:00 p.m. Concurrent Workshops: Afternoon Sessions Making Knowledge Productive: Influencing Policy and Practice through Heller Community Partnerships

Transforming the Practice of Development: A Human Rights and Capabilities Approach to Social Exclusion

Beyond Parity: The Future of Behavioral Health

Philanthropy, Social Justice, and the Recession

5:00 p.m. Reception hosted by Heller Board of Overseers and Heller Alumni Association Board

6:00 p.m. 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner Speaker Jehuda Reinharz, President, Brandeis University Come watch the 50th anniversary video, dance to Young@Heart™, the octogenarian singing group (www.youngatheartchorus.com), and view a special tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy. sunday, october 18, 2009—career services breakfast and workshops

8:30 a.m. breakfast

9:00–10:30 a.m. career networking and career-building session Well Rounded in a Flat World: The Secret to Successful Career Development in the Global Economy

9:00 a.m.–noon Leadership: Back to the Classroom If you are a management alumna or alumnus or just want to understand leadership through the case-study method, return to the classroom, where it’s all about “the people.”

10:30–noon encore careers Thinking of Reinventing Yourself after a Long Career? Explore the Possibilities

7 TRAVELING FIRST CLASS

Traveling First Class degrees were renamed to PhD, but managers for new challenges arising from Olshansky insisted on retaining his DSW, policy shifts that called for substantially Bernard Olshansky, DSW’61 an important reminder of the values he more contracted services. began with. When the Heller School began in 1959, “The faculty wasn’t easily convinced it had one degree program, a doctoral “We had all our classes in Woodruff Hall, a that the Heller School should add a program, and seventeen students. white building first used as an administra- master’s program,” recalls Professor Bernie Olshansky, DSW’61, was one tion building for the university, positioned Barry Friedman, who was on the faculty of the seventeen. He remembers how near where the Hassenfeld Conference at the time. “But after a struggle it was exhilarating it was to be in the first class Center now stands. I walked to that building, adopted, and the new dean, Stuart and how he, a person who grew up went home for dinner, and then came Altman, had it as one of his first initiatives during the Depression, the first in his back in the evenings. We all had keys and to implement.” family to even go to college, never saw a free access,” he says. Just four people doctoral program in his future. The 1970s was a time when public from that initial class graduated with policy shifted the management of social Olshanksy in 1961, though others gradu- programs from government to nonprofits ated in later years. and community organizations. There was The early origins of Heller were grounded a need for new skills within government in social and public welfare, geriatrics, to manage its contracts and in nonprofits and health and social security. Olshansky to run the programs. The Heller School says Schottland’s government connec- wanted to be on the cutting edge in tions made the Heller School a top spot preparing for this new environment. for high-ranking government officials Heller’s new master’s program attracted and nonprofit executives to stop by as managers from government as well as “celebrity” speakers. Not only did faculty from the nonprofit sector. Hausman members Bob Morris, Charles Schottland, headed the program, and Gordon Chase “The Heller School opened new doors for and Morrie Schwartz treat students as was recruited as a star professor in the me that I never knew existed; it was colleagues, but so did these visitors to new master in management of human exciting and changed my perspective Heller. That collegial interaction was a services (MMHS) program. Interested in forever,” he says. special feature of the school’s intellectual the effective management of government programs, Chase didn’t buy the prevailing Olshansky was director of the Waltham camaraderie, says Olshansky. notion that public programs just don’t Family Service agency when he met work. He was pretty sure they could work Charles Schottland, the Massachu- The Heller School if they were run well by skillful managers. setts commissioner of social security. Chase mesmerized all of his students, Schottland was giving a speech at the Adds a Master’s especially Phyllis Busansky, MMHS’78. annual meeting of Olshansky’s agency. Program—1977 During a briefing before the talk, the Busansky exemplified this new breed of conversation shifted, and Schottland said A tribute to Phyllis Busansky, MMHS’78, managers. She dedicated her whole life to to him, “You’re the kind of guy I want— graduate of the program’s first class public service, beginning by managing a young, professionally experienced, with group home for teenage runaways. After the capacity to be a leader for Heller’s working as the first dean of students at new doctoral program.” Olshansky said South Florida’s Upward Bound program, no; he had a family, and going back to she became director of aging services in school didn’t seem practical. But when he Hillsborough County, Florida. Later, as was offered a fellowship that compared executive director of Florida’s Welfare to favorably to his salary, he became one of Work program, she oversaw one of the the first admitted to the new Heller pro- nation’s most innovative welfare-reform gram, where Schottland had been named programs, realizing caseload declines the founding dean. that placed Florida first among major states and resulted in cost savings of Initially, two doctoral degrees were Thomas Glynn III, MSW’72, PhD’77, was more than $500 million. She was named offered. Students most interested in the still a Heller student when he conceived of Public Official of the Year by Governing practice world could choose to earn a the notion of adding a master’s program magazine in 1995. doctorate in social welfare (DSW), while to the Heller School. Working with Heller those more theoretically oriented could professor Leonard Hausman, he enlisted In an unsuccessful 2006 campaign, she opt for a PhD. Later, in the 1980s, all faculty support to fill an anticipated became the first Heller graduate to run need to educate midlevel government for Congress, and many Heller alumni

8 Views from those who graduated in the first class of Heller degree programs

and faculty enthusiastically supported Gustus advises today’s students to learn her effort. Busansky never stopped; last everything they can and to not dismiss November, she was elected Hillsborough anything. “Never underestimate what you County’s supervisor of elections. are learning; it will come into play in your career,” she says. “Just the other day, I Claudia Jacobs ’70, former director was reflecting on something I had picked of alumni relations at Heller, visited up in my organizational management Busansky in Tampa. She recalls happily tagging along after Busansky while the class. Ten years later, I would go back to consummate politician and community Heller and do it over again.” activist spoke to everyone she passed. “We went to a Cuban restaurant,” says A Bold and Jacobs, “and we could barely eat because we were constantly mobbed by Controversial Idea community members saying hello. Phyllis By Robert Perlman, PhD’61 always asked specifically about their The room was filled with an air of eager relatives or spouses as well as engaging expectation as seventeen of us, all expe- with them about community issues. She rienced social workers, met as the first had an energy about her that attracted class of the Heller School in fall 1959. We people to her orbit.” Alumni Association board, and as a board member she donned a hard hat at the savored the moment, for we felt keenly Busansky was a featured speaker on the beam-raising ceremony for the new Heller that this was the beginning of a bold new managers’ panel at the Heller School’s School building. venture in the training of professionals as forty-fifth anniversary celebration, in 1999. leaders, policy experts, and researchers Her presentation—warm, humorous, and “I remember the old building and the for a wide range of health and welfare personal—will be forever remembered. Heller lounge where many presentations organizations. As a group of graduate She was an energetic, vibrant star of took place. It was intimate—you couldn’t students we were an odd lot, most of us the first master’s class at Heller and go very far—but it was also limiting. I love in our thirties and forties with families. a consistent supporter. She passed the new building. With its long open halls away in her sleep while at an election and light, free feeling, you know there is We did not know what had gone on supervisors’ conference on June 23, 2009, some great architecture behind it.” during two years of earnest discussions at age seventy-two. She will be missed at Brandeis University about this initiative. always, but especially at Heller’s fiftieth Gustus also admires the distinctive It was clear, however, that Abram Sachar, anniversary celebration in October 2009. approach MBA Program Director Jody then president of Brandeis, was the prime Gittell has brought to Heller. And new mover behind this development. Wish I could do it all courses on subjects like fundraising are important in the nonprofit world, she says. For many years, most professionals over again… heading up social agencies and programs “When I came to Heller, I had investigated were graduates of schools of social work, Toni Gustus, MBA’99 traditional business schools, but the case had come up through the ranks, and Toni Gustus, MBA’99, reminisces about studies and material didn’t appeal to me. learned how to manage agencies through being in the first Heller MBA class—which, The Heller School curriculum offered on-the-job experience. By the mid-1950s, she says, “pioneered” the program. “The exactly the business skills I was looking there was a growing interest in upgrading faculty were so open to our suggestions for, but in a human-service context that this training. The key question was how and interested in our experience,” says remains the core of the Heller MBA.” to do it. Very early on, three competing Gustus, now director of purchase of ser- visions of how to move forward came to She recalls with fondness her capstone vices at the Massa­chusetts Department the surface. experience, in which she and her class- of Public Health. But she acknowledges mates formed a consulting team to One school of thought held that the something great about being in the classes analyze medical errors at Massachusetts existing system should be improved but that followed as well. She says that the General Hospital. Amazed by how deep not drastically altered. This point of view concentrations on assets and sustainable an insider’s perspective was afforded to reflected the experience of lay leaders development, added since she graduated, students, as well as by the fact that MGH who had served on the boards of not-for- appeal to broader interests. staff took her team’s recommendations profit social agencies. Among them was seriously, Gustus says that this type of Florence Heller, a leader in the Jewish Gustus kept up with the growth of the learning is essential. “It was a whole community both in Chicago and Heller MBA as a member of the Heller education in itself,” she notes.

9 nationally and the source of a generous diversity, a memorable feature of sid program offer of financial support for the new venture. Cedric M. Shuster, MA’99 Cedric M. Shuster, a member of the first The second view was flat opposition class in Heller’s Sustainable International to the whole idea. This included some Development Program (SID), is the director members of the Brandeis faculty who of Pacific Environmental Consultants, Ltd., argued that there was no recognized body in American Samoa. Here, he talks with of knowledge to constitute a respectable Heller Alumni News and Views about his experiences. curriculum and that, in any case, Brandeis

should not open a school for training professionals in any field but should remain a small arts and sciences univer- sity. They were joined by experts in health What special memories do you have of being in the first Heller SID graduating class? and welfare, such as Isidore Lubin, the The special memories for me relate to the students I encountered during the U.S. commissioner of labor statistics. program from different countries, religions, and backgrounds. The diversity of students, the bonds we formed, and the lecturers we heard create a lasting In his response to the outright rejection memory for me. of the concept of a new school, Sachar insisted that launching such a program Do you have any reflections on the SID program as it developed? would demonstrate that Brandeis was I often think about how I still maintain relationships with several of my classmates committed to an active role in serving despite being on different continents. I have also had the privilege of meeting in American society. There was, he said, a other forums with SID students who graduated after me, so it appears to me from crying need for well-trained people to afar that the program is going strong. develop policies to meet the formidable array of social problems that burgeoned How did the knowledge and skills gained at Heller help you in your career? after World War II. The relationships and skills gained from SID have certainly been useful in my career in terms of improving relationships with and understanding of other A third vision was strongly advocated by countries and regions. The program has also made me understand more about Charles Schottland, U.S. commissioner the underlying causes of problems that we face in the Pacific and also how I am of social security. In a sharp break with able to assist in other regions. the past, he pressed for the invention of a new kind of training. He advocated What kinds of academic experiences do you use every day? moving out of the orbit of social work One of the issues I have confronted more than others from SID is the concept of and into the much broader field of health environmental economics. This can help demonstrate the benefits of saving our and welfare, which was fast becoming planet even to nonenvironmentalists. an important function of federal, state, and local governments. With this shift he What influenced you most during your time at Heller? envisioned a basic change in curriculum I think all the visiting lecturers and the full-time professors had some level of influ- in which the social sciences—notably ence on me. But most memorable and exciting was the opportunity to hear folks political science, economics, and from other parts of the world engaged in international-development work speak sociology—would replace traditional from their experiences. social work content.

The Brandeis board of trustees agreed to What types of issues should Heller tackle as it moves forward to confront social the establishment of a new school, but justice and prepare students for the world we find ourselves in today? the vision of its mission that ultimately Continue to bring in practitioners who have lived through different struggles prevailed was primarily the result of the for social justice. This puts the type of work that graduates will be faced with practical steps that President Sachar and into perspective. Charles Schottland, who had been chosen to be the dean of the school, took to open What advice would you give to the Heller students of today or tomorrow? its doors in 1959. Utilize the networks one finds at school when you go out into the working world.

Above, Cedric Shuster, MA’99, with his wife, Suzie, and youngest child, Jonathan

10 Unexpected Lessons The Right Stuff By Sarah K. Emond, MPP’09 Marwa Farag, MS’05

The greatest part of being in Heller’s When Marwa Farag, MS’05, began attending first graduating MPP class is getting Heller’s master of science in international health to know the people, from the passion- policy and management program, she looked ate professors and dedicated staff to around and saw people from countries she had the inquisitive and diverse students. never heard of. But soon her classmates didn’t Though my fellow MPP students all look strange to each other and enjoyed learning came to Heller to learn more about about the different foods and customs each had. making an impact through policy, our Hailing from Vietnam, Mongolia, China, Egypt, interests ranged from early-childhood the United States, and Kazakhstan, they came education to international develop- together for the common purpose of improving ment to immigration, philanthropy, and health conditions. health-care reform. I have no doubt that my classmates, armed with the skills Today, Farag, who comes from Egypt, knows that and knowledge obtained at Heller, will wherever she goes in the world she’ll be fine. be future leaders in public policy here Now in the doctoral program at Heller, she says her experience at Heller has been in Massachusetts, in Washington, D.C., life changing, and she doesn’t know if she can ever leave. across the nation, and across the globe. There were days when Farag might have felt that the MS program was too much It was important for us, as members of work—but, on reflection, she says the faculty taught her all “the right stuff.” She the inaugural class, to leave our mark, gained quantitative skills; acquired policy, application, and analytical tools; and and we did so by establishing the MPP learned by doing. Student Association and an idea for a

Heller policy publication. But the real “When I first came to Heller, I was very cynical. I had the attitude that nothing really legacy of the MPP program will be the works. Now I’m more like Obama; I realize change is incremental, and things unique opportunity that graduate study can work,” she says. “Because we were the first class, we had periodic feedback at Heller offers future students to grow meetings with the program directors, especially about the amount of work. As a as people, citizens, and leaders. teaching assistant for subsequent classes who also complain of large amounts of work, I tell them they should only know from a lot of work!” I came to Heller after several years in the for-profit business world. When Farag says her classmates sometimes slept at school, taking turns to wake each I first arrived at Heller, my favorite other for class. “We’d come in groggy to hand in exams and papers, sometimes in question to ask during class discussions our pajamas. Napping in the library and studying until all hours characterized our was “How are you going to pay for time and bonded us as a class,” she notes. that?” I believed every decision, every policy impact, had to be quantified. Farag remembers going out to celebrate when a particular exam was handed in. Then one day I stopped asking that She recalls one student from Mongolia who treated classmates to a special kind of question as the reality of implementing Mongolian wine customarily drunk during times of celebration. social policies for social justice hit me. It’s about so much more than the eco- “What was really special is that, although we came to a United States–based nomic impact. It’s about helping vulner- graduate school, there was never the assumption that we had to adopt and transport able populations; it’s about leveling the U.S. health-policy solutions to our own countries. In fact, the richness of the different playing field for all citizens; it’s about countries’ perspectives taught us that health policy can be approached from many helping disenfranchised and under- different angles.” served communities participate in the American experience. These were Farag feels that being at Heller is a privilege and students should never the most unexpected lessons of my underestimate what they are learning. She advises people to take advantage of the graduate experience, but also the rich diversity, no matter what program they are in. most important. “When you visit a country as a tourist, you always miss that richness,” she says. “At Heller, that richness, in an authentic way, is right here for the taking.”

11 Alumni Donors FY’09

Thank You to Heller Alumni Donors

The Heller School appreciates all alumni Wayne Michael Harding ’70, PhD’92 donations. This honor roll specifically Oscar W. Harrell, PhD’95* recognizes gifts of $100 or more made by Linda Holiner, MMHS’89 Lois E. Horton, PhD’77 Heller alumni between July 1, 2008, and Michelle Lackie, MBA’03 June 30, 2009. Heller Alumni Annual Fund Bruce W. Lagay, PhD’73 and Heller Fellowship Fund gifts support Dwight N. McNeill, PhD’03 master’s and doctoral students through Robert M. Melia, MMHS’83 scholarships; provide special grants Sherman Merle, PhD’68 Elizabeth Merrick, PhD’98 to help them complete dissertations, Phuong T. Nguyen, MA’01 defray the cost of required texts, and Marie Cullen Oliver, MMHS’98 attend professional meetings; and help Avis Y. Pointer, PhD’74 to finance student projects such as the Scott E. Provost, MM’98* Heller Alternative Spring Break. Margo L. Rosenbach ’78, PhD’85 Mark A. Ruckman, MBA’07 Dean’s Circle ($5,000+) Barbara Skydell Safran, PhD’83 Eric E. Cahow, PhD’04* Eric J. Sax ’83, MBA’01 May Futrell, PhD’76* Robert B. Seidner ’98, MBA’03 Thomas P. Glynn III, MSW’72, PhD’77+ Jason A. Soloway, MA’01, MM’01* M. Bryna Sanger, PhD’76+ Michael G. Trisolini, MA’00, PhD’01 Anya Rader Wallack, MA’01, PhD’07 Anne Elizabeth Tumlinson, MMHS’95 Julio Alejandro Urbina, PhD’01* Alumni Leaders Circle ($1,000–$4,999) Mary Ann Wilner, MMHS’81, PhD’86 G. Lawrence Atkins, PhD’85+ Assunta Young, PhD’79 Neal F. Bermas, PhD’81+ Stephen M. Coan ’84, MMHS’90, PhD’97 Contributor ($100–$249) Harold W. Demone Jr., PhD’66 Laura S. Altman, PhD’88 Diane M. Disney, PhD’89 Laurie Ansorge Ball, MMHS’83 Lori Rosenquist Griswold, PhD’93 Mary Elizabeth Belgard, MMHS’91 Jonathan D. Katz, PhD’81 Amy Bernstein, MMHS’98 Marty Wyngaarden Krauss, PhD’81 Leonard M. Bloksberg, PhD’66 Edward F. Lawlor, PhD’85 Laquitta Bowers, MM’97 Jane Mattson, PhD’94 Jacqueline Daniels Braunthal, MMHS’84 Ann E. Mowery, PhD’92 Dean P. Briggs, PhD’85 Gail K. Robinson, PhD’80*+ Anne Spink Brisson, PhD’99 Richard O. Brooks, PhD’74 Associate ($500–$999) Chad Matthew Brustin, MMHS’96 Stuart Carter, PhD’91 Katharine Valleen Byers, MSW’71 Betty Jane Cleckley, PhD’74 James J. Callahan Jr., PhD’68* Sheldon R. Gelman, PhD’73 James W. Callicutt, PhD’69 Mary Jo Larson, PhD’92 Lois C. Camberg, PhD’85 Walter N. Leutz, PhD’81 Victor A. Capoccia, PhD’78* Diane Feeney Mahoney, PhD’89 William F. Carney, MMHS’82 Eva Marx, MMHS’80 Cecilia Rivera Casale, PhD’79* Ricardo A. Millett ’68, MSW’70, PhD’74 Joseph Castellana, PhD’02 Faith Parker, MMHS’87 Mady E. Chalk, PhD’90 Amy C. Ramm, PhD’75 Andrew F. Coburn, PhD’82 Linda Simoni-Wastila, PhD’93 Barbara E. Cohen ’79, PhD’86 Joe Warren, MSW’72, PhD’83* Deborah E. Cohen, PhD’84 Marc Aaron Cohen, PhD’87 Founder ($250–$499) Maura Coan Colling, MMHS’79 Mary Bouchard, MBA’05 Jennifer Kane Coplon, PhD’94 Mary F. Brolin, PhD’05 Amelia Marquez de Perez, PhD’96, MA’97 Thomas G. Broussard Jr., PhD’06* Carol J. DeVita, PhD’85 Ann F. Collard, PhD’88 Michael T. Doonan, PhD’02 Gerben DeJong, PhD’81 Almas Dossa, PhD’07 Kathleen M. Drennan, MA’02, PhD’06 Susan Hampton Edwards, MMHS’86 Daniel M. Finkelstein, PhD’05 Austin Patrick Egan, MBA’09 Lillian Labecki Glickman, MSW’71, PhD’81* Efrat Eilat, MBA’00 Elaine Selig Gould, MSW’71 Fatou Drammeh Fatty, MA’01 Andrew Barry Hahn, PhD’78 Virginia M. Fitzhugh, MM’03

12 Joanne C. Foster, MBA’08 Daniel E. Rodell, PhD’76 Murray W. Frank, PhD’74* Beatrice Lorge Rogers, PhD’78 Lori Berman Gans ’83, MMHS’86 Laurie Ellen Ruderfer-Ellman, MMHS’85 Hollis N. Gauss, MA’01, MM’01 Nancy A. Sacks, MMHS’79 John W. Gettens, MA’06, PhD’09 Craig David Schneider, PhD’04 Shirley Ann Girouard, PhD’88 Andrea F. Schuman, PhD’99 Mitchell Glavin, PhD’01 Marsha Mailick Seltzer, PhD’78 James C. Gorman, MSW’73, PhD’78 Windsor Westbrook Sherrill, PhD’00 Christina M. Graf, PhD’01 Valerie Shulock, MMHS’97 Toni L. Gustus, MBA’99 Rachel S. Siegal, MA’03, MBA’03 Anita S. Harbert, PhD’75 Nina M. Silverstein, PhD’80* Cariann Guyette Harsh, MBA’04 William D. Spector ’67, PhD’81 Evelyn Bullitt Hausslein, MMHS’84 Walter F. Stern, PhD’67 Joan Danziger Hechtman, MMHS’83 Mary Ann Stoica, MA’08 Miriam R. Hodesh, MBA’07* Yanyan Su, MA’07 M. C. Terry Hokenstad Jr., PhD’69 Lynne Sullivan, MBA’02* Anne M. Howard, PhD’90 Michael George Tauber, MMHS’94 Kathleen J. Hunt, MMHS’98 Mordean Taylor-Archer, PhD’79 Sharon R. Hunt, PhD’01 Yvonne Eleanor Thraen, PhD’77 Clare L. Hurley, MM’05 Thomas Edward Tobin, PhD’94 Batya Hyman, PhD’93 Katherine Tumlinson, MA’07 Carolyn Jacobs, PhD’78 Winston M. Turner, PhD’87 Christina Jameson, PhD’81 Karen Richards Tyo, MA’07 Erika Kates, PhD’84 Nancy Marie Valentine, PhD’91 Ghenet Weldeslassie Ketema, MA’99* Ione Dugger Vargus, PhD’71 Lucinda King-Frode, PhD’97 Michele T. Visconti, MA’00, PhD’01 Eric R. Kingson, PhD’79 Joan Wallace-Benjamin, PhD’80 Sanford L. Kravitz, PhD’63 Roberta Ward Walsh, PhD’89 Sarah R. Larson, MBA’04 Jonathan Wasserman ’92, MBA’08 Ann C. Lee, MMHS’95 Janet B. Wasserstein, MMHS’90 Valerie R. Leiter, PhD’01 Ann T. Weick, PhD’76 Roberta Leviton, PhD’99 Joel S. Weissman, PhD’87 David X. Li, MA’00, PhD’01 John Kenneth Whitbeck, PhD’89 Nancy Ellen Lightman, MM’02 Jean S. Whitney, MM’01 John A. Lippitt, MMHS’96, PhD’03 Judith K. Williams, PhD’83 Nancy L. Lohmann, PhD’77 Robert F. Wooler, MMHS’80 Linda Long, MA’00, PhD’07 Jessica Zander, MMHS’94 Christine Lux-Whiting, MMHS’81 Dakun Zhao, MA’06 Marcia Mabee, PhD’83 Valerie Zimber, MMHS’80 Carl G. MacMillan, MMHS’88 Libby Zimmerman, PhD’77 Nancy E. McAward, MMHS’84 Maria E. Zuniga, PhD’80 Frances Medaglia, PhD’95 Karen Devereaux Melillo, PhD’90 Only Heller alumni are listed, but others, Jacqueline R. Michelove, MMHS’81 including Brandeis undergraduate alumni William Richard Miner, PhD’76 and staff, also donated generously to Paula M. Minihan, PhD’03 these funds. Please let us know if your Cynthia D. Moniz, PhD’90 name has been inadvertently omitted. Vincent Mor, PhD’79 We apologize and will include you in our Susan E. Moscou, PhD’06 next issue. Alumni who ask to remain Otrude Moyo, MA’00, PhD’01 anonymous are not listed here, but our Sharon F. Neuwald, MMHS’82 gratitude extends to them as well. Edward Newman, PhD’68 Catherine A. Nichols, MA’01, PhD’07 * Heller Alumni Association Board Member Darwin Palmiere, PhD’75 + Heller Board of Overseers Member Paula A. Paris, MMHS’79*+ Susan E. Perlik, PhD’84 Sylvia B. Perlman, PhD’85 For more information, please contact Janet Poppendieck, PhD’79 the Heller Office of Development and David J. Portowicz, PhD’80 Alumni Relations at 781-736-3808 or Deborah Potter, MA’00, PhD’07 Veronica Louise Purcell, MM’99 visit heller.brandeis.edu, where you Betty Holroyd Roberts, PhD’75 can also make a gift online.

13 Milestones

New Jobs/Degrees/Directions Kevin Corbin, MA’05, continues as deputy chief of party, managing Deana Becker, MA’04, completed her technical programs for Education first year in the MBA program at Babson Development Center’s USAID-funded College. Back in the Boston area after $60 million education project in the four years in California, she would love Philippines. And he surfs often to see SID friends (deanabecker@ ([email protected]). gmail.com). Wayne L. Dorris, PhD’82, after Elizabeth-Rebecca (Reeves) Bishop, completing his responsibilities in the MMHS’93, has started a Catholic Worker U.S. Air Force, set up a graduate training Farm in Montana with her husband. program in psychosocial oncology at They are trying to raise awareness in the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in state of Montana of Catholic Worker Houston. Since 1991, he has worked in ideas and social justice concerns. To organization development consulting learn more about what they do, visit (leadership development and www.catholicworker.org, go to performance management), primarily “directory” and click MT for Montana for the energy industry in Houston. He ([email protected]). is currently working around the United States, Canada, and Shanghai, China. Brenda Bond, PhD’06, began a new He is married to a still active and very position in 2007 as assistant professor successful geneticist, and he has four in the public management department children and six grandchildren of the Sawyer Business School at ([email protected]). Suffolk University in Boston. Bond was the principal investigator (PI) on Anne Douglass, PhD’09, began a new two comprehensive action research job in September at the Graduate grants that focused on evaluation College of Education at University of of comprehensive youth violence Massachusetts, Boston, as assistant prevention strategies. She also serves professor on a tenure track. She also will as PI on a grant to explore the direct the new bachelor’s degree application of private-sector research program in Early Care and Education in and development practices in police Inclusive Settings at UMass, Boston agencies ([email protected]). ([email protected]).

Ruth Brandwein, PhD’78, Deborah Ann Gray, MBA’05, is working returned from a month in Ethiopia, as a statistician at Massachusetts where she was invited to teach a General Hospital. Last year she received doctoral seminar on social-policy an MS degree in gerontology at the analysis at the Addis Ababa University University of Massachusetts, Boston, School of Social Work. She is also vice and she currently is a doctoral candidate president of the board of the Suffolk in the UMass gerontology program County Coalition Against Domestic ([email protected]). Violence ([email protected]). Ann L. Hartstein, MMHS’83, David G. Brody, MM’99, is the director of was appointed secretary of the business operations at FIRST 5 Santa Massachusetts Executive Office of Clara County, an independent county Elder Affairs by Governor Deval commission that distributes some Patrick. She took office on July 1, 2009 $30 million per year to health and ([email protected]). human-service programs for children five years old and younger and their families. See www.first5kids.org. He is also the proud father of two girls, ages one and four ([email protected]).

14 Romana Hasnain-Wynia, PhD’96, left her Executive Board. The highlight of her Vincent Mor, PhD’79, was appointed position as vice president for research at year was presenting an award to the Florence Pirce Grant University the Health Research and Educational journalist Gwen Ifill at the Simmons Professor of Community Health by Trust, the research and educational commencement. Klotz’s experience on the Brown University Corporation affiliate of the American Hospital the Heller School Alumni Association ([email protected]). Association, in January 2008 after ten Board has helped her in her volunteer years. In February 2008, she joined position at Simmons (amyklotz@ Deborah Anne Potter, PhD’07, is Northwestern University’s Feinberg earthlink.net). assistant professor in the Department of School of Medicine as associate Sociology at the University of Louisville. professor and director of the Center for Michael Levine, PhD’85, founded She will be teaching medical sociology Healthcare Equity. She continues to lead the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, ([email protected]). research projects in health-care a new research and policy center at disparities, quality of care, and the Sesame Workshop. The center focuses David Segal ’78, MMHS’83, is the chief health-care safety net. She’s also a on finding new ways—using research, operating officer at Neighborhood member of the Institute of Medicine model development, and public-private Health Plan in Boston. He lives in the Committee, Standardized Collection of investment strategies—to accelerate Boston area with his wife, Wendy, and Race-Ethnicity Data for Healthcare children’s learning through the three-year-old son, Jacob (ws.segal@ Quality Improvement, and a senior integration of powerful new digital yahoo.com). associate editor for the journal Health technologies. He and his wife, Joni-Sue, Services Research (r-hasnainwynia@ MJC’83, have three children: Sam, Linda Silver, PhD’77, is director northwestern.edu). twenty-one; Zach, eighteen; and Sarah, of talent management and fifteen. Sam recently graduated from organizational effectiveness at the Erin Yale Horwitz, MM’98, is director of Cornell University (Michael.Levine@ Federal Reserve Bank of Boston clinical development at the Medical sesameworkshop.org). ([email protected]). College of Wisconsin. She lives near the college with her husband, Adam, and Dr. Everett Lilly, PhD’97, is director of Shelley A. Steenrod, PhD’99, was two daughters, Abigail and Amelia the social work program at Mountain promoted to associate professor ([email protected]). State University in Beckley, West and elected chair of the School of Social Virginia. The social work program Work at Salem State College Watsala Jayamanna, MA’08, started as primarily serves first-generation college in Massachusetts (ssteenrod@ the training coordinator for the urban students from the southern mountains. salemstate.edu). disaster risk management team of the Lilly also leads a traditional music group, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in the Songcatchers, which works to Fernando Torres-Gil, MSW’72, PhD’76, Bangkok, Thailand, after receiving an promote and preserve the mountain will step down from his administrative MA ([email protected]). culture of the region (evrlilly@ duties as acting dean and associate dean mountainstate.edu). at the University of California at Los Melissa Ekin Kizildemir, MA’07, received Angeles School of Public Affairs to enjoy a master of liberal arts in management Hammad Masood, MA’07, is working for a long-awaited sabbatical, from which degree from Harvard University, where UNICEF as the planning, monitoring, he will return as a professor of social she won the Derek Bok Public Service and evaluation specialist in the welfare and public policy. He continues Prize. The award is given annually to Philippines ([email protected]). to direct the UCLA Center on Policy Harvard Extension School graduates Research on Aging. He served on who, while pursuing academic studies Elizabeth McDonald, PhD’05, is vice President Obama’s Department of Health and professional careers, also gave president of performance and outcomes and Human Services transition team, generously of their time and skill to at the Home for Little Wanderers, providing consultation on aging and improve the quality of life of others. She the oldest child-welfare agency in long-term care services, and was invited served with Bridges of Hope, a nonprofit the nation. McDonald most recently to attend Obama’s Fiscal Responsibility that focuses on raising funds to improve served as chief research officer for Summit in March. He serves on a variety the education of low-income Turkish the National Foundation for Teaching of boards and commissions, including families ([email protected]). Entrepreneurship, an international the AARP Foundation, the California nonprofit focused on providing Endowment, and the Los Angeles Airport Amy Klotz, MM’00, MA’01, recently entrepreneurship education to youths Commission ([email protected]). completed the second year of her living in low-income communities three-year term as president of the ([email protected]). Simmons College Alumnae/i Association

15 Michael Trisolini, PhD’01, was appointed Quarterly. She also wrote a chapter titled Fernando Torres-Gil, MSW’72, PhD’76, director of the Health Care Quality and “Community Perceptions of Police Crime- coedited a journal volume on Outcomes Program at Research Triangle Prevention Efforts: Using Interviews in “Immigration in an Aging Society” and Institute (RTI) in 2008. He directs a staff Small Areas to Evaluate Crime Reduction published a two-volume coedited book in of twenty researchers working in the RTI Strategies” in Evaluating Crime 2007 titled Lessons from Three Nations: offices in Waltham, Massachusetts; Reduction, published by Criminal Justice The Art of Aging Well. The book examined North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; and Press. In addition, she was quoted in issues of aging and diversity in Israel, Illinois ([email protected]). a recent Boston Globe article titled Australia, and the United States (torres@ “Breakthrough on ‘Broken Windows’” spa.ucla.edu). Ghenet Weldeslassie, MA’99, received a and in the Christian Science Monitor PhD in social welfare policy and research in March regarding the application of Awards/Honors/Boards/Grants from the School of Social Welfare at broken-windows theory to crime in Rio Stony Brook University. In April, she de Janeiro ([email protected]). Thomas Glynn, MSW’72, PhD’77, accepted the position of policy and completed his term as chair of the Heller Deborah Ann Gray, MBA’05, planning coordinator for the Medicaid coauthored Board of Overseers in 2009. He remains a Programs and Initiatives at the School of an article in 2008 titled “Building member of the overseers and serves on Medicine at Stony Brook. (gslassie@ Primary Care Practitioners’ Attitudes and the board of trustees at Brandeis, where yahoo.com). Confidence in Mental Health Skills in he chairs the academic affairs committee. Post-Conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina.” Glynn has served as chief operating James P. Wirth, MA’06, is working as a It appeared in the International officer at Partners HealthCare in Boston senior associate for the Global Alliance Journal of Culture and Mental Health since 1996. for Improved Nutrition in Geneva, ([email protected]). Switzerland ([email protected]). Deborah Ann Gray, MBA’05, is a member Diane Feeney Mahoney, PhD’89, cowrote, of Sigma Phi Omega Honor Society Joseph M. Wronka, PhD’92, was with E. L. Mahoney and E. Liss, an and received multiple awards over the appointed permanent representative article titled “AT EASE: Automated past year, including the Massachusetts to the United Nations in Geneva for Technology for Elder Assessment, Gerontology Association, First Place the International Association of Safety, and Environmental Monitoring,” Student Paper Competition, 2009; Schools of Social Work. See www. which was published in the journal Sigma Phi Omega, President’s Award humanrightsculture.org (jwronka@ Gerontechnology this year (dmahoney@ Honorable Mention, 2009; Margaret Clark spfldcol.edu). mghihp.edu). Award, Graduate Student Honorable Mention, 2008; and Professional Leslie A. Mandel, PhD’07, Panagiotis Xenos, MS’06, has begun published an Development Grant, Graduate Student the PhD program at the University of article, “Taking the ‘Guest’ Work Out of Assembly, University of Massachusetts, Piraeus, Greece, concentrating in health School-Health Interagency Partnerships,” Boston, 2008 and 2009. She served as economics with Professor Miltiadis in Public Health Reports in 2008 president of Sigma Phi Omega, National Nektarios. His thesis is titled “Efficiency ([email protected]). Gerontological Honor Society, Gamma and Capacity of the Greek Health System” Upsilon Chapter, for 2008–09 and is ([email protected]). Rafael Semansky, MA’08, is evaluating currently treasurer for 2009–10. She was the impact of public-sector reform the Massachusetts Gerontology Student Jessica Zander, MMHS’94, has been in New Mexico on behavioral health Association treasurer for 2008–09 working since fall 2007 as the chief services. His paper on cultural ([email protected]). financial officer of the Conservation Law competency practices in New Mexico Foundation, an advocacy organization appeared online in the April issue of M. C. “Terry” Hokenstad, PhD’69, was dedicated to protecting New England’s Administration and Policy in Mental chosen as the 2009 Gerontology environment ([email protected]). Health and Mental Health Services Educator of the Year by the Ohio Research. He moved back to Washington, Association of Gerontology and Publications D.C., and is working diligently on his Education. He also received the dissertation, examining the trends in Career Achievement Award from the Brenda Bond, PhD’06, cowrote multiple access to treatment of pediatric mood Association for Gerontological Education articles, including “Achieving Continuity disorders in Tennessee and Mississippi in Social Work ([email protected] or terry. in the Face of Change in Community- ([email protected]). [email protected]). University Partnerships,” in Gateways: Phyllis Rolfe Silverman, PhD’69, International Journal of Community Diane Feeney Mahoney, PhD’89, has Research and Engagement; “Policing published a book with Madelyn Kelly been named a 2009 fellow in the Crime and Disorder Hot Spots: A called A Parent’s Guide to Raising American Academy of Nursing (AAN). Randomized Controlled Trial,” in Grieving Children: Rebuilding Your The AAN comprises many of the nation’s Criminology; and “The Strategic Family after the Death of a Loved One. It top nursing executives, policymakers, Prevention of Gun Violence Among was released by Oxford University Press scholars, researchers, and practitioners. Gang-Involved Offenders” in Justice this year ([email protected]). Nominees are selected for having made 16 significant contributions to nursing Elizabeth M. Petheo, Formulary on Antidepressant Utilization and health care. She will be inducted MA’06, married and Expenditures.” at AAN’s November annual meeting Andrew Kent on and conference in Atlanta, Georgia February 14, in Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson ’80, PhD’06, was ([email protected]). Washington, D.C. appointed senior fellow of the National Petheo is working Center for Health Behavioral Change in Meghan Trombly, MA’06, was selected with the World the Urban Medical Institute at Morgan by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network Bank. The couple State University in Baltimore. From 2009 for the Young Professional Award. More met while working to 2010, she will be participating in a than one hundred nominations were in Sri Lanka research clerkship with the University submitted in seven award categories (empetheo@yahoo. of Pittsburgh School of Public Health’s that recognize excellence in “advocacy com). Center for Minority Health (CMH) with and governance to innovation and Steven Thomas, Phillip Hallen Professor leadership” (massnonprofit.org). She Faculty/Staff Notes of Social Justice. The mission of CMH is works for Strong Women, Strong Girls to improve the health and well-being of ([email protected]). Professor Emerita Janet Z. Giele, who racial and ethnic minority populations by retired in 2004, saw her last two Heller eliminating health disparities. She also Roberta Ward Walsh, PhD’89, was PhD students, Judy Carson, PhD’09, serves as a consultant to the Joint Center granted emeritus status at Florida Gulf and Jema Turk, PhD’09, graduate this for Political and Economic Studies and Coast University in Fort Myers, where spring. Giele’s latest book, The Craft the National Center for Health Behavioral she served on the faculty. She was of Life Course Research, coedited with Change, whose mission is to modify and recognized for “exemplary support Glen Elder, published this summer by update new policies that will advance the of public affairs education...[and] a Guilford Press, contains her chapter on integration of quality adjunct programs distinguished record of accomplishment “Life Stories to Understand Diversity by that improve prevention and services both as an academic and...public Class, Race, and Gender.” She is writing for HIV-affected parents and families servant.” While attending Heller, she a textbook, American Family Policy and ([email protected]). commuted from the University of the Public Interest, to be published by Vermont, where she held a full-time Allyn and Bacon. During the coming year Robert and Ann Seidman, adjunct assistant professor position she will be teaching the Dissertation professors in the Heller School’s master’s ([email protected]). Workshop for the Graduate Consortium program in sustainable international of Women’s Studies based at the development, helped create a draft Births/Marriages Massachusetts Institute of Technology resource book with others, including Heller ([email protected]). alumni Abel Mote, MA’09, and Carolyn Yan Huang, MS’08, was married in Ndule Musyimi, MA’08. The authors hope Bloomington, Indiana, Professor David G. Gil wrote the essay the document will become the basis for and gave birth to a “Social Development as Sustainable an East African workshop sponsored by daughter, Crystal, on Social Justice,” published in May in the the Nairobi office of the United Nations October 26, 2008 Taiwanese Journal of Social Welfare. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, (faithhuang1983@aol. The editor of the journal is Heller the East African Legislative Assembly, and com). alumna Kuo-yu (Lisa) Wang, PhD’91. the chief legal counsel of the Ugandan On June 5, Gil was the “centennial parliament ([email protected]). Javed Iqbal, MA’08, and his wife, speaker” for a conference at the Sohair, welcomed University of Pennsylvania’s School In Memoriam a daughter, Mishal of Social Policy and Practice, of which Khan, on April 9, 2009 he is an alumnus ([email protected], Phyllis Busansky, MMHS’78, passed away ([email protected]). [email protected]). on June 23, at age seventy-two. Busansky lived in Tampa, Florida, and leaves her In March, Dominic Hodgkin, associate husband, Sheldon; three children, Alex, professor, the Heller School; Cindy Parks Edward, and Rebecca; their spouses, Watsala Jayamanna, Thomas, PhD’00, associate research Jennifer, Stefani, and Jonah; and nine MA’08, met her professor, the Heller School; Linda grandchildren. husband, Arvind Simoni-Wastila, PhD’93, professor, Kumar, while working University of Maryland, Baltimore, William A. West, PhD’89, passed away on for the Asian Disaster School of Pharmacy; Grant Ritter, senior June 19. Preparedness Center. scientist, the Heller School; and Sue Lee, They were married on senior programmer, the Heller School, July 1 ([email protected]). were all presented an Excellence Award by the International Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics for their paper titled “The Effect of a Three-Tier

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