Debbie Stenoien

As a Research Associate, Debbie supports collaborative research on a range of topics, including the transition of HIV services from donor funding to local leadership, financial analysis of global HIV programs, and the economic impact of social work. She contributes to literature reviews, research design, case studies, financial analysis, and writing for diverse external audiences, including manuscripts, policy briefs, and reports.

Debbie brings a diverse range of experiences in global and domestic public health research to the CISWH team. Prior to joining CISWH, she served as a Graduate Research Assistant and later as a Research Associate at the Institute for Global Health and Development at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. In this role, she supported research focused on equity in the global HIV response and on transitioning HIV services from donor funding to national leadership. In this role she was also a co-author of the UNAIDS Report on Equity in the Global HIV Response.

Previously, Debbie was an Alan Rosenfield Fellow with amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, where she contributed to research on HIV services and intersecting policy issues. She coauthored a publication examining how restrictive abortion policies impact Title X clinic participation and HIV testing and presented a poster on the impact of anti-transgender policies on HIV outcomes at the International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference. Earlier in her career, she served as a Project Specialist in the PEPFAR Coordination Office at the U.S. Embassy in Botswana, supporting the development, management, and oversight of national HIV programs.

Debbie also held a fellowship at the Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy, conducting research for the Boston Women’s Fund on how philanthropy can better support community-based organizations led by and for women of color. She brings additional experience in federal, state, and foundation grant development and served as a Civil Society Capacity Building Volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps.

Debbie holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP) and a Social Impact Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. Her MPP focused on health equity and the social determinants of health, with a capstone project analyzing gender-affirming care policies across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and developing a policy strategy to advance inclusive care. As part of her MBA, Debbie served on a consulting team that partnered with a local domestic violence organization to create a comprehensive development plan. The project aimed to strengthen the organization’s community-centric fundraising approach by diversifying its donor base and enhancing long-term financial sustainability in the face of uncertain funding.