FOR YOUR INFORMATION…
March 2008
The Ph.D. Program in Public Policy presents this “For Your Information” communiqué noting upcoming conferences, workshops, meetings, grant deadlines, scholarship and internship opportunities, job openings, lectures, etc.
DISSERTATION HEARINGS:
The future Dr. Kevin Murphy will defend his dissertation on Monday, March 31 at
4:00 PM in McCormack Hall -3-415. His research is "Factors Affecting the Retention, Persistence and Attainment of Undergraduate Students at Public Urban Four Year Higher Education Institutions” (abstract forthcoming soon).
The future Dr. Jennifer Shea will defend her dissertation on Wednesday, June 11 at 10:00 AM in McCormack Hall -3-412. Her research is “The Black Box of Devolution: Explaining Institutional Change in At-Risk Youth Service Provision: Impacts of the Compassion Capital Fund in Greater Boston” (abstract forthcoming).
SAVE THE DATE:
On April 8 from 3:30-5:30 PM, we will hold our annual admission reception hosting those students who have been accepted for fall 2008 admissions. This is always a fun event and an opportunity to showcase our faculty, students and distinguishing features of our graduate program to applicants as they decide on their choice of schools. Refreshments will be served in the Public Policy lobby (near M-3-420) and we welcome you to join us.
STUDENT AND ALUMNI NOTES
Many thanks to Caroline Coscia and Felicia Sullivan who volunteered for admissions interviews this year.
Kudos to Jennifer Shea who sat on the Faculty Search Committee for the Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs.
Kudos to the Public Policy Forum, the student association of the Public Policy doctoral program, who welcomed back alumnus Dr. Udaya Wagle (Ph.D. 2004) for a guest lecture on "Changes in and Characteristics of Working Poverty in the Financially Struggling Economy of Michigan: 1998 and 2007". The event took place on March 6.
FACULTY/STUDENT COLLABORATIONS
On March 11, in cooperation with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Boston and the Haifa Council of Volunteers Organization in Israel, Professor Donna Haig Friedman and Public Policy doctoral student Jennifer Cohen will gave a “Presentation of Learning Exchange Research Project Report: Pilot Model & Findings at the Non-Governmental Organizations & the Third Sector: Knowledge, Power and Partnerships Conference.
The conference will be a meeting place for stakeholders invested in the workings, capacities, and power of the third sector, and specifically of NGOs as central players in civil society, providers of service, and creators of social change. Multiple sectors and a diverse group of leaders will engage to consider and reflect on current and future challenges, successes, and trends for the third sector in Israel.
FACULTY NEWS
The professional society magazine OR/MS Today (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences) features an article co-authored by Dr. Michael Johnson in the current issue. The article is entitled “Community-Based Operations Research: Opportunities abound to ‘do good with good O.R.'”.
McCORMACK GRADUATE SCHOOL EVENTS
On Tuesday, March 11, the Center for Women in Politics& Public Policy will becelebrating International Women's Day, Women's History Month, and the Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy's25th Women's Research Forum at a special event honoring the 11 women serving as mayors from across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Time: 5:30p.m. Reception -- 6:15p.m. Panel Discussion
Location: Campus Center Ballroom, UMass Boston
You are invited to participate along with guests such as the state's other mayors, a number of state legislators and other dignitaries-- as well as UMass Boston students, faculty, and staff. The panel discussion will be moderated by NECN's Alison King.
RSVP to http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=U28S3JX6VYHE
On Wednesday, March 12 at 4:30 PM, Padraig O'Malley, John Joseph Moakley Chair of Peace and Reconciliation will lecture on “South Africa Today: Who Stole the Revolution?” The event will take place at the University Club (Directions: Red line to South Station. The club is at 225 Franklin Street (Floor 33), adjacent to Post Office Square.)
Padraig O'Malley is the author of Shades of Difference: Mac Maharaj and the Struggle for South Africa. He is also the author and editor of Heart of Hope, a website chronicling the battle against apartheid as well as the ongoing struggle to build a better a more democratic South Africa.
To RSVP and for more information, call 617-287-5550.
OPEN HOUSE
On April 2 from 11:00 AM to 2 PM at the Massachusetts State House, the McCormack Graduate School will showcase its graduate programs at the Grand Staircase Room at the State House. Lunch will be provided.
On Wednesday, April 30 from 8:30 – 10:30 AM in the Campus Center, Ballroom C, the Center for Social Policy will present “The Changing World of Work in US Retail Trade: A discussion of findings from a national study”.
As a sector, retail trade exemplifies the central dilemma of low wage work in modern economies. Giant retailer Wal-Mart is the largest US employer, and overall, retail is one of the largest employment sectors in the country. What happens to jobs in this industry, which is a major provider of entry-level jobs, is a key element of the broader picture of low wage employment nationwide. Retail work is undergoing significant change in the United States. To explore these changes, and their impacts in terms of turnover, skill levels, and other key workforce variables, the authors conducted 18 case studies of food and consumer electronics retail businesses. They spoke to employees from top corporate executives to frontline employees, visited stores, and reviewed HR statistics. The two study authors will present selected findings: Françoise Carré, Ph.D. Center for Social Policy, McCormack Graduate School, University of Massachusetts Boston and Chris Tilly, Ph.D. Department of Regional Economic and Social Development, University of Massachusetts Lowell.
UMASS BOSTON EVENTS
On Tuesday, March 11, the Trotter Institute will sponsor a presentation by James Jennings, Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University and Mayte Riveira, Director of Community Development for the Massachusetts Division of Banks. The topic is “Houses for Sale” The Loss of Home, Community, and Belonging: The Foreclosure Market Today.”
The next Dispute Resolution Colloquium event will take place on March 12 from 5:30-7:30 PM in the Campus Center, third floor, conference room 3540. The event will feature Daniel Shapiro (Harvard Program on Negotiation) speaking on “The Global Identity Crisis: Dealing with Conflict in a Multicultural World”.
UPCOMING LOCAL LECTURES
The Martin Institute at Stonehill College will present The State of New England: People, Politics and Policies Conference on March 28. The luncheon speaker will be Frank Bryan, Professor of Political Science at the University of Vermont, who will speak on “New England, Democracy and America: The Road not Taken”. For registration and conference information: www.stonehi;;.edu/martin/newengland.
Worth repeating:
Spring 2008 Boston 101 Speakers' Series from the Rappaport Institute
Using PerformanceStat to Improve State Government in Maryland and Washington
Wednesday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m.
Allison Dining Room, 5th floor, Taubman Building, 15 Eliot Street
Matthew Galligher, Deputy Chief of Staff for Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley
and Lisa Benson, Special Assistant for Government Management, Accountability, and Performance for Washington Governor Christine Gregoire.
In 2006, with the launch of Governor Christine Gregoire's Government Management Accountability and Performance program, Washington became the first state to adapt the PerformanceStat approach to its operations. A year later the Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, who stated CitiStat when he was mayor of Baltimore, announced that he was bringing the same approach to state government in the form of a new StateStat program.
Towards Universal Health Insurance
Lessons from the Massachusetts Experiment
Allison Dining Room, 5th floor of the Taubman Building, 15 Eliot Street
Jon Kingsdale, Executive Director, Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector
Commentary by David Cutler, Dean of Social Sciences, Harvard University
2008 will be a critical year for Massachusetts' ambitious efforts to greatly reduce the ranks of the uninsured because it is the first year that individuals will be penalized if they don't have health insurance. This threat, combined with efforts to provide more affordable insurance options for those who previously could not afford insurance, has already led to dramatic increases in the number of people with health insurance. Sustaining and expanding on these successes will be difficult in light of rising health-care costs and projected gaps between funding and costs for new subsidized insurance policies.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES (full listings posted in the Public Policy suite)
We have posted several alternative social justice job opportunities in Chicago, Maine, New York, DC, Eastern and Western Massachusetts, San Francisco, and Guatemala in our job bank.
Stephanie Moura is the Executive Director of the McCormack Graduate School’s
Massachusetts Ocean Partnership Fund - a newly launched public-private partnership to advance integrated ocean management in the Commonwealth and is announcing MOPF's current job openings and paid opportunities for graduate students.
MOPF is recruiting for three full-time staff positions: Administrative Coordinator, Communications/Outreach Manager and Science Program Manager. (See attached announcements.) In supporting the partners' efforts to advance integrated ocean management in MA, MOPF staff will have exciting opportunities and stimulating challenges at the interface of ocean management /policy, natural and social sciences, and collaborative processes. Each position is a 3-year appointment with the potential for extension based upon MOPF's successes in implementing its strategic plan and securing future funding.
In addition to these full time positions, they expect to have part-time paid opportunities for graduate students to assist MOPF staff on various projects.
SPRING ACADEMIC CALENDAR & PUBLIC POLICY EVENTS
March 15-23 Spring break
No classes/Offices open/Barb on vacation
March 24 (Monday) Classes resume
Mid-semester
April 7 (Monday) First Monday lunch seminar
11:30 AM - 1 PM Topic: TBA
Location: McCormack Hall -3-415
April 10 (Thursday) Course withdrawal deadline
April 21 (Monday) Holiday: Patriots Day
No classes/offices closed
April 21 (Monday) Fall 2008 pre-registration begins
May 5(Monday) First Monday lunch seminar
11:30 AM - 1 PM Topics: TBA
Location: McCormack Hall -3-415
May 14 (Wednesday) Classes end
May 15-18 Study period
May 19-23 Final exam period
May 26 (Monday) Holiday: Memorial Day
Offices closed
May 27 (Tuesday) Distribution of the Quantitative Comprehensive Exams
May 29 (Thursday) Convocation 4-6 PM Campus Center Ballroom Reception 6-7 PM 1st floor Student Dining Room
May 30 (Friday) Commencement
To share news items for future issues of FYI,
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RECOMMEND A FRIEND??
Please help us with the future success and growth of our Ph.D. Program by recommending a friend, family member, undergraduate or master’s degree student, or colleague. You can send, fax or email this information to Assistant Director who will immediately follow up with the person(s) of your choice. Thank you in advance for your recommendation.
Name:
______
Address:
______
______
Telephone: (____) ______
Email address: ______
Recommended by: ______
Please return this recommendation to Assistant Director Barbara Graceffa, M-3-426.
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