Social Work Graduate Fellow Abdul Haseeb Hamza has been engaged in research, advocacy, and program development projects at the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) since 2023. His primary focus is improving health equity for people with disabilities. He also contributed to a project using virtual…

Doctoral Fellow Claudine Lavarin works primarily on the evaluation of the Colors of Kindness Bus project’s impact on the social-emotional and mental well-being of migrant children and their families in Massachusetts. In this role, she conducts and co-facilitates surveys, interviews, data analysis, and the development of findings. Lavarin…

Doctoral Fellow Melanie Morris is working on the Economic Case for Social Work in Public Health Settings and Healthcare. She has explored the current literature on the role of social work in healthcare, the cost savings and cost-effectiveness of social work interventions, and how social work promotes health equity. Through…

Doctoral Fellow Edima Ottoho works closely with CISWH’s executive director to enhance the center’s strategic initiatives. She provides guidance and tools to strengthen team procedures, streamline planning and implementation tracking, and improve performance measurement. Her work supports integration efforts to maximize the effectiveness, cohesion, and impact of CISWH’s labs, projects,…

Jess Rogers is a Policy Fellow with BU’s Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health. In this role, she examines The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, and the current administration’s executive orders and policies that impact education, the LGBTQIA+ community, and women’s rights. Rogers began her career in…

Policy Fellow Sheila Siragusa is tapping her work experience in research and analysis, particularly around environmental and energy policy, as she contributes to the Beyond 2025 Action Hub. Additionally, Sheila taught Acting, Directing, and First Folio Shakespeare in Performance, and is a professional stage director based in the…

Dr. Nandakumar is a Professor of Practice and leads the Global Social Work and Public Health Lab. He directs research on the economic impact of social work and examines how global health investments—particularly through PEPFAR—affect health systems and outcomes. His work bridges economics, public health, and social policy to advance…

Prof. M. Emilia Bianco is a researcher and educator specializing in gender, mental health, human rights, and social justice. She has worked internationally implementing economic development programs and research with women affected by structural inequality and violence. In the United States, she has developed a humanitarian initiative and a research…

Senior Project Director and Co-Director of the Social Work Innovation Lab Bethlyn Vergo Houlihan leads initiatives that spark interdisciplinary systems innovation to advance humanistic and equitable services inclusive of public health social work. Her work involves guiding program leaders in strategic systems-level improvements, building capacity in health and social systems…

Appointed Director of the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health and Paul Farmer Professor of the Practice in 2023, Dr. Tami Gouveia has extensive experience as a leader in social work and public health, policymaking, and change management. Throughout her 25-year career, she has used her expertise to…