Alumni News & Announcements

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.
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.
Spending Estimates Under Medicare for All
Apr 10, 2019
Under a Medicare for All plan similar to some proposals being discussed in Congress, alum Jodi Liu (cohort '12) and Prof. Christine Eibner calculate that total health expenditures would be an estimated 1.8 percent higher in 2019, relative to the status quo. While this is a small change in national spending, the federal government's health spending would increase substantially, rising by an estimated 221 percent.
(Grey's) Anatomy of an Opioid Crisis
Apr 8, 2019
More than 130 Americans die every day after overdosing on opioids. So when one of the most popular shows on network television made opioid misuse a major plotline, alum Bradley Stein (cohort '97) and Prof. Sarah MacCarthy paid especially rapt attention to how the show would present this public health crisis. How closely would it mirror reality? Pretty closely, for the narrow slice of the opioid crisis it addressed.
Alum Examines Why Women Leave the Coast Guard, and What Could Encourage Them to Stay
Mar 29, 2019
Women leave the Coast Guard at higher rates than men. Through focus groups, alum David Schulker (cohort '07) uncovered concerns about work environment, career issues, and personal life matters. More inclusive personnel policies could help the Coast Guard address these concerns and retain more women.
Seismic Safety Upgrades May Cost California Hospitals Billions
Mar 28, 2019
David Catt (cohort '16) worked with alum Daniel Waxman ('10) and several professors to estimate the cost to California hospitals of seismic retrofitting. The upgrades could cost between $34 billion and $143 billion statewide, but a third of hospitals are already in some form of financial distress.
How Has the Israel-China Relationship Evolved?
Mar 21, 2019
Since the early 2000s, relations between China and Israel have expanded in areas like diplomacy, trade, investment, construction, educational partnerships, scientific cooperation, and tourism. Alum Shira Efron (cohort '11) and student Emily Haskel ('16) examine what challenges the relationship poses for Israel and the United States.
Decision Support Tool for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Levees Investment Strategy
Mar 7, 2019
The Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta faces complex and varied flood risks. Possible investments to mitigate these risks are numerous, and they will affect Delta risks differently. A decision support tool developed by alum David Groves (cohort '01) and student James Syme ('18) aided the Delta Stewardship Council in developing a Delta Levees Investment Strategy.
Findings Highlights Importance of Leadership
Mar 5, 2019
The winter issue of our quarterly newsletter features students and alumni holding lead roles in APPAM, the school taking the lead in reinventing the policy Ph.D., and a new leadership team in Pardee RAND's Development office. Also: a new course in engaging communities in research, and hands-on research exploring the benefits of local air quality data.
Resilience and Adaptation Strategies Can Address the Impacts of Climate Change
Feb 26, 2019
Climate change is already generating storms, heat waves, and droughts beyond historical norms and local governments need to do more to prepare. A decisionmaking framework developed by Pardee RAND faculty, including alum Jordan Fischbach (cohort '04), allows communities to stress-test ideas, weigh the trade-offs, and plan for a range of possible futures.
Coast to Coast, Alumni Dine with Dean
Feb 8, 2019
Dean Susan Marquis, our "Foodie-in-Chief," loves grabbing a meal with alumni (and off-site students) when she travels. In this quarter alone, she's hosted events in Palo Alto and Berkeley, CA, and in Washington, D.C.
Students, Alumni Hold Leadership Roles in APPAM
Jan 24, 2019
Following the election and appointment this month of two students to the APPAM Policy Council and Student Activities Committee (SAC), four members of the Pardee RAND community now have leadership roles in the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
North Korea's Expanding Nuclear Program Drives a Complex Set of Problems
Jan 11, 2019
North Korean provocations and threats have created an unstable environment on the Korean Peninsula. Alum Bruce Bennett (cohort '75) and colleagues say the U.S. and its allies must attend to four interconnected problems. Failure to prepare will increase the chance of miscalculation and constrain options to reduce the likelihood or gravity of future conflicts.
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.