Alumni News & Announcements

Holistic Representation Can Reduce Incarceration and Save Taxpayer Dollars
Jan 11, 2019
Alum Maya Buenaventura (cohort '14) and Prof. James Anderson found that a public defense model that seeks to address the underlying challenges and needs of poor offenders prevented more than 1 million days of incarceration over 10 years, without reducing public safety.
Book Review: The Heart of War—Misadventures in the Pentagon
Jan 8, 2019
Alum Jonathan Wong (cohort '12) thinks both Washington insiders and the general public may be inspired by Kathleen McCinnis's The Heart of War. The novel prompts readers to think more realistically about the Pentagon and its role in policymaking.
Estimating Future Water Demand for San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District
Dec 28, 2018
Water resources management is becoming increasingly challenging in Southern California. Alum David Groves (cohort '01) and student David Catt ('16) evaluated the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District’s first step in a comprehensive effort to assess its demand projections.
Expanding Enrollment Without the Individual Mandate
Dec 27, 2018
Recent changes to the Affordable Care Act, including the elimination of the individual mandate penalty, may reduce enrollment in the individual market. But research by alum Jodi Liu (cohort '12) and Prof. Christine Eibner finds that, even with these changes, options exist for increasing health coverage.
Challenges to the Integration of Syrian Refugees
Dec 18, 2018
The successful resettlement of Syrian refugees is dependent on political commitment coupled with public support and community engagement, according to research by student Gabriela Armenta (cohort '15) and alum Mahal Woldetsadik ('13). Social and economic policies to address the crisis require a combined effort in planning, implementing, monitoring, and assessing initiatives, and sharing data with stakeholders.
The Welcome Baby Program: An Implementation and Outcomes Evaluation
Dec 11, 2018
Findings from an evaluation of First 5 LA's Welcome Baby universal home visiting program showed significant variation across sites, but generally positive responses from participants. Melissa Felician (cohort '13), Maya Buenaventura ('14), and Lauren Davis ('15) contributed to the evaluation.
Fall 2018 Alumni Newsletter Highlights Hackathons, New Cohort
Dec 6, 2018
Pardee RAND's latest cohort arrived this fall for a two-week bootcamp that included a policy analysis immersion, one of the newest elements of the school's redesign. The Tech & Narrative Lab also broadened student horizons through an opioid hackathon, and Career Services engaged dozens of alumni through a series of new activities.
New Career Services Events Increase Alumni Engagement
Dec 6, 2018
Many of Pardee RAND's career-focused events would not be possible without alumni participation. Nearly two dozen alumni helped mentor and network with students through exciting new activities this fall.
Remembering Grace Carter (Cohort '70)
Nov 30, 2018
One of our first alumni, Grace M. Carter passed away November 8. A senior policy analyst in RAND’s Santa Monica office until 1998, a member of the original cohort at the RAND Graduate Institute (now Pardee RAND), and among the first students to receive a Ph.D. from the school, she also mentored many Pardee RAND students.
Why North Korea Sanctions Relief Is Inappropriate at This Time
Nov 26, 2018
In early 2018, Kim Jong Un signaled that he was ready to negotiate with the United States on abandoning North Korea's nuclear weapons. But since then, Pyongyang hasn't taken steps to denuclearize. Alum Bruce Bennett (cohort '75) says the DPRK's actions speak louder than its words.
Celebrating the Career of Alum Jeffrey Wasserman
Nov 26, 2018
RAND Vice President Jeffrey Wasserman (cohort '85) retired in October after 33 years of service to RAND and 13 years teaching and leading at Pardee RAND Graduate School — but first we threw him a big party.
Pardee RAND Well Represented at APPAM DC Conference
Nov 14, 2018
Two students presented posters; one student and six alumni presented papers during panel discussions, and 3 professors participated in panels at the annual APPAM Fall Conference. Additionally, two alumni and a professor received "40 for 40 Fellowships" to attend.
Remembering Meredith Kilgore
Nov 14, 2018
Alum Meredith Lamar Kilgore (cohort '98) passed away on October 17. He had a long career in health care and health care policy and was most recently the chair of the Department of Health Care Organization and Policy and director of the Program in Outcomes Research in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.
Committed to Improving Health Care Policy: Q&A with Jodi Liu
Oct 23, 2018
Alum Jodi Liu (cohort '12), an associate policy researcher at RAND, studies how to deliver high-quality care and how to pay for it. She discusses her assessment of a single-payer health care proposal in New York State and the supply-and-demand challenges that might arise if an Alzheimer's treatment became available.
Alum: In Opioid Policy, One Size Does Not Fit All
Oct 12, 2018
Congress is addressing the opioid epidemic through new legislation intended to increase access to treatment using medications such as methadone and buprenorphine. Alum Bradley Stein (cohort '97) says further investments may be required to make counseling more available, increase Medicaid reimbursement for drug treatment, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health treatment.
North Korea's Actions Speak Louder Than Its Words
Oct 11, 2018
Kim Jong Un has regularly promised to denuclearize, writes alum Bruce Bennett (cohort '75), but he's been all talk. And this year, North Korea has probably built five to nine more nuclear weapons. There are steps that could make a difference if taken before the North Korean nuclear weapon threat grows any further.
How to Solve the Water Crisis in Gaza
Sep 26, 2018
Gaza has long had water and sanitation challenges, but today it's in a state of emergency. Research by alumni Shira Efron (cohort '11) and Jordan Fischbach ('04), student Rouslan Karimov ('15), and Prof. Melinda Moore finds that the crisis could be resolved through infrastructure investment, but political complications and other barriers remain.
OJT Project Leads to Decade of Research Collaboration
Sep 7, 2018
For more than a decade, alum Kartika Palar (cohort '06) and professor Kathryn Derose have been working together to reduce food insecurity among people with HIV. Student Gabriela Armenta ('15) recently joined them on a novel project in the Dominican Republic.
Alumni Evaluate Health Care Payment Reform Pilot
Aug 31, 2018
California's Global Payment Program seeks to improve health care for the state's uninsured by providing funds for both traditional and non-traditional services, settings, and providers. Alumni Jodi Liu (cohort '12) and Denise Quigley ('91) conducted a mid-point evaluation that found broad improvement.
Remembering Greg Carter, RGI's First Graduate
Aug 28, 2018
When the RAND Graduate Institute opened its doors, Gregory Carter (cohort '70) was one of the first three students. Carter passed away in July.
Tech Lab Pilot Game Encourages Political Discourse
Aug 24, 2018
New alum Claire O'Hanlon (cohort '13) created ControVersus as part of Pardee RAND's initial Tech Lab Pilot. The multiplayer card game helps people talk about politics and understand each other in a fun, nonjudgmental format. Her new website offers the game as a free download.
Potential Benefits for Most New Yorkers but No Free Lunch: Tough Decisions for Single-Payer Health Care in New York
Aug 6, 2018
A single-payer plan in New York would shift health-care spending to the state instead of private insurers, writes alum Jodi Liu (cohort '12). As with any far-reaching legislation, there are trade-offs and it is important that policymakers consider the impact of the single-payer plan in totality.
New York's Proposed Single-Payer Plan Could Expand Coverage Without More Spending
Aug 1, 2018
The New York Health Act could provide insurance to all New York State residents without increasing overall spending if administrative costs are reduced and growth in provider payment rates is restrained, according to research by alum Jodi Liu (cohort '12), student Jamie Ryan ('17), and professors Christine Eibner, Sarah Nowak, and Chapin White. New taxes, instead of premiums and out-of-pocket payments, would finance the program.
Building Resilience in an Urban Coastal Environment
Jul 31, 2018
Research by alum Jordan Fischbach (cohort '04) examines the potential effects of climate change and sea level rise on flood risk, ecosystems, and water quality in New York City's Jamaica Bay, and how flood risk can be reduced while also improving water quality, restoring habitat, and improving resilience to extreme weather events.
Findings Highlights Commencement 2018
Jun 28, 2018
The Commencement issue of Pardee RAND's alumni newsletter includes articles about our biennial celebration, an interview with the Alumni Leadership Award recipient, and a spotlight on alumni donors Jeffrey Wasserman and Ted Harshberger.