After enrolling at UMass Amherst, Isabel Levin progressed from barely having heard of sociology to becoming what Assistant Professor of Sociology Kathryne Young calls “the most promising undergraduate researcher I have ever met.” As Young’s research assistant, Isabel laid the groundwork for her later independent work. She learned qualitative data collection, conducting highly
UMass Amherst student combines psychology and public health to reduce opioid overdoses
Samantha Hano ’22, public health sciences and psychology, Commonwealth Honors College
“I’ve always had a desire to help people who have challenges and are struggling with life. I believe an individual can make changes that can create a domino effect to improve the lives of the vulnerable and overlooked.”
A courthouse is a nexus of troubled people many with opioid use disorder. At the Holyoke, Massachusetts, District Court, a new program brings same-day access to medications and other treatment right to the courthouse. When UMass Amherst junior Samantha Hano heard about this program, called HEART, she saw a way to put her two majors psychology and public health to work to reduce opioid overdoses.
Arindrajit Dube, UMass professor of economics, is a leading expert on this debate
UMass Amherst Professor of Economics Arindrajit Dube found that raising the minimum wage has not led to job loss.
Minimum wage is a hot topic, one that Arindrajit Dube, UMass Amherst professor of economics, has been pondering for nearly two decades. His research has contributed to a revolution in thinking about the consequences of raising the minimum wage.
In March, the UMass Amherst Alumni Association hosted a public online discussion with Dube called “Make or Break: The Economic Effects of the Minimum Wage.” The forum was moderated by Robert Nakosteen, professor of operations and information management at the Isenberg School of Management.
In January, when the Baker administration announced a new pooled COVID-19 testing initiative for K-12 schools, Education Secretary James Peyser said technological advances had enabled the state to take our testing program to the next level.
Three months later, with 185 of 400 school districts participating and the state now planning to pick up the tab through the end of this academic year, some of those involved are looking a level beyond, eyeing the Massachusetts program as a potential national model. We ve already had other states ask us if we could replicate the program, said Tim Rowe, the co-founder and CEO of CIC Health, one of the pooled testing providers. We re expecting most states, perhaps all states, will do this.
The whir of a stationary bike, the clank of weights, the swish of a basketball net, deep yoga breaths after more than a year of silence the UMass Amherst Recreation Center was again alive with the sound of students when it reopened with all COVID-19 safety procedures in place on March 17. Other Campus Recreation offerings are up and running as well, including intramural sports, the Curry Hicks Pool, and the Mullins Center tennis courts.
At the Rec Center, students are overjoyed to have a safe space to exercise on campus. “They have been dealing with the stress of school and the added stress of COVID, so they are very happy to have a place to blow off that steam and stay active,” says Justin Mantrana ’21, building supervisor for the Recreation Center. The center’s workout floor and cardio machines are open and fitness classes, including spin and yoga, are underway inside, outside, and virtually.