Principal Investigator
The Lab is directed by Andrea Hetling (PhD, University of Maryland, College Park), Associate Professor and Public Policy Program Director at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. Andrea’s research interests focus on how public programs and policies can support economic well-being and financial stability among vulnerable populations, including families living in poverty and survivors of intimate partner violence In 2019, Andrea was selected as one of only five Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Network (FSSRN) Scholars and awarded a five-year grant by the US Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Before getting her Ph.D., Andrea worked as a program administrator at a domestic violence agency, focusing on advocacy and development issues. As a strong believer in the public impact of applied policy research, Andrea regularly connects the Lab’s research projects with her teaching and mentoring and to her service to the greater community.
Senior Researchers
Stephanie Holcomb is a Senior Researcher with the Social Policy and Family Well-being Lab. She is currently enrolled in the doctoral program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Stephanie is also a Research Project Coordinator at the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, where she conducts program evaluations of education and training programs. Her previous experience includes working as a research assistant at the Center on Violence Against Women and Children, as a public policy fellow at the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, and as a proposal assistant at Mathematica. Stephanie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from The College of New Jersey and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Bloustein School.
David Seith is a Senior Researcher with the Social Policy and Family Well-being Lab. He is currently enrolled in the doctoral program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. David is also a Researcher and Sr. Predictive Analyst at the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, where he conducts program evaluations of education and training programs. David is interested in the implications of the erosion of wage security coupled with Clinton-era procyclical welfare and tax credit reforms for the financial security of families with young children. He has worked for more than twenty years at several national research organizations, including NORC and the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago, mdrc, the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University, First Focus, and Mathematica Policy Research. David has a Master’s of Public Administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
Graduate Research Assistants
Carly Mihovich is a Graduate Research Assistant with the Social Policy Lab. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Policy at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. She recently graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Carolina where she studied International Studies and Women and Gender Studies with a minor in Social Work. Previously, she served as Communications and Social Media Coordinator for the South Carolina House Democratic Caucus. Carly is also a proud alum of the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Her areas of interest include poverty, welfare, and housing.
Cristina Toppin is a Graduate Research Assistant with the Social Policy Lab. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Policy at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Cristina recently graduated summa cum laude from Rollins College with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. Her research interests include the intersection between race, gender, and social welfare policy, anti-carceral feminism and intimate partner violence, and unconditional cash assistance. Cristina previously interned at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, where she built analyses, technical assistance, and anti-racist advocacy around the TANF program. This experience deeply informed her thesis on violence against lower-income women of color, which she plans to expand through her graduate studies. As an alumna of the PPIA Junior Summer Institutes and Harvard Kennedy School PPLC, Cristina is deeply excited to engage in actionable, collaborative research at the Lab.
Vee Yeo is a Graduate Research Assistant with the Social Policy Lab. She is currently pursuing a dual Master of Social Work from the Rutgers School of Social Work and Master of Public Policy degree from the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Her research interests include child and family social policy, racial disparities and inequality, and program evaluation. Vee has previously worked as a research specialist at the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She has also had experience in casework and administrative assistance for state agencies and community non-profit agencies.
Past Team Members
Ryan Jeter served as a Graduate Research Assistant with the Social Policy and Family Well-being Lab from 2019 to 2020. During his time with the Lab, Ryan graduated from the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy with a Master of Public Policy degree. Prior to joining the Lab, Ryan worked with the Chicago Department of Public Health, the United States Peace Corps, and the Rockefeller Foundation. He has previously conducted research focused on the intersection of race and welfare policy. Ryan holds an undergraduate degree from Howard University.
Annie Lee was a Researcher at the Social Policy and Family Well-being Lab from 2020-2021. She received her PhD degree from Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in May 2021. Annie’s research interests include labor markets and welfare policies for migrants, immigrants, and women in urban areas, and she has expertise in spatial analysis. She holds a B.A. in Urban Design and Studies from Chung-Ang University and an M.A. of City Planning from Seoul National University
Amanda Parker was a Graduate Research Assistant for the Social Policy and Family Well-being Lab from 2019-2021. She received her Master of Public Policy degree at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in May 2021. Amanda served with the United States Peace Corps in Central America where she focused on community environmental conservation and economic development. Since she has dedicated herself to social and environmental policy, Amanda has worked in areas such as sustainable aviation, outdoor education, and bioenergy research. Amanda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies & Sustainability from the University of Illinois.
Sabrina Riddick was a Graduate Research Assistant with the Social Policy and Family Well-being Lab in 2020-2021. She earned her Master of Public Policy degree from the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in May 2021 and was a fellow in the Eagleton Institute of Politics Graduate Fellowship Program in Politics and Government. Over the past five years, Sabrina has served as a dedicated higher education administrator, engaging in a broad range of functions that support the success of diverse academic student populations. Her areas of interest include community development, social welfare policy, and politics and government. Sabrina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Rutgers University – New Brunswick
Jessica Roman was a Graduate Research Assistant with the Social Policy and Family Well-being Lab in 2020-2021. She graduated with her Master of Public Policy degree from the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in May 2021. At the Bloustein School, Jessica previously worked as a research intern with the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey and has separately conducted and published research on children’s social and emotional development. Jessica enjoys sociopolitical research and is interested in the implications of social, education, and immigration policies. Jessica holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The College of New Jersey.