Staff

Roberta Schaefer, Ph.D. (rschaefer@wrrb.org) – President & CEO
Roberta Schaefer, the founding Executive Director of The Research Bureau, was elected President and CEO in 2008. Under her direction, the Bureau has grown from a one-person office preparing studies on municipal issues to a five-person regional center of information and expertise in all areas of public policy in Central Massachusetts. In the 25 years of its existence, Dr. Schaefer has researched, authored and edited more than 180 reports and organized over 160 public forums on issues of concern to the Greater Worcester region. Reports and forums provide well-documented information and recommendations, which public officials and business and community leaders can use for debating important issues and developing sound public policy. These programs and reports reach a broad audience throughout the region. She is often called upon to testify before local, regional and state committees, and has been the featured speaker for public service organizations and business events. Since 2000, Dr. Schaefer has overseen The Research Bureau’s citizen-informed government performance measurement program funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, which has received local, state, and national recognition for its citizen engagement and collaboration with government leading to measurable improvements in government performance. Dr. Schaefer holds a B.A. from Queens College of the City University of New York and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Chicago. Dr. Schaefer served as a member of the Massachusetts Board of Education from 1996 to 2007 and served as Vice-chair from 1998 to 2001. She is a corporator of Bay State Savings Bank, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, and the Worcester Art Museum. She currently serves on the Worcester Mayor’s Work Group on Job Growth and Retention. With her husband, David Schaefer, Professor of Political Science at Holy Cross College, she has co-edited two books (Sir Henry Taylor's The Statesman and The Future of Cities) and authored many articles in professional journals.

Jean DeIeso (jdeieso@wrrb.org) - Director of Programs & Operations
Jean DeIeso joined The Research Bureau in the summer of 2001. She is responsible for member services, staff coordination, managing the activities of the Executive Committee and the full Board of Directors, as well as assisting the President and Treasurer with the financial and administrative management of The Research Bureau. Ms. DeIeso oversees the annual Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards that has become a premiere event to honor outstanding City of Worcester and regional municipal employees. She organizes the Bureau's educational forums, working with corporate sponsors and public officials, guest speakers, and area colleges to ensure the events are well-publicized and well-attended. She also plans and organizes The Research Bureau's annual meeting. In 2010, she is responsible for the organization and execution of 10 events scheduled throughout the year to commemorate the Bureau’s 25th anniversary. Ms. DeIeso, a graduate of Clark University, has more than 35 years experience in office and program management.

Laura Swanson (lswanson@wrrb.org) -Project Manager

Laura Swanson joined The Research Bureau as a Research Assistant in June 2006 and was promoted to Research Associate in January 2008. In June 2009, she assumed the role of Project Manager, coordinating both the Pioneer Middle Cities Project, and the New England States Performance Measurement project. Laura is also responsible for The Research Bureau’s government performance measurement project begun in 2001 with a seven-year grant from the Sloan Foundation. In this capacity, she collects and analyzes performance measures in the areas of public education, economic development, municipal and neighborhood services, and public safety. Laura also organizes, executes, and analyzes surveys distributed by The Research Bureau, including the Neighborhood Safety survey, the Citizen Satisfaction survey, and the ComNET neighborhood surveys. Ms. Swanson earned a B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross where she studied psychology and economics. Her postgraduate studies have been in research methods and GIS.

Stephen D. Eide (seide@wrrb.org) - Senior Research Associate

Stephen D. Eide worked as a Research Consultant on a report for the Research Bureau in the winter of 2007-08 and joined the staff as a Research Associate in July 2008. Stephen’s primary responsibilities involve researching and writing research reports covering a wide variety of public policy issues in Worcester and the region. The ultimate purpose of these research reports is to offer decision-makers and the public, a balanced, thorough analysis and sensible recommendations. Steve researched and wrote the 2009 report “Public Employee Pensions: Is it Time to Retire the System,” which the Governmental Research Association recognized with a Certificate of Merit in its Most Distinguished Research category. Stephen earned a B.A. from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM, where he studied philosophy, literature and the history of math and science. He is currently completing a Ph.D. in political philosophy at Boston College.