Graduate Students

Brian Adler
brian.adler@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Brian Adler specializes in urban policy, particularly surrounding housing, transportation, and land use more broadly within the contexts of local state capacity and under the pressures of neoliberalism. He is working on research that would expand the concept of state capacity to the local government level with a distinct and comparable framework that will ultimately be a critical part of his dissertation that will explore the intersection and consequences of these topics. Brian also worked on research that explores university DEI initiatives and ways in which they can be conceived without succumbing to elite capture. Brian earned his M.A. in Public Policy Administration from the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where he is an adjunct instructor in the sociology department, and his B.A. in Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis.

Abdulkerim Altun
abdulkerim.altun@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

A. Kerim Altun’s research focuses on understanding the relationship between racial and ethnic residential segregation and family types in U.S. metropolitan areas. He uses spatial data and quantitative techniques to examine how socioeconomic status, poverty and family type variables affect neighborhood-level characteristics for different racial groups. Kerim's interests include investigating spatial inequality, poverty, and income disparities between single and cohabiting-partner families. He received his B.A. and M.Sc. in sociology from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Istanbul in 2015 and 2018, respectively.

Kembly R. Archaga
kembly.archaga@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Jessica Barreca
jessica.barreca@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Laura L. Bernett
laura.bernett@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Caleb A. Bobo
caleb.bobo@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Caleb Bobo is a Ph.D. student in public and social policy with a concentration in research methodology. His research interests include social behavior and consumer banking, financial technology (FinTech) and underserved communities, banking policy and regulation, and qualitative research methods. He earned his Master of Public Administration from Saint Louis University and his B.A. in political science and African American studies from the University of Kansas.

Carla Brown
carla.brown@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Carla Monette Brown is a Ph.D. student in the Public and Social Policy program at Saint Louis University. Carla received a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Clark Atlanta University (2020), and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2018). Her research focuses on public policy issues including social justice, race, health, minority relations, and civil and human rights. Carla’s most recent publication is titled “21st Century HBCU Students: Living in an Era of Oppression,” which is a research study that exposes the effects of Black oppression on HBCU students in the 21st century. Overall, Carla has a passion for equality and the advancement of civic engagement.

Laura J. Brugger
laura.brugger@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Laura Brugger is a Ph.D. student in public and social policy with a concentration in geospatial analysis. Her current work focuses on socio-spatial challenges and the interaction of riskscapes. In her dissertation, under the guidance of Professor Ness Sandoval, Ph.D., she is investigating how overlapping social and environmental inequalities are related to voting outcomes and how this relationship varies across space. Laura earned a Master of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from Saint Louis University in 2019.

Jessica Ciccone
jessica.ciccone@slu.edu 
Public and Social Policy

Martin M. Clay
marty.clay@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Desiree Coleman Fry
desiree.coleman@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Desiree Coleman-Fry is an internationally recognized speaker, award-winning executive, and best-selling author who empowers women and advances equity. She’s been featured in the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Business Insider and PBS, and was named to Hive’s 2020 Top D&I Leaders of North America list. Desiree is studying racial and gender inequities in Saint Louis University's multidisciplinary Public and Social Policy doctoral program. She’s also a working mama of four and leads strategy for a national organization. As a graduate of LinkedIn’s prestigious Creator Accelerator Program, Desiree centers the voices of working moms and helps women work well with curated content and an engaged following of 35,000 on the platform. She received Career Mastered’s 2022 D&I Champions Award and Investment News’ 2019 Rising Star in D&I Award. Desiree holds a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University, is a Danforth Plant Science Center trustee and lives in St. Louis with her husband and kids.

Mark Collins
mark.collins@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Vanessa A. de Becze
vanessa.debecze@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Justin Donathan
justin.donathan@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Juan Espinosa
juan.espinosa@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Joseph F. Fetter
joseph.fetter@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Afful N. Fosu
afful.fosu@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Afful Fosu is a Ph.D. student in the public and social policy program focusing on international development policy. Afful’s research interests include child poverty, peace and conflict resolution, and social protection. Before beginning his Ph.D., Afful worked with the Social Welfare Department as the district director for Nkranza North District in Ghana. He holds a B.A. in sociology and social work from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, an M.A. in social policy studies from the University of Ghana, and a Master of Public Policy from the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the University of Erfurt in Germany.

Sarah A. Frye
sarah.frye@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Sarah Frye’s research brings attention to different aspects of workplace practices that enable superior patient care in the nuclear medicine setting. The goal is to demonstrate the importance of 1) monitoring instrumentation quality control procedures, 2) monitoring occupational radiation exposure to ensure superior working conditions for the best quality patient care, and 3) assessing anxiety during medical imaging procedures with the ultimate goal of creating a less anxious environment. These topics confirm that quality workplace practices in a nuclear medicine health care setting enable superior patient care.  

Nigarhan Gurpinar
nigarhan.gurpinar@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Therese J. Hart
therese.hart@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

James E. Hillis
james.hillis@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Katty Rocio Huanuco Salcedo
kattyrocio.huanucosalcedo@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Katty Huanuco is a Ph.D. student in public and social policy with an emphasis on urban and community development. Her research interests include ethnic and race relations, housing insecurity, women, and housing policies. Katty focuses on integrating academic knowledge with practical experience in diverse interfaith, international, and intergenerational settings with well-developed bilingual communication skills. She holds an M.A. in leadership and organizational development. Prior to beginning her graduate studies at Saint Louis University, Katty earned a B.A. in communication (2012) from Cesar Vallejo University, Peru, with an emphasis on communication for development. She has experiential preparation and training regarding issues of social justice, nonviolence, the environment and spirituality in Colombia, Guatemala, Italy, Mexico and Peru. Katty is a vowed religious member of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio. She serves as the general director of the International Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Office of her congregation.

Rana S. Jordan
rana.suleiman@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Chayce Kenny
chayce.kenny@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Bernard Kindell
bernard.kindell@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Iordyem M. Ma
iordyem.ma@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Father Matthew Ma studies immigration in the United States. His dissertation under the direction of Professor J. S. Onesimo Sandoval relates to Catholic social teaching (CST) for immigration and policy. In it, Father Ma offers insights into the issue of immigration and how Catholic ethics and social teaching can shape how we think about migration today. After providing a window into the reality of immigrant experience here in the United States, Father Ma explores the contribution that scripture and Catholic social teaching can make in challenging the present political and economic discussions. The impact of current attitudes toward immigrants is examined, with a particular emphasis on men, women and families. Before coming to SLU, he obtained a B.A. in philosophy and humanities at Arrupe Jesuit University in Zimbabwe, a B.A. in theology at Hekima University College in Nairobi, Kenya, and an M.A. in nonprofit leadership at Seattle University in Washington. Father Ma is a Jesuit priest of the North West Africa Province (ANW), with countries like Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone as members.

Keith W. Mills
keith.mills@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

James R. Morris
james.morris@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Boluwatife J. Otemuyiwa
boluwatife.otemuyiwa@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Rachel L. Rimmerman
rachel.rimmerman@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Zarah S. Robinson
zarah.robinson@slu.edu
Public and Social Policy

Zarah Robinson is a first-year Ph.D. student with an interest in political factionalizing. She spent almost 10 years working in child abuse and neglect investigations and holds a B.Sc. in anthropology from MTSU, M.A. in international criminology from the University of Sheffield, and an M.Sc. in social change/social statistics from the University of Manchester.

Qianlu Sun,  Ph.D. Student, Health Policy

Qianlu Sun is a Ph.D. student focusing on health policy. She studies the outcomes influenced by different health policies for the aging population and females. She integrates spatial analysis into her research to broaden the research dimensions. Before she came to SLU, she got her MA degree in Sociology and BA degree in Management in China.

Jack Tierney

Jack Tierney, OSA is an Augustinian friar.  He is interested in Catholic Social Teaching and its application to public policy. His research concentrates on the Catholic Church, faith-based organizations, and how religion influences social policy.

Savitri Grover
savitri.grover@slu.edu
Public Policy Analysis

Candace R. Valentine
candace.valentine@slu.edu
Public Policy Analysis