HSRI - Key Persons
Alena is a policy associate with a long history of advocacy and work on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Alena attended the first inclusive pre-school in the state of Missouri, so she saw from a very young age the importance of diversity and equitable opportunity, and she brings this passion to her work. In recent years, Alena has focused on working with public agency staff to assert the rights of people with disabilities into realistic and sustainable policies. Alena brings previous experience with Oregon's Protection and Advocacy agency, case management and brokerage services, and direct support, rested on a background in law. Currently, she manages a number of projects focused on broad systems change in Idaho, Oregon, Georgia, and Prince Edward Island; in the past she provided similar guidance to New Mexico and Mississippi.
Prior to joining HSRI, Alena was a mental health advocate at Disability Rights Oregon, where her work focused on advocating with and on behalf of people with disabilities through a legal framework. Her experiences working with and for people with IDD prior to this span over a decade: as a direct support professional, independent living specialist, day program specialist, personal agent, and as a community educator coordinator at Wild Bill's Coffeeshop in Iowa City, Iowa, a coffee shop created and operated by adults with disabilities.
When not at work, Alena continues a years-long attempt to assure her two dogs that they are not personally responsible for controlling Portland's squirrel population.
Education
JD from the University of Iowa College of Law
Master of social work degree from the University of Iowa School of Social Work
Bachelor of arts degree in English, women's studies, and ethnic studies from Cornell College
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Vice President - Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Allie's work is driven by a passion for finding opportunities that align with HSRI's mission to improve the quality of life for individuals. She works to identify and respond to research and partnership opportunities. She is particularly skilled at developing and submitting proposals, producing project budgets, and ensuring contract requirements are met.
Allie also has deep experience working with research and data services teams to ensure compliance with all federal and state regulations and to ensure the rights and welfare of human subjects are protected. She is highly knowledgeable about institutional review boards (IRB) and evaluating research risk. She manages HSRI's in-house IRB and explains IRB policies to project teams.
When not at work, Allie enjoys spending time outside with her family, especially tapping maple trees and enjoying fresh syrup. She also likes reading page-turner mysteries, playing word games, and dancing in her kitchen.
Education
Bachelor's degree from Northeastern University
Anna is our director of finance, and having celebrated her 20th year with HSRI in 2017, she's long been committed to sustaining the organization's mission and the quality of its services through its financial health. Anna not only oversees the general accounting for HSRI but also assists in establishing financial policies, procedures, and reporting systems to inform internal decision-making. She also reviews project expenditures and invoices with project directors on a monthly basis to ensure accuracy and compliance with funders' and HSRI policies and procedures. Anna also oversees our annual audit and provides regular reports to our board of directors.
When not at work, Anna enjoys attending Red Sox games and Bruce Springsteen concerts, and she makes an annual pilgrimage to the lakes region of her native New Hampshire.
Education
Master's degree in public administration from Suffolk University
Bachelor of science in business administration from the University of New Hampshire
Ben is a research associate whose work is driven by a passion for improving services and service systems at the federal, state, and local levels for individuals with behavioral health diagnoses. Ben is particularly skilled at working with a broad array of stakeholders and public and private agency staff to achieve systems change. He is highly skilled in both qualitative and quantitative research approaches and has extensive expertise in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation (he has been a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor since 2003 and is also a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner). In addition to collecting, analyzing, and interpreting program and individual level-data to further systems change, Ben has extensive experience managing and designing program evaluations and providing evaluation-related technical assistance to other researchers and program staff.
Prior to joining HSRI over a decade ago, Ben provided vocational rehabilitation services to individuals receiving outpatient psychiatry and early intervention program services at Maine Medical Center. Before that, he worked as an instructor and student advisor at the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, and as an ACT team case manager for HealthReach Network in Augusta, Maine.
When not at work, Ben enjoys following all the major professional sports and spending quality time with his family and friends.
Education
Doctor of science in rehabilitation sciences, specializing in psychiatric rehabilitation, from Boston University
Master of science in rehabilitation counseling, specializing in psychiatric rehabilitation, from Boston University
Bachelor of science in rehabilitation and human services from Boston University
Recent Projects
Helping people with behavioral health issues find housing and supportive services
Exploring the impact of self-directed care on mental health recovery
Transforming mental health care delivery in Milwaukee County
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Director - Behavioral Health
- Director of HSRI 's Behavioral Health
Bevin Croft is the director of HSRI's Behavioral Health team. Her work is informed by principles of self-determination, recovery, and the social determinants of health. She is interested in supporting change agents to improve systems using strategies that are both data-driven and values-based. Bevin is expert in the areas of peer-delivered crisis alternatives and mental health self-direction or self-directed care. She uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods and works with participatory approaches, in keeping with the "nothing about us without us" mantra of the disability rights and consumer/survivor/ex-patient movements. She conducts research and evaluation projects that add to the evidence-base for specific interventions or approaches, while other projects are more global in scope, pulling together research evidence and best practice to support state and local agencies to improve service and support systems.
Prior to joining HSRI, Bevin was the quality management coordinator at Cascap, a psychiatric rehabilitation provider in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she oversaw quality development initiatives, coordinated the agency's human rights program, and conducted training on rehabilitation and recovery and person-centered planning.
In her limited spare time, Bevin runs along the Charles River, practices yoga, and cooks elaborate meals for family and friends.
Education
Doctorate in social policy from Brandeis University Heller School for Social Policy and Management
Master of public policy degree from Brandeis University Heller School for Social Policy and Management
Recent Projects
Exploring the impact of self-directed care on mental health recovery
Conducting an in-depth review of North Dakota's behavioral health system
Improving Multnomah County's mental health system
Addressing behavioral health needs in Pierce County, WA
Assessing peer-led alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization
Brian is a business systems analyst who's passionate about maintaining clear and organized processes in support of users, clients, and coworkers. He is particularly dedicated to working with public agency staff to ensure the data quality of state datasets. Brian is also highly skilled in providing Help Desk support, troubleshooting program issues, investigating data flaws, and responding to data inquires. In addition to supporting clients in data intake, Brian has deep experience in working with national code standards. He frequently works with programs such as Microsoft SQL Server, HP Vertica, and Tableau in support of reporting tasks.
Prior to joining HSRI, Brian was an application support engineer at Blueport Commerce. Prior to that, Brian worked as a technical support representative on projects related to dynamic composition of print and digital media. Brian has volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of America, Big Brother Big Sister, and Oasis Center.
When not at work, Brian enjoys swing dancing, cycling, drawing, reading, programming, and tabletop games. He also likes to get together with his family to go kayaking, climb trees, and bake pies.
Education
Bachelor's degree from Principia College
Recent Projects
Using claims data to drive healthcare transformation in Colorado
Developing a robust and secure data warehouse for population health reporting in Maine
Job Titles:
- Co - Director - Child, Youth and Family
- Co - Director of Our Child
Cailin is the co-director of our Child, Youth and Family team, and Cailin's work is rooted in data-driven and participatory research principles. Driven by a desire to create equitable and innovative systems, Cailin works closely with public agency administrators to examine the links between service provision and client and fiscal outcomes. Her collaborative research approach fosters the development of comprehensive and shared understandings of programmatic goals, along with realistic and actionable recommendations to improve service delivery systems.
With a deep knowledge of child welfare prevention and intervention efforts, Cailin leads large, multi-organizational research projects that contribute to state and national system reform efforts. She is experienced in developing mixed methods research designs and identifying opportunities for data quality and service delivery improvements. In addition, Cailin has extensive experience working with large, complex datasets and is particularly skilled at integrating disjointed data systems for analysis. Her background includes quantitative and qualitative research, and experience using SPSS, SQL Server Management Studio, NVIVO, and Dedoose.
Prior to joining HSRI in 2009, Cailin was a research assistant at the University of Oregon's Brain Development Lab, where she studied neuroplasticity and child development. Using brain imaging (EEG and MRI), Cailin's work focused on empirically testing programs that create connections between children and their parents to understand how successful interventions may be changing brains. More recently, she volunteered two years of her time as a board member and financial officer for the Oregon Program Evaluators Network, the largest state chapter of the American Evaluation Association.
Outside of work, Cailin enjoys expanding her knowledge of horticulture, metaphysics, and mindfulness, and enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
Education
Executive master of public administration from Portland State University
Bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of Oregon
Recent Projects
Striving to improve child welfare in Ohio
Helping foster youth transition to independence in Oregon
Collaborating to support families impacted by substance use
Cheryl is a policy analyst with a passion for safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities to lead full, self-directed lives in inclusive communities. She is particularly skilled at supporting the efforts of public agency staff to conduct consistent data collection across participating National Core Indicators states-all to make certain that states have reliable, high-quality data for informed decision-making and to direct their quality improvement efforts. Each year, working with self-advocates and families, Cheryl also presents NCI findings in plain language reports for diverse audiences. She is also highly skilled at managing project budgets, designing surveys, training interviewers, and conducting program evaluation. In addition to supporting clients in her project specific role, Cheryl also has deep experience coordinating the efforts of her team.
Cheryl has volunteered for many youth sports programs and currently volunteers at an equine therapy farm that works with children and adults with disabilities.
When not at work, Cheryl enjoys home improvement projects and attending her children's sporting events (aka freezing in hockey rinks!).
Education
Master's degree in teaching from Northeastern University
Bachelor of science degree in human services from Northeastern University
Recent Projects
National Core Indicators: Measuring the performance of services and supports for people with IDD
Supporting self-determination for people with IDD in Massachusetts
Colleen is a policy associate whose work is driven by a passion for self-determination and equity of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Colleen is particularly dedicated to working with public agency staff to analyze and present data to improve understanding of systems and inform evidence-based policies that impact individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Colleen is also highly skilled in community-based participatory research and in program evaluation, data analysis, and data visualization. In addition to supporting clients in methodology and data analysis, Colleen also has extensive experience working with disability populations and stakeholders.
Prior to joining HSRI, Colleen was a graduate research assistant at Portland State University, where she worked on a community-based participatory research project exploring the relationship between involvement in the online Autistic community and self-determination in autistic adults. In other roles, Colleen worked as a research assistant on projects related to the ethical inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities in research, disability-related disparities in health and access to healthcare, and evaluations of state programs for preventing tobacco use and promoting access to justice for low‑income individuals.
When not at work, Colleen enjoys making clothes, watching horror movies, exploring the Pacific Northwest, and spending time with her Persian cat, Beatrice.
Education
Doctorate in applied community psychology from Portland State University
Bachelor of arts in applied psychology from DePaul University
Recent Projects
Reimagining support systems for people with IDD
Dani is a research analyst whose work is driven by a passion for collaborative and inclusive data-driven practices. She is highly skilled in data management, data analytics, and dashboard development. Dani also enjoys collaborating with stakeholders to develop informative and useful dissemination products.
Prior to joining HSRI, Dani was an epidemiologist at the Ohio Department of Health, where her work focused on overdose injury. Prior to that, Dani worked as a social work intern for a few nonprofits with the goal of improving the psychosocial environment for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.
In her free time, Dani enjoys spending time with her husband and mini zoo (3 cats and 2 dogs), hiking, and true crime podcasts.
Education
Master of public health with a concentration in health behavior and health promotion from the Ohio State University
Master of social work with a concentration in mental health and substance misuse from the Ohio State University
Bachelor of science degree in psychology from Lake Superior State University
Recent Projects
Using claims data to drive healthcare transformation in Colorado
Developing a robust and secure data warehouse for population health reporting in Maine
Danielle is a project coordinator whose work is driven by a passion for improving behavioral health equity through public health research and policy. Danielle is particularly skilled at working with public agency staff to keep complex systems change projects organized and moving forward in a timely manner. Danielle is also highly skilled in communicating with diverse stakeholders and choosing culturally competent communication strategies to meet their unique needs. Danielle asks thoughtful questions and pays strong attention to detail, both of which are assets when conducting thorough background research and writing comprehensive reports.
Prior to joining HSRI, Danielle worked on academic and community service projects focused on addressing child and adolescent mental health and combatting human trafficking. Before that, Danielle gained clinical experiences in psychiatry and co-authored a book with a psychiatrist about first aid tips for recognizing and preventing suicide. Danielle started her career as a psychology major, which laid the foundation for a decade of experience as a mental health advocate. Danielle values taking action to improve social determinants of health and has volunteered in her local community on projects dedicated to fighting hunger and food insecurity.
When not at work, Danielle enjoys spending time with family, hiking to explore new places, and honing her skills in photography and plant-based cooking.
Education
Master of public health in global health from Southern New Hampshire University
Bachelor of medicine, Bachelor of surgery, and Bachelor of obstetrics from University College Dublin
Bachelor of science in psychology from McGill University
Recent Projects
Conducting an in-depth review of North Dakota's behavioral health system
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- President
As president of HSRI, David provides direction on the organization's vision, culture, practice, and finances. He collaborates with our leadership team to establish and pursue long-term strategies for helping our clients achieve the greatest possible impact. David also leads projects around the country on a variety of issues.
With more than 25 years of experience, David is a nationally recognized expert in behavioral health research and systems change. He has devoted his career to working with public agencies and other researchers to strengthen services, transform systems, and inform policy development. He is particularly passionate about helping organizations design programs, initiatives, and policies that are data-driven, person-driven, and sustainable. He is committed to helping clients make sense of a complex landscape-so they can best leverage available funding streams, resources, and programs to provide impactful community-based services. Undaunted by obstacles, David's enthusiasm, conviction, and practicality make him well-suited to helping stakeholders develop and execute a shared vision for effective supports.
David sits on the boards of other nonprofits, has received a Leadership Award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and has been appointed to an advisory committee to provide guidance to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on healthcare quality. He is also well known for developing simulation models that help states and counties project the effects of innovative programs such as jail diversion.
Outside of work, David and his family are avid skiers and outdoor enthusiasts and spend much of their free time in the mountains in western Maine.
Education
Doctorate in social policy from Brandeis University
Master's degree in social policy from Brandeis University
Master's degree in applied sociology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston
Dave is our director of technology, and he has more than 16 years of experience leading internal technology operations. His work spans many of the projects at HSRI and includes the implementation of information systems and infrastructure, network design and administration, and data security. He oversaw development of the National Core Indicators (NCI) website, The Riot! website, and several other project-based online initiatives and communities.
A nonprofit technology expert, Dave specializes in helping individuals and organizations leverage the power and benefits of new technologies. He is an industry certified networking professional.
Education
Bachelor of science degree from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Associate
Dow is a researcher and program evaluator whose work currently focuses on behavioral health systems planning, needs assessment, policy analysis and program implementation. Dow is particularly dedicated to the application of implementation science for addressing challenges and improving services in complex behavioral health systems. He especially values a collaborative approach in working with a broad range of stakeholders to promote effective, feasible and sustainable system change.
Prior to joining HSRI, Dow held mental health services research positions at the Kennedy School of Government and the Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard teaching hospital, where he continues to hold an appointment as Lecturer in Psychiatry. He also has many years of experience as a clinician and program director in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings, which has been valuable for an in-depth understanding of behavioral health systems and the populations they serve.
Education
Doctorate from Heller School at Brandeis University
Recent Projects
Addressing behavioral health needs in Pierce County, WA
Transforming mental health care delivery in Milwaukee County
Addressing whole health needs for people with serious mental illness in Minnesota
Ebony is a Project Coordinator and Certified Peer Specialist whose work is driven by a passion for accessibility for all and creating brave spaces. Ebony is particularly dedicated to creating cultural wealth in her community and sharing her journey to inspire others. Ebony is also highly skilled in program development, training, and group facilitation. In addition to supporting individuals with navigating their emotional wellness, Ebony also has deep experience of working with people in distress. Ebony is a board member for the Council Against Institutional & Psychiatric Abuse (CAIPA). This council is the advisory board for the Disability Law Center.
Prior to joining HSRI, Ebony was the Black Community Connector at Wild Ivy Social Justice Network, where her work addressed increasing the voice, choice, access, and personal and collective power for those who experience life interrupting emotional distress and other challenges. Prior to that, Ebony worked as a Program Coordinator at The Living Room, a peer run crisis alternative, where she provided everyday oversight of the space and staff and facilitated global virtual peer support groups at the start of the pandemic. Ebony is still a part-time trainer and group facilitator with Wildflower Alliance, a grassroots peer support, advocacy, and training organization. In this role, she co-facilitates Alternative to Suicide groups and training and anti-oppression training.
When not at work, Ebony enjoys sarcastic shirts, UFC, spending time with her daughter, traveling, and listening to music-especially rap.
Education
Certified Peer Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
With nearly two decades of experience around the globe helping individuals and organizations disseminate their ideas, Elizabeth (Liz) Métraux is a tireless advocate for the use of story as a tool for radical change. She is the founder of Women Writers in Medicine, a start-up dedicated to amplifying the voices, experiences, and research of women in healthcare.
Beginning her career in political movements, she transitioned to healthcare after observing the powerful interplay among population health, public policy, and conflict. Moving from the frontlines of war to the frontlines of healthcare, she has served as Director of Communications for workforce diversity at the National Institutes of Health, spearheaded communication for USAID's TB and infectious disease projects in the Central Asian Republics, and currently leads a national study on workforce wellness.
Elizabeth's work has appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine, Health Affairs, STAT, Medium, and more. She serves on the Board of Advisors at the McGill University Executive Institute in Montreal, Quebec.
Job Titles:
- Technical Services Engineer
Emily Brol is a technical services engineer whose work is driven by a passion for healthcare transparency. Emily is particularly dedicated to working with public agency staff to leverage population health data to maintain healthcare transparency websites. She is highly skilled in process documentation, release management, Azure DevOps, Sharepoint and SQL.
Prior to joining HSRI, Emily was a software quality assurance engineer at Grand Circle Corporation, where her work addressed marketing campaigns. Prior to that, she traveled internationally for five years both working and volunteering in Africa and Asia.
When not at work, Emily volunteers at local and international nonprofits, such as Rosie's Place, the Greater Boston Food Bank, and National Braille Press.
Education
Bachelor of science in advertising from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh
Recent Projects
Using claims data to drive healthcare transformation in Colorado
Eric Lam is a research analyst working with the National Core Indicators and National Core Indicators-Aging and Disabilities efforts. He is particularly driven by a passion to improve health systems and advocating for the policies that ensure equity for marginalized communities. Eric is highly skilled in data analytics and visualization using national level datasets. In addition, he has experience in mixed-method data collection and grant-writing.
Prior to joining HSRI, Eric was a Field Investigator at the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance, where their work addressed the HIV disparities among different communities disproportionately impacted by HIV, including gay and bisexual men, persons who inject drugs, and heterosexually active persons at increased risk of HIV infection. In addition, he worked on projects related to addressing internalized stigma among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men in sub-optimal HIV care using an intersectionality framework.
When not at work, Eric enjoys working out, going to brunch, and learning how to raise indoor plants (Rebecca Bunch the rubber plant).
Education
Master in Public Health from Boston University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Arcadia University
Recent Projects
Measuring the performance of services and supports for people with IDD
Measuring the performance of LTSS programs for seniors and adults with physical disabilities
Erin is a research assistant whose work is driven by a passion for promoting self-direction and recovery-oriented services for people with lived experience and for promoting recovery-oriented behavioral health systems. Her previous experience included work on projects related to mental health recovery and recovery measures. Erin supports a number of HSRI's behavioral health systems planning and needs assessment projects.
Prior to joining HSRI, Erin was co-coordinator of the Recovery Connection Center at Vinfen, with a focus on mental health recovery. She continues to volunteer for NAMI Plymouth Area and has also volunteered at the Duxbury senior center.
When not at work, Erin enjoys swimming, reading, playing the keyboard and spending time with her many nieces and nephews.
Education
Bachelor's degree from Curry College
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Master of Public Policy
Finn Gardiner is a Master of Public Policy student at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. He holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Tufts University.
He currently works with the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Throughout his work, Finn combines disability advocacy, policy analysis and research, and written and visual communications through policy briefs, original reports and white papers, and contributions to research projects. His research and advocacy interests include education and employment for autistic adults, comparative disability policy, inclusive technology, LGBTQ cultural competency, and policy that takes into account the intersections between disability, race, LGBTQ identities, class, and other experiences. Finn recently worked with a team of researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and HSRI on a project that gauged attitudes about the creation of an autism database in Massachusetts in order to create policy recommendations for the state.
Finn is a seasoned public speaker who has appeared at a variety of venues, including the Obama White House's 2016 LGBTQ Disability Day panel, the National Council on Disability's panel on inclusive technology for people with disabilities, the United Nations' 2016 Disability and Ageing Symposium, and the 2015 and 2017 American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities national conferences.
Finn's writing has been published in NOS Magazine, The Thinking Person's Guide to Autism, and the anthology All the Weight of our Dreams.
Greg is a research associate whose work is driven by a passion for helping to shape progressive policies that address the needs of low-income children and families. He is particularly skilled at working with public agency staff to design consumer-driven and evidence-based interventions and to evaluate their effectiveness. Greg is also highly skilled in conducting experimental research and advanced statistical procedures. In addition to supporting clients in program development and evaluation design, Greg also has deep experience in addressing complex social issues from a systems perspective.
Prior to joining HSRI, Greg was a research analyst at Education Northwest, where his work addressed educational challenges facing low-income children and families. Prior to that, he worked as a researcher on projects related to juvenile justice and adolescent substance abuse prevention.
When not at work, Greg enjoys snowboarding and surfing with his wife and 7-year-old son.
Education
Doctorate from Portland State University
Master of social work from the State University of New York at Buffalo
Recent Projects
Improving safety and permanency outcomes in Colorado
Using technology to assist kinship, foster, and adoptive parents
Hailey is a project manager whose work is driven by a passion for utilizing data to drive systems change. She is particularly invested in working with public agency staff to develop and maintain data intake systems, and she also works directly with data submitters to maximize their ability to submit quality data in a timely manner. She is highly skilled in collaborating with colleagues and clients to develop standard operating procedures and processes for tracking project timelines and deliverables. Hailey has experience managing processes across the data lifecycle, from onboarding new data submitters to supporting clients in releasing data.
Prior to joining HSRI, Hailey was an autism family supports and services analyst at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services where she helped educate families and professionals about available autism-related resources. She is a certified Project Management Professional.
When not at work, Hailey enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and playing with clay at her local pottery studio.
Education
Bachelor of science degree in human development and family studies from Michigan State University
Population Health Certificate from Rutgers University School of Public Health
Project Management Professional (PMP)® certificate
Recent Projects
Using claims data to drive healthcare transformation in Colorado
Enhancing healthcare transparency in Maine
Henan is a research associate, and he has a strong belief in data-driven decisions and evidence-based practice. Henan is an experienced user of large datasets, and is highly skilled in cleaning, merging and analyzing national level health survey data. In addition to quantitative data, Henan also has prior experience in collecting and analyzing qualitative data, as well as grant writing.
Prior to joining HSRI, Henan was a postdoctoral research fellow at Brandeis University, where his work primarily focused on the disparities in access to health care faced by people with disabilities. Prior to that, Henan worked in Chicago, Illinois, as a graduate research assistant on projects related to the national health statistics of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Henan has volunteered at the Cat Connection, a Waltham, Massachusetts-based no-kill organization that helps stray cats find permanent homes.
On his days off, Henan enjoys going to parks with his wife and toddler daughter and playing music.
Education
Doctorate in disability studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago
Master of science degree from Indiana University Bloomington
Recent Projects
National Core Indicators: Measuring the performance of services and supports for people with IDD
Supporting self-determination for people with IDD in Massachusetts
Job Titles:
- Director of Healthcare Reporting - Population Health
Job Titles:
- Associate Data Engineer
- Data Engineer
Jarod is a data engineer whose work is driven by a passion for using data and technology to effect positive social change. Jarod is particularly dedicated to making data more accessible and understandable to those who need it and those who are affected by it. Jarod is also highly skilled in providing high-quality tools to allow for data-informed decision making. In addition to supporting clients by developing tools for data management and organization, Jarod also has deep experience in working with software testing and task automation.
Prior to joining HSRI, Jarod was a laboratory technician at UMass Amherst, where their work involved a multitude of tasks ranging from laboratory upkeep to providing technical solutions to the department. Jarod has also worked on several projects related to computer and data science, namely as a software engineer for a proprietary survey system and as a research assistant studying algorithms related to reinforcement learning and artificial intelligence.
When not at work, Jarod enjoys exploring new places, cooking, and taking care of a growing number of houseplants.
Education
Bachelor of science in computer science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Job Titles:
- Program Manager
- Program Manager for the Intellectual
Jennifer is the Program Manager for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities team. Her work is driven by her passion for seeing that individuals with disabilities are treated fairly and equally. Jennifer is highly skilled in task management software, project budget tracking, client invoicing, and contracts maintenance. In addition to supporting clients in overall budget coordination, Jennifer has extensive experience coordinating offsite meeting logistics, event planning, and materials development. She also works with our Child, Youth and Family team.
When not at work, Jennifer enjoys traveling, photography, digital photo restoration, and writing for an online travel website.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
For more than three decades, Joseph Ray has advocated for disability services in tribal communities, with a focus on independent living, elder care, and vocational rehabilitation services. Based in Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico, he is the Board Chair of the National Congress of American Indians Disability Subcommittee, one of the oldest advocacy organizations for native populations in the country. Joseph is also on the Board of Directors of Uniting Nursing Homes in Tribal Excellence (UNITE), and a member of the Pueblo People with Disabilities group. He has a special interest in strengthening support services for individuals with spinal cord injuries, particularly tribal youth, and is active in adaptative sports and long-term care programs.
Job Titles:
- Technical Services Engineer
Josh is a technical services engineer who strives to make healthcare data available for research to increase transparency and understanding of healthcare costs. Josh has a dedication to working with government agency staff to support their population health initiatives. Josh loves working with .NET technologies and Azure DevOps in service of large-scale ETL operations.
Karen, a business systems analyst, is dedicated to leveraging technology in support of values-driven initiatives. She supports a data collection and analysis application that allows state and project team users to enter and use data from the National Core Indicators and National Core Indicators-Aging and Disability survey tools. Karen takes a collaborative approach to work, and her insights help maintain a focus on quality outcomes for the team.
Prior to joining HSRI, Karen was an applications developer at The Community Builders, helping to create databases and software to track the company's development and management of affordable housing properties. She began her career in information technology at the Kennedy School of Government, where she initially provided desktop support and later moved on to network administration.
When not at work, Karen enjoys playing congas and percussion in a jazz band.
Education
Bachelor of arts in cognitive science, Wellesley College
Recent Projects
NCI: Measuring the performance of services and supports for people with IDD
NCI-AD: Measuring the performance of LTSS programs for seniors and adults with physical disabilities
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Director of Project & Product Management - Population Health
Job Titles:
- Director of Technical Services - Population Health
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Vice President - Population Health
Job Titles:
- Co - Director - Child, Youth and Family
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Technology
Job Titles:
- Strategic Project Manager
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, Person - Centered Advisory and Leadership Group
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Senior Research Associate and Chief Methodologist
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Vice President - HR & Administration
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Co - Director - NCI
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
- Policy Associate
Job Titles:
- Director of Data Warehouse Analytics