Knowledge becomes practice
By Tammy Griffin-Kumpey M.S.P.C. '06
Illustration by Margot Brown | Photos by Joel Haskell
The Mosakowski Institute works to advance path-breaking research on social issues in its quest to help public enterprises make the world a better place
Poverty, inequality, global warming, social conflict, children's well-being, health care, safety…these are but a few in a long list of societal issues facing government practitioners today. And with life happening at such a frenetic pace, often there 's no time to sit and ponder these challenges, especially the more urgent ones. So practitioners act fast, but often the so-called solution is but a band-aid to momentarily halt what is certain to become a gushing wound. Meanwhile, better answers to many of these problems may be resting idly in the palm of the academy. If that 's the case, then why are there so many band-aids?
According to James R. Gomes, the inaugural director of the Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise, one reason is an unspoken divide that exists between the very bright and well-intentioned people at both universities and public enterprises (which encompasses both government and some nonprofit agencies). On the one hand, government practitioners may think that universities don 't really understand the nuts and bolts of the problems they're dealing with and that the research is often impractical as a result. On the other, there 's sometimes a sense from people in the academy that practitioners aren't keeping up with the latest findings in their fields, because if they did, they would change the way they do things —and for the better.
Bridging the divide "There's some truth in both those points of views," says Gomes, whose goal is to help close that divide.
"Universities, and Clark in particular, do a lot of research that can potentially impact what governments can do to try to improve people 's well being," he says.
Clark researchers have long been at the fore of studying real-world issues and pinpointing creative and valuable solutions. To note just a few examples of research happening at Clark now that can better inform the work of governments, Gomes nods to psychologist Michael Addis whose research on the physical and mental health and well-being of men can help governments as they fashion policies and programs to help families function more effectively and deal with issues like substance abuse and children 's well-being. Another example, he says, is environmental scientist Jennie Stephens ' research. Her work on the capture and storage of carbon as one strategy for dealing with global warming is addressing one of the most critical issues of our time. And Holocaust historian Deb órah Dwork and her colleagues at the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies are conducting research to address how countries can reduce conflict and avoid the most horrible kinds of human suffering.
Unfortunately there's a lot of valuable academic research that doesn't find its way to users in government at the local, regional and national levels, Gomes says. "If more of it did, we could have a greater impact on the world around us and thus live up to the University 's mission of changing our world for the better."
Established thanks to a $10 million gift by Jane '75 and William '76 Mosakowski, the Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise is charged to do just that —get valuable knowledge into the hands of government practitioners who will use it to increase their effectiveness in addressing major social concerns. According to Gomes, one thing the institute will investigate is how university research either does or does not find its way into the hands of public enterprise.
Public enterprise refers to the work of governments at all levels to carry out their missions. The Mosakowski Institute is fundamentally concerned with the work that governments do in addressing major social problems and the role that university research can play in helping those governments do a better job.
"We know that the lessons that get learned at universities do make their way off campus and into the hands of government, into the hands of industry, into the hands of private citizens — we know this happens. But much of it happens somewhat haphazardly," he says.
Most university research has been conceived of by thoughtful, knowledgeable academics who decide what issues they want to investigate, explains Gomes. Involving practitioners in that process earlier, more frequently and more systematically, will likely improve the quality of the research and probability that the research will be used by practitioners. By engaging government practitioners in a dialogue about their needs, then research that is better calculated to meet those needs can be produced.
"It becomes a partnership between practitioners and academics; a partnership that over time becomes increasingly well informed and builds trust for both sides. My hope is that what we do in our first couple of years will make the dialogue between researchers and practitioners much less difficult and more frequent and fruitful. "
"Jim Gomes is just the person to bridge the world of academia to the world of practice in a way that helps both, " asserts President John Bassett. Gomes has worked in a government agency, advised senior political officials, run a nonprofit organization and worked in a university setting. (See above)
"He comes into this position with a sophisticated knowledge—based on years of experience—of how governments work, how people within the public sector view their jobs, and how they can be expected to think about the use of university research to address their challenges."
Use-inspired research Sometimes when researchers conduct studies, they are only interested in advancing our knowledge of how the world works, notes Gomes —this is "basic research." Other times, the researchers' sole interest is in acquiring information necessary to do something or to fix something —this is called "applied research." The work of the Mosakowski Institute is at the intersection of those two types of research —or use-inspired research.
"The work that will be carried out at the institute will produce the kind of knowledge that seeks to both increase our understanding and be useful at the same time, " he explains.
Gomes says there are many research centers around the country, both inside and outside of universities that will profess, "We want to do important research that will help us make a difference in the world. "
One thing that Gomes says will be different about the Mosakowski Institute is the amount of attention that it pays to the question, "What makes research useful and useable?"
"It's one thing to say that you do research to come up with useable knowledge; it's another thing to really explore what the factors are that make it more likely that practitioners will actually use that knowledge, " explains Gomes. Focusing on those factors will improve the quality of the research that Clark does, he says. Additionally, he expects that sharing with colleagues at other institutions the lessons that Clark learns about what makes research useable will be part of Clark 's contribution to the field of use-inspired research.
Gomes predicts that the work of the institute will shine more of a spotlight on the very good work that is happening at Clark already. "We have a wealth of talented and creative researchers across a wide range of fields that touch upon public enterprises from environmental sustainability to urban education to the well-being of families and children. "
Gomes is excited about the enriching opportunities such as fellowships and research assistantships that the Mosakowski Institute will offer Clark students. These and other opportunities will not only sharpen and deepen their research skills, it will give them a more sophisticated understanding of how it is that governments work and how public programs and policies either achieve their objectives or fall short of them. And by exposing students to the work that happens in government agencies around important social problems, he says, these projects will give students a chance to explore careers in public enterprise.
The work at the Mosakowski Institute is part of a broader national dialogue about rethinking the relationship between research and practice, notes Nancy Budwig, associate provost and dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
"What is distinctive is the way Clark is linking these discussions to reflections on educational outcomes for its graduate and undergraduate students, " she says. "Clark is at the forefront of considering the consequences of engaging in transformative research for both undergraduate liberal education and graduate training. And because of the institute's emphasis on the implementation challenges of public enterprise, Clark students will be exceptionally well trained to contribute to solving some of the most pressing societal problems."
In the coming years, the Mosakowski Institute will be increasingly sponsoring on-campus presentations of exemplary use-inspired research by faculty and students, as well as others outside of Clark. In late 2008, Gomes expects to be convening the first in a series of conferences to present recent examples of use-inspired research and bring together researchers and practitioners to learn from each other.
"There's a long way to go for improvement in the field of use-inspired research," notes Gomes. "Unfortunately the degree of division between the academic world and the world of practice is pretty wide. And that means we have a big job ahead of us. But I also know from my past experience that there are many, many people in government at all levels who are quite open to improving their practice with lessons from universities. Once we find those people and engage them, I think we will be showing some results of our collaboration pretty early on. "
To learn more online about the Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise, visit www.clarku.edu/mosakowskifaq.
Gomes, Freeland lead Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise
This fall Clark University announced two senior leadership appointments for Clark's new Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise. James R. Gomes, the former president and CEO of the Environmental League of Massachusetts and a past adviser to several of the state 's top political leaders, joined Clark as the inaugural director of the institute. Richard Freeland, president emeritus of Northeastern University, is at Clark for the 2007-08 academic year as the Jane and William Mosakowski Distinguished Professor of Higher Education.
"Research universities like Clark have much to contribute to solving social problems and improving the quality of life for everyone, " says Gomes. "The Mosakowski Institute will connect academic research and the practice of government in new and exciting ways."
Gomes brings rich and varied experience to Clark and the Mosakowski Institute. He served as president and CEO of the Environmental League of Massachusetts from 1993 to 2007, where he founded or co-founded several major initiatives, including the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance and the Massachusetts Environmental Collaborative. Prior to his work at the Environmental League, Gomes was undersecretary of Environmental Affairs for Massachusetts, executive assistant to Senator John Kerry, and an attorney at the Boston firm of Hale and Dorr. Last year, Gomes served as co-chair of Gov. Deval Patrick 's transition team on energy and the environment. He was recently named chairman of the board of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, the state 's environmental philanthropy.
Gomes received his B.A. in political science from Trinity College, a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, and a law degree from Harvard Law School. He has taught at Williams College and Tufts University and held a research appointment at Harvard 's Kennedy School.
Freeland, who is nationally known for his leadership in practice-oriented education, emphasizing the importance of connecting classroom learning with real-world experience. While at Clark, Freeland will help the Mosakowski Institute establish a presence within and beyond the higher education community. Freeland will work with senior administrators and faculty to use the research activities of the institute to enhance Clark 's undergraduate liberal arts education in ways that can improve student educational and career outcomes.
Freeland received his bachelor's degree in American studies from Amherst College and his doctorate in American civilization from the University of Pennsylvania.
"We are delighted to attract such distinguished and visionary leadership for this exciting initiative at Clark University, " says Provost David Angel.
Photos by Rob Carlin
Academic Commons at Goddard Library: A beacon at the heart of the campus
The Mosakowski Institute will eventually be housed in the Academic Commons at the Robert Hutchings Goddard Library. The Academic Commons project will reshape the Goddard Library into a cutting-edge facility for research, teaching and learning in the 21st century —a library developed with a forward vision worthy of its namesake.
The $15 million project, which includes a complete renovation, redesign of existing space and addition of 11,000 square feet achieved by enclosing the plaza level, will position the Goddard Library as a hub of intellectual exploration. Flexible group study spaces, technology-rich workstations and multimedia areas in the Academic Commons support the new role of the university library as not only a resource repository, but also a place that inspires and nurtures collaboration and partnership between and among students and faculty. These kinds of research spaces are critical to Clark 's commitment to an educational experience in which students learn through inquiry, pursuing hands-on research to seek solutions to real-world problems.
The project will also re-orient the Goddard Library to the center of campus, with a new, impressive entrance from the campus green, reclaiming the Goddard Library 's rightful place as the beacon of knowledge at the heart of campus.
The Academic Commons at Goddard Library is of paramount importance to the future success of Clark University in the next decade and beyond. The Academic Commons project is vital to supporting the University 's ability to:
- Enroll even more talented students who are seeking a rigorous and relevant liberal-arts education in a research university context.
- Promote the success of high achieving students in Clark's academic programs.
- Structure its curriculum around inquiry-based teaching involving a proliferation of projects and faculty-student research and creative activity.
- Raise its research profile.
But the impact of Academic Commons goes beyond Clark University. With access to a cutting-edge library facility that meets their research, teaching and learning needs, talented undergraduate and graduate students and the best scholar-teachers will be better able to address critical issues facing communities locally and globally. The Academic Commons at Goddard Library will help students and faculty challenge conventional wisdom to solve real-world problems and, in turn, change our world for the better.
This transformation of the Goddard Library has inspired a $1 million gift from the William and Jane Mosakowski Family Foundation. This gift will be used to support collections in the library to meet the immediate research needs of faculty and students.
In addition, an anonymous source has offered a generous $1 million challenge gift, matching dollar for dollar every gift made by individuals to the Academic Commons project between Jan. 15 and May 31, 2008. To make a gift to the Academic Commons and help Clark meet this challenge, contact Andy McGadney, vice president for University Advancement, at 508-793-7512.
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