Martin Romitti, Ph.D., M.P.A. is Director of Economic and Public Policy Research at the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute. EPPR provides innovative analyses and assistance to leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, including studies of trends, economic impacts, targeted industries, housing, labor market issues, economic development efforts, and policy initiatives.

Dr. Romitti is the Managing Editor of MassBenchmarks, a journal published by UMass in cooperation with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and heads the Massachusetts State Data Center. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the national Council for Community and Economic Research and chairs the national Labor Market Information Training Institute.

Prior to joining the Institute, Dr. Romitti worked extensively in the legislative and executive branches of state government, including founding and directing the nationally acclaimed Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. He received his master's in public administration from the University of Idaho and doctorate from the University of Missouri.

(413) 577-2393

Carrie Bernstein, M.P.P.A. is a Research Analyst whose work encompasses both quantitative analysis and qualitative research methodologies. She specializes in writing, gathering data, and synthesis of complex information. She has nine years of experience in nonprofit and government sectors, including work in policy research, data management, and research design. She has studied federal grants, economic inequality, and housing affordability.

Ms. Bernstein received her Master’s of Public Policy and Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her Bachelor’s degree from Hampshire College.

(413) 545-3450

Katera Como, M.P.A. is an Administrative Manager and Research Associate. She collaborates with the director, project managers, staff, consultants, and clients to ensure excellence in the planning and execution of projects and research. In addition, she provides research and project support to various studies and coordinates the production of MassBenchmarks.

Ms. Como received her M.P.A. and B.S. from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

(413) 577-2415

John Gaviglio, B.B.A. is the state’s liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau, receiving and providing access to the Bureau’s data. He has been with the Massachusetts State Data Center Program since 1988 and served as its manager since 1997. He has extensive experience with U.S. census and state administrative data and provides analysis and support to many unit projects. Mr. Gaviglio also assists faculty, students, state agencies, and the general public in the use of census data and data access tools.

Mr. Gaviglio received his B.B.A. from the Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

(413) 545-6657

Lindsay Koshgarian, M.P.P. is a Research Manager whose work has included housing market and industry studies with a focus on econometric and statistical analysis and economic impact analysis. Prior to joining EPPR, Ms. Koshgarian's work experience was in affordable housing and workforce development, and reproductive health care access.

Ms. Koshgarian received her M.P.P. in Public Policy from UCLA. She holds a B.A. in Physics from the University of Pennsylvania.

(413) 545-6615

Rebecca Loveland, M.R.P. is a Senior Research Manager specializing in industry analysis and economic development projects, managing research activities for MassBenchmarks, and leading a variety of industry and regional studies. Ms Loveland has considerable economic and community development experience in public and private settings.

Ms. Loveland received her M.R.P. in economic and community development planning from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her B.A. in Anthropology from Smith College.

(413) 545-0332

William Proulx, M.R.P. is a Research Analyst specializing in GIS mapping and analysis. His experience also includes work in land-use planning, survey production and qualitative and quantitative research. Before joining the Institute he worked for several major mapping companies as a Cartographer and GIS Analyst.

Mr. Proulx received his M.R.P. in Urban and Land Use Planning from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He also earned his B.A. in Geography and Communications from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Certificate in GIS from Holyoke Community College.

(413) 545-3458

Ludgarda Simmonds, M.P.P.A. is a Senior Research Analyst in the Population Estimates Program. She has experience designing and implementing surveys, analyzing statistical and socio-economic information, including population data, and designing, implementing and monitoring community development projects, including capacity building, and small business development.

Ms. Simmonds received her Masters in Public Policy and Administration (M.P.P.A.) from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her B.Sc. in Statistics from the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Department of Mathematics, Ecuador .

(413) 545-3435

Susan Strate, B.A. is the Population Program Manager. She has 16 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, including 11 years in grant-writing, program development, and contract management for anti-poverty agencies in Western Massachusetts. Her experience includes program design and management, budgeting, and the development of data collection and reporting systems.

Ms. Strate received her B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

(413) 577-0753

Raija Vaisanen, M.P.P.A. is a Research Manager whose work focuses primarily on economic development, industry analysis, and social policy. She has experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods and data analysis. In the past, Ms. Vaisanen has worked in several roles for a variety of non-profit organizations. Her experience spans health insurance, international trade and small business development.

Ms. Vaisanen received her Masters in Public Policy & Administration through the Center for Public Policy and Administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

(413) 545-6613

Kate Wilkinson, M.Ed. is a Project Manager whose work has focused on industry analysis and education studies. She has extensive experience in qualitative analysis and field work as well as collaborating with staff, consultants, and clients on the planning and execution of projects and research.

Ms. Wilkinson received her M.Ed. from University of Massachusetts Boston. She holds a B.A. in American studies from Trinity College.

(774) 455-7378

Roy E. Williams, M.S. is a Senior Research Analyst. A key resource to the Massachusetts State Data Center program, he has served as the Center’s primary expert in the use and interpretation of census data files, including geography, decennial, PUMS, and other microdata files for almost twenty years.

Mr. Williams received his M.S. in educational research methodology from Cornell University where he did graduate work in mathematics, educational measurement, statistics, and research design. He received his A.B. cum laude in mathematics from Oberlin College.

(413) 545-6655