Staff

Carol Hardy-Fanta, Director

Carol Hardy-Fanta is Director of the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at UMass Boston's John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies. She received her Ph.D. in Public Policy from Brandeis University's Heller School, an MSW from Smith College, and a B.A. from Occidental College. Dr. Hardy-Fanta is author of three books: Latina Politics, Latino Politics: Gender, Culture, and Political Participation in Boston (Temple University Press, 1993), Latino Politics in Massachusetts: Struggles, Strategies and Prospects (Routledge Press, 2002), and Intersectionality and Politics: Recent Research on Gender, Race, and Political Representation in the United States (Haworth Press, 2006) . She is a nationally recognized scholar on Latina/o politics and has published widely on the intersection of gender, race and ethnicity in politics and public policy. Carol Hardy-Fanta also serves as Director of the Graduate Certificate Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy. Contact information: 617.287.5541 or carol.hardy-fanta@umb.edu. You may also follow her at twitter.com/hardyfanta.

Christa Kelleher, Research Director

Christa Kelleher received her academic training at Brandeis University; she earned her M.A. in Sociology and Women’s Studies and her Ph.D. in Sociology. Her federally-funded doctoral study examined the complex issues facing mothers during the early postpartum period in Canada and in the U.S. to inform public policies related to this key women’s health issue. Dr. Kelleher brings to the position a long-term passion for identifying, analyzing and promoting public policies that improve the conditions of women’s lives and advance women’s political leadership. Her professional experiences in political campaigns, the MA State Senate as a Legislative Aide to former Senator Lois Pines, and not-for-profit advocacy organizations make her particularly well suited for strategically advancing the Center’s research agenda. Dr. Kelleher has been affiliated with the Center’s Graduate Certificate Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy since 2002 and teaches the “Contemporary American Public Policy Issues” course. Christa previously taught courses in Sociology, Community Health and Public Policy as an Assistant Professor at Pine Manor College, served on the faculty for the Master of Science Program in Public Affairs at the McCormack School, and, as a Lecturer at Brandeis University and Tufts University, taught courses on women and politics. Contact information: 617.287.5530 or christa.kelleher@umb.edu.

 

Donna Stewartson, Associate Program Director

Donna Stewartson, is the Associate Director of the Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy. She received her MBA from Simmons Graduate School of Management and a BA in Political Science from Boston College. She has worked as the Special Project Manager at Dimock Community Health Center, Testing Coordinator and Mortgage Scam Consultant at Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Program Technician at New Boston Pilot Middle School. Additionally, as a community activist in Boston, she is an Executive Board Member of the Columbia Washington Street Neighborhood Association, an active member of the Four Corners Action Coalition and a member of the Blue Hill Avenue Early Education Center's Parent Council. She recently, joined the Center in November 2004, bringing policy experience in Education, Homelessness, Housing & Mortgage Scam, Community Organizing and Health Education. Contact information: 617-287-6785 or donna.stewartson@umb.edu.

 

Paige Ransford, Research Associate

Paige Ransford is a Research Assistant for The Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the McCormack Graduate School at UMass, Boston. She has a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University and her M.A. in Sociology from UMass, Boston. She was a researcher on the "Alternatives to Incarceration for Substance Abusing Female Offenders in Massachusetts" project and a subsequent study on incarcerated women and maintaining family connections. Paige is currently working on a study of women municipal officials in New England. Other areas of interest include female substance abuse, women in politics, and reproductive rights. She worked as a counselor and Life Skills Educator for the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department for more than 10 years before pursuing her interest in research and public policy. Contact information: 617.287.7407 or paige.ransford@umb.edu.

 

 

 

VISITING SCHOLARS

Dr. Fatemah Haghighatojoo, Visiting Scholar

Dr. Haghighatjoo is a leading proponent of human rights and women’s rights in Iran.  Dr. Haghighatjoo served in the Iranian Parliament from 2000-2004 and was the first to resign when the anti-reform Guardian Council banned more than 2000 reformist candidates from the 7th Parliamentary election. She was president of the Student Movement Caucus and a deputy of the Mosharekat Caucus in the 6th Parliament as well as a member of the political bureau of the Mosharekat party in Iran. More recently, Dr. Haghighatjoo has held several academic posts in the United States: Assistant Professor In-Resident at the University of Connecticut, Fellow in the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, and Visiting Scholar at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Haghighatjoo earned her Ph.D. in Counseling from Tarbiat Moalem University, served as a Professor at the National University of Iran, and authored Search for Truth (2002). She has served as Vice President of the Psychology and Counseling Organization in Iran. She was honored as a Young Global Leader Nominee 2005 by the World Economic Forum. Contact information: 617.287.3968 or fatemeh.haghighatjoo@umb.edu.

Sylvia Mignon, Affiliated Faculty

Sylvia Mignon is Associate Professor, Director of the Master of Science in Human Services Program, and Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the College of Public and Community Service at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Dr. Mignon’s publications and research interests include female offenders, family violence, substance abuse, and the death penalty. She has served as a Steering Committee Member of the Working Group on Women and Children in the Criminal Justice System of the Massachusetts State Legislature. Dr. Mignon co-authored text, Family Abuse: Consequences, Theories and Responses, was published in 2002 by Allyn and Bacon. Her co-authored Substance Use and Abuse: Exploring Alcohol and Drug Issues is in press with Lynne Rienner Publishers. With her colleagues at the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Dr. Mignon recently completed the research report “Parenting from Prison: Family Relationships of Incarcerated Women in Massachusetts.” This follows an earlier study, “Alternatives to Incarceration for Female Defendants/Offenders.” Prof. Mignon received a PhD in Sociology and Anthropology from Northeastern University and an MSW from Boston College. Contact information: 617-287-7155 or sylvia.mignon@umb.edu.

 

Kathleen A. Laughlin, Visiting Scholar

Kathleen A. Laughlin is Professor of History at Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Adjunct Professor at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota. In addition to her book on the Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Work and Public Policy, Dr. Laughlin has written articles and essays on women's political activism in recent U.S. history. While serving as a Research Associate at the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University from 2007-8, Dr. Laughlin volunteered for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign in New England. Dr. Laughlin is coordinating a new project at the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy entitled “A Study of Team Hillary:  A New England Oral History Documenting an Historic Campaign” which aims to create a forum for volunteers and elected officials to publicly relate their experiences on the Clinton campaign trail in New England, to articulate the significance of attempting to elect a female President of the United States, and to explain the importance of the campaign in their own lives. Dr. Laughlin earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in History from The Ohio State University and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Cheryl G. Najarian, Visiting Scholar

Cheryl Najarian, Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, is serving as Visiting Scholar to complete her research project, “Moms and Dads on the Hill: How Men and Women Politicians Balance Work, Family, and Create Social Change.” Through the use of in-depth interviews and observations, Dr. Najarian is investigating how female and male elected officials engage in their policymaking work by examining the intersection of their public service and their private family lives. As with her previous research, she is exploring this topic using sociological, gender studies, and disability studies frameworks. Dr. Najarian’s 2006 book, “Between Worlds:” Deaf Women, Work, and Intersections of Gender and Ability (Routledge) focused on the educational, paid work, and unpaid work/mothering experiences of Deaf women by utilizing an intersectional analysis. At the University of Massachusetts Lowell, she serves as a Faculty Associate in the Center for Women & Work and member of the Gender Studies Steering Committee. Her courses include Introduction to Sociology, the Sociology of Gender, Sociological Research II, Sociology of Disability, and Feminist Methodologies. She received her Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and her M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Arizona. She is both delighted and honored to serve as a Visiting Scholar at the Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy and looks forward to continued collaborations with faculty, staff, and students.

ALUMNAE COORDINATOR


Anne Forman, Alumnae Coordinator

Anne Forman is the new Alumnae Coordinator for the Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy. She received her BA in English from Bradley University and has worked as a meeting/event planner on events such as the International Olympics sponsored by John Hancock Mutual Life. Anne is an enthusiastic 2006 graduate of the Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy and the recipient of the PWPPP Research Excellence Award, for her project titled: Mixed Income Housing and the Definition of Effectiveness. She is also a graduate of the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University. Anne has volunteered in both national and local political campaigns. Most recently, she worked as the volunteer coordinator for Susan Passoni in the Boston City Council District 2 election race. Anne looks forward to organizing programs that will bring alumnae and current students together for networking opportunities and to explore today’s policy debates and political issues. Contact information: 617.287.6732 or anne.forman@umb.edu