Public spending on health is often assumed to produce better outcomes, but the effectiveness of that investment can depend on the political systems that govern how resources are used. This research examines how democratic governance influences the relationship between health expenditure and public health outcomes across Europe. This research was presented at the Graduate Poster… continue reading
School closures do not only affect classrooms. They reshape neighborhoods, displace families, and alter the social fabric of entire communities. This case study examines the widespread closure of public schools in Puerto Rico and asks what these decisions mean for students, educators, and long-term community resilience. The research was presented at the Graduate Poster Exhibition… continue reading
Women in Puerto Rico graduate from universities at higher rates than men, yet they continue to earn less, hold fewer executive roles, and face persistent structural barriers, including high rates of domestic violence. What happens when we examine economic development through that contradiction? Mnguashima Valentina Soomiyol’s research centers women not as beneficiaries of policy, but… continue reading
How can residents claim a “right to the city” in places long defined by distress and persistent poverty? This research examined community well-being in Camden, New Jersey, using a mixed-method framework to explore how objective, subjective, and behavioral indicators shape quality of life in a city navigating decades of economic hardship. Presented at the Graduate… continue reading
When a small nonprofit in Camden faces a $2,800 jump in monthly rent, the story is not just about one organization struggling to stay afloat. It is about a system under strain. That reality was on display in a recent segment on CBS News Philadelphia, where Nathaniel Wright, Graduate Director of the Public Affairs program… continue reading
Before the semester gathered speed, doctoral candidates were welcomed into the cozy confines of the Graduate School House for a week that brought dissertation writing to the center of campus life. Representing Public Affairs, Computational and Integrative Biology, and Childhood Studies, participants arrived at a stage where dissertation defenses can be measured in weeks and… continue reading
