Lenna Nepomnyaschy, PhD

Associate Member, Rutgers Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research

Professor, Rutgers School of Social Work

Dr. Nepomnyaschy’s research interests are broadly focused on how poverty, inequality, and social policies impact child and family health and well-being. One line of work examines the impact of social policies, particularly related to fathers and child support, on the well-being of families and children. Another line of work examines socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in child health and development. A recent project was funded by the William T. Grant Foundation and explored the extent to which father involvement can reduce disparities in outcomes between children in lower and higher income families and the role of economic and social policies in promoting or inhibiting low-income fathers’ ability to be involved with their children. Her previous work has been funded by the Foundation for Child Development and the Research Program on Childhood Hunger through the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research and the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service. Dr. Nepomnyaschy received a PhD from Columbia University in 2003 and an MSW from Rutgers in 1991.