Alumni News & Announcements

  • Alum: Using an Integrated Systems-Based Approach to Address the U.S. Opioid Crisis

    Dec 17, 2019

    Alum Bradley Stein (cohort '97) presented testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on December 17, 2019. In this video he summarizes his expert recommendations.

  • Students Alex Mendoza-Graf, Ashley Woo, and Sohaela Amiri hold photos of their relatives at Commencement, photo by Diane Baldwin/RAND Corporation

    Three Students Create Pardee RAND Legacies

    Dec 10, 2019

    Students Alexandra Mendoza-Graf (Cohort '16), Ashley Woo ('18), and Sohaela Amiri ('16) didn't have far to look when they decided to pursue a Ph.D. in policy analysis. While forging their own paths, they are also following in the footsteps of relatives who also happen to be Pardee RAND alumni: Marlon Graf ('12), Jonathan Wong ('12), and Sara Amiri Cohort ('05).

  • Mark Schuster talks with Sandy Buchan, photo by Terresa Cooper/Pardee RAND

    Career Services Talks Feature Six Alumni

    Nov 25, 2019

    A record number of alumni presented career talks this quarter, but the Career Services team is working hard to break that record in the near future.

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    Alumni Help Plan 50th Anniversary

    Nov 18, 2019

    Eighteen terrific alumni are joining Jeffrey Wasserman (Cohort '85) on a task force to help plan activities and events to celebrate Pardee RAND's 50th anniversary throughout 2020.

  • An Evening with RAND 2019, photo by Diane Baldwin/RAND Corporation

    Students, Alumni Celebrate Power of Philanthropy

    Nov 18, 2019

    More than a dozen students, alumni, and faculty had the opportunity to express their appreciation for RAND and Pardee RAND's philanthropic supporters at "An Evening with RAND" on November 14.

  • Pregnant woman standing in hospital corridor, photo by WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock

    Student-Alumni Research Finds Unintended Consequences of Policies that Punish Pregnant Women for Substance Use

    Nov 13, 2019

    Joshua Russell-Fritch (cohort '16), alum Bradley Stein ('97), and RAND colleagues found that state policies that punish pregnant women for illicit substance use are associated with higher rates of infants being born with opioid withdrawal.

  • A senior man playing with a puzzle, photo by LightFieldStudios/Getty Images

    Student-Alum Research Finds Australia Is Not Prepared to Deliver an Alzheimer's Treatment

    Nov 11, 2019

    As in other countries, the Australian health care system has limited capacity to rapidly move a future treatment for Alzheimer's disease from approval into wide clinical use. Sangita Baxi (cohort '17) and Jodi Liu ('12) find that could leave thousands of older people without access to transformative care if such a breakthrough occurs.

  • uturistic soldiers wearing virtual reality goggles, photo by Donald Iain Smith/Getty Images

    Alumni, Students Explore Next-Generation Wargaming for the U.S. Marine Corps

    Oct 16, 2019

    The U.S. Marine Corps has an opportunity to adopt wargaming best practices, tools, and approaches from other sources and adapt them to suit its needs. Yuna Wong (cohort '00), Ellie Bartels ('15), and Benjamin Smith ('15) explore what courses of action the Marine Corps should take toward building its next-generation wargaming concept.

  • Books in prison, concept of freedom of thought, photo by tapui/AdobeStock

    Alumni Event: Expanding Education and Employment Opportunities for Inmates and Ex-offenders

    Sep 21, 2019

    Contributions to the Alumni Impact Fund are helping RAND researchers advance education opportunities and career prospects for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. All alumni are welcome to join us for a brunch discussion with Professors Lois Davis and Priscillia Hunt and other current AIF recipients.

  • Healthcare, opioid epidemic and drug abuse concept with the map of USA filled with oxycodone and hydrocodone pharmaceutical pills on the American flag, photo by Victor Moussa/AdobeStock

    Alumni Event: Solving the Opioid Crisis

    Sep 12, 2019

    Alum Brad Stein (cohort '97), Prof. Beau Kilmer, and other RAND experts discussed their efforts to model the comprehensive opioid ecosystem and help reverse the tide of this critical challenge. Dean Susan Marquis moderated the discussion.

  • APPAM Conferences Feature Students, Alumni

    Aug 29, 2019

    Dozens of students, alumni, faculty, and RAND colleagues are participating in the 2019 APPAM Fall Conference in Denver, and six students and alumni attended the 2019 APPAM International Conference in Barcelona this July.

  • Cocaine, cannabis leaf, and syringe, photos by Bits and Splits, underworld, and Leonid/Adobe Stock

    How Big Is the U.S. Market for Cannabis, Cocaine, Heroin, and Meth?

    Aug 20, 2019

    Americans spent about $150 billion on cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine in 2016, according to research by alum Greg Midgette (cohort '09), student Steve Davenport ('15), and professor Beau Kilmer. The cannabis market was roughly the size of the cocaine and meth markets combined.

  • Group of medical practitioners in a circle, talking, seen from above, photo by Cecilie_Arcurs/Getty Images

    Identifying High-Performing Health Systems

    Jul 24, 2019

    When it comes to identifying high-performing health systems, alum Cheryl Damberg (cohort '89) finds, what you measure and how you measure it matters.

  • Elderly couple looking at sticky notes on a wall, photo by MonicaNinker/Getty Images

    Is Canada Prepared to Meet Demand for Alzheimer's Treatment?

    Jul 18, 2019

    If a treatment to slow the progression of Alzheimer's became available in 2021, hundreds of thousands of patients in Canada could progress to Alzheimer's dementia while on wait lists unless health care capacity is increased. Student Sangita Baxi (cohort '17) and alumni Jodi Liu ('12) and Jakub Hlavka ('14) explore challenges and suggest potential solutions.

  • Newborn hand holding the finger of an adult hand, photo by deng qiufeng/Getty Images

    Improving the Child Welfare System to Respond to the Needs of Substance-Exposed Infants

    Jul 17, 2019

    To realize the gains envisioned by recent legislation, alum Bradley Stein (cohort '97) says the Administration and Congress should prioritize additional funding to modernize our child welfare system to meet the unique needs of families affected by substance misuse.

  • Smart car 3D rendering, photo by Production Perig/Adobe Stock

    When an Autonomous Vehicle Is Hacked, Who Is Liable?

    Jul 12, 2019

    Hacks on autonomous vehicles could lead to deaths, property destruction, ransomware attacks, or data theft. Maya Buenaventura and Pavan Katkar (both cohort '14) worked with RAND colleagues to explore several scenarios that illustrate the policy challenges facing the civil legal system, insurers, and others.

  • Arthur Brooks, author and Pardee RAND alumnus, discussing his new book at RAND's headquarters in Santa Monica, California, May 17, 2019, photo by Diane Baldwin/RAND Corporation

    Alum Arthur Brooks Tells Americans to Answer Hate with Love

    Jul 8, 2019

    Arthur Brooks (cohort '96) spoke at a RAND event to discuss his new book, Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt. He stressed that we don't have to disagree less, but we do have to disagree better.

  • Australia technology of internet of things IOT big data cloud computing, conceptual 3D render by immimagery/AdobeStock

    Designing a Capability Development Framework for Australian Home Affairs

    Jun 24, 2019

    Australia's Department of Home Affairs is responsible for domestic security, law enforcement, migration, and the movement of goods across Australia’s borders. Alum Jon Wong (cohort '12) and colleagues analyzed which capability development lifecycle management framework best suits the department's needs for an enterprise-level approach to investment decisions.

  • RAND & Pardee RAND Alumni Summer Reunion

    Jun 20, 2019

    Come reunite with alumni from all eras. The summer reunion in Santa Monica is a chance for RAND and Pardee RAND alumni to connect with colleagues past and present, reminisce with friends, and meet the newest members of the community.

  • Picture of a crowd of people holding and raising rainbow flags during an LGBT parade, photo by BalkansCat.

    Sexual Minority Disparities in Opioid Misuse

    Jun 12, 2019

    Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults, particularly bisexual women, are at significantly higher risk than heterosexuals for prescription opioid misuse and heroin use, according to research by alum Bradley Stein (cohort '97). Disparities in rates of opioid misuse among LGB adults are concerning given elevated risks of overdose.

  • Findings Highlights Donors, Scholars, and Transitions

    Jun 5, 2019

    The spring issue of our quarterly newsletter showcases the many ways we support our students, alumni, and faculty. From scholarships to mentoring, and networking opportunities to continuing education — even summer reading recommendations for fun and personal development — Pardee RAND has it all.

  • Arthur Brooks Shares Life Lessons in Book Talk

    May 21, 2019

    The problem in American public life today isn't excessive anger, said alum Arthur Brooks (cohort '96), at his book talk last month; it's a culture of contempt. His book Love Your Enemies explores how we can find love in our hearts — not just civility and tolerance — for those with whom we disagree.

  • Close-up of a person reading/texting on their smartphone, photo by sam thomas/Getty Images

    Three Takeaways from RAND's Analysis of News in the Digital Age

    May 14, 2019

    How has the rise of digital technology shaped the way that news is presented? Student Mahlet Tebeka (cohort '17), alum Steve Davenport ('15), and professors Jennifer Kavanagh and Bill Marcellino conducted an empirical study to find out. Here's what you need to know from their findings.

  • College students in silhouette tossing caps in the air, photo by Rawpixel Ltd/Getty Images

    Addressing the College Completion Problem

    May 9, 2019

    More than half of students who enter college end up dropping out without ever completing a degree or certificate. Time and money are wasted without the benefits of a degree. Alum Lindsey Daugherty argues that, while colleges are experimenting with novel techniques to boost completion rates, strategic support from the federal government could further these efforts.

  • Moderator Sale Lilly (standing) with panelists Stephanie Herder, Bhaskar Krishnamachari, and Matt Smith, photo by Diane Baldwin/RAND Corporation

    Blockchain: The Second Decade

    Apr 16, 2019

    Blockchain, which was invented in 2008, is now in its second decade. To help students and alumni understand the implications of this disruptive technology, Career Services welcomed four experts in a discussion of potential commercial and regulatory approaches.