Visiting Scholars | Advisory Board | Employment and Internship Opportunities

The New England Public Policy Center (NEPPC) was established by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston in January 2005. The Boston Fed has provided support to the public policy community of New England for many years; NEPPC institutionalizes and expands on this tradition.

Mission

NEPPC is dedicated to enhancing access to high-quality analysis of economic and public policy issues that affect the region.

Objectives

The Center accomplishes its mission by:

• Research & analysis: we produce evidence-based analysis of the region's critical economic and policy challenges
  
• Outreach: we convene members of the public policy community
  
• A resource for the region: we support regional research projects and respond to requests for assistance
  

Staff

Director

Robert Tannenwald
Bob is a Vice President and Economist at the Boston Fed as well as Director of the Center. Bob has published extensively in the field of public finance, including topics such as devolution, unemployment insurance, the business tax climate, and the impacts of state and local tax policies. Bob has been with the Bank since 1981. From 1984 to 1986, he served as executive director of the Massachusetts Special Commission on Tax Reform. In 1992 and 1993, he served as research director of the Massachusetts Special Commission on Business Tax Policy. During 2000 he served as research director of the New Hampshire Commission on Education Funding. He was also president of the National Tax Association in 2007. Bob holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. from Harvard University. His favorite place in New England is Hanover, New Hampshire. Email Bob.

Deputy Director

Darcy Rollins Saas
Darcy started with the New England Public Policy Center as a Policy Analyst in 2005. She was promoted to Deputy Director in 2007; in this position, she is responsible for working with the Director of the Center and its staff to develop and to implement its strategy and mission, including development of a research agenda and outreach strategy. Darcy has written on subjects ranging from regional housing policy to the costs and benefits of film tax credits in New England. She previously worked at the Maine Development Foundation, where she was an analyst for the state's annual economic indicators report and managed a community economic development program. Darcy holds a masters in public policy from Tufts University and a BA in political science from Colgate University. Darcy's favorite place in New England is Portland, Maine. Email Darcy.

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Economists

Alicia Sasser
As a Senior Economist, Alicia leads research projects on regional economic and policy issues for the Center. She specializes in the fields of labor, public finance, and health economics. Her current research focuses on housing affordability, migration, expansions in health insurance coverage, and interactions between health and labor markets. Alicia's work has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Human Resources and Women's Health Issues and has been presented at annual meetings of the American Economic Association, the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, and the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. She holds a B.A. in mathematics and economics from Boston University as well as master's and Ph.D. degrees in economics from Harvard University where she also served as a doctoral fellow in the Inequality and Social Policy Program at the Kennedy School of Government. Prior to joining the Center, Alicia worked as an economist in the private sector and taught economics at Mount Holyoke College. Her favorite place in New England is overlooking the Atlantic Ocean while climbing up Otter Cliffs at Acadia National Park in Maine. Email Alicia.

Bo Zhao
As a Senior Economist, Bo leads research projects on regional economic and policy issues for the Center. He specializes in urban, regional, and public economics, with research interests in state and local public finance, housing markets, and fair housing and lending. Bo served on the Municipal Aid Subcommittee of the Municipal Finance Task Force between 2006 and 2007. He was selected by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as one of 20 young scholars nationwide to participate in the 2005 Entrepreneurship Research Boot Camp at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His work has been published in the Journal of Urban Economics and presented at various academic meetings, including the National Tax Association's annual conferences. Bo earned a Ph.D. in economics and a master's degree in applied statistics from Syracuse University. His favorite place in New England is Acadia National Park in Maine. Email Bo.

Policy Analysts

Heather Brome
As a Policy Analyst, Heather prepares analyses of regional economic and policy issues for internal and external communications. She has written on topics ranging from state and local tax policy to the economic impact of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Previously, she consulted to cities on economic development strategies for a Boston-based non-profit, ran a congestion management program for a regional transportation agency in California, and worked as a planner for a private urban and regional planning firm. She holds a masters in public policy from the University of Michigan and a BA in environmental science and public policy from Harvard College. Heather's favorite place in New England is the courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Email Heather.

Jennifer Weiner
As a Policy Analyst, Jennifer prepares analyses of regional economic and policy issues for internal and external communications. Her research interests include health policy, public finance, and labor economics. Prior to joining the Center, Jennifer performed health economics and outcomes research for a Boston-based consulting firm and conducted policy analyses for the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy. Originally from New Hampshire, she holds a masters in public affairs from Princeton University and a BA in economics from Bates College. Jennifer's favorite place in New England is the top of West Rattlesnake Mountain in Holderness, New Hampshire. Email Jennifer.

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Senior Research Assistants

Robert Clifford
As a Senior Research Assistant, Robert conducts data analysis and research on economic and policy issues for the Center. His research interests include public finance, health policy, and developmental economics. Originally from New Hampshire, Robert holds a Masters in economics from the University of New Hampshire and a BA in economics from Keene State College. Robert's favorite place in New England is the Lake of the Clouds Hut near the peak of Mount Washington. Email Michael.

Michael O'Mara
As a Research Assistant, Michael conducts data analysis and research on economic and policy issues for the Center. His research interests include public finance, the economics of state-run gaming, and labor and wage economics. Originally from Reno, Nevada, Michael received his BA from Brown University in Public Policy and in Economics. Prior to joining the Center, Michael spent a year doing economic analysis for the US Department of Transportation. Michael's favorite place in New England is Easton Beach in Newport, RI. Email Michael.

Yael Shavit
As a Research Assistant, Yael conducts data analysis and research on economic and policy issues for the Center. Her research interests include public finance, education policy, and behavioral economics. Originally from Concord, Massachusetts, Yael received her BA from Brown University in Public Policy and Economics. Yael’s favorite place in New England is Ogunquit, Maine. Email Yael.

Editor

Tom DeCoff
Tom produces the Center's regional economic data publication, New England Economic Indicators. Prior to joining the Federal Reserve in 2000, Tom conducted economic research and analyses as a government contractor for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics and Spanish from Colby College. Email Tom.

Administrative Assistant

Mary Pierotti
As the administrative assistant, Mary supports the Center’s operations. Before joining the Center in September 2008, Mary managed operations at her family’s historic bakery, G.H. Bent Company. Prior to working at the bakery, she was an administrative assistant in the institutional investment field, including the Pension Investment Division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State Treasurer’s Office and the Pension Reserves Investment Management Board. Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Stonehill College and a certificate from the Katharine Gibbs School. Mary’s favorite place in New England is Cape Cod. Email Mary.

Interns

Throughout the year, NEPPC offers a limited number of internships. Find out more.

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