Richard Rodems
Director of Institutional Research
Background
Richard (Rick) Rodems serves as the Director of Institutional Research, where he leads efforts to enhance organizational decision-making through evidence-based practices and strategic analytics. Rick brings a multi-sector perspective to the university, with a career spanning global technology, insurance, public policy, and academia.
Prior to joining the university, Rick held leadership and research roles at Spotify, Medical Mutual, and the startup Kythe App. At Spotify, he led user research in the Personalization team, shaping retention and localization strategies for a global user base. His professional history also includes directing large-scale evaluation frameworks for federal technical assistance projects and leading mixed-methods research initiatives in the nonprofit sector.
His approach is grounded in his training as a sociologist, ensuring that data practices remain human-centric while maintaining high standards for reliability and clarity. This blend of academic rigor, private-sector product strategy, and operational experience allows him to partner closely with departments across campus to build analytics frameworks that support the university's mission.
Areas of Expertise
Institutional Research and Strategy
User Experience (UX) Research and Product Strategy
Program Evaluation and Outcomes Assessment
Mixed-Methods Research (Quantitative and Qualitative)
Policy and Organizational Analysis
Education
Ph.D., Social Work and Sociology, University of Michigan
M.S.W., Social Policy and Evaluation, University of Michigan
A.B., History, Vassar College
Courses Taught
Rick has taught courses in Social Work and Sociology such as Sociological Theory, Research Methods, Introductory Statistics, and Community Organization, Management, and Policy/Evaluation Practice. He is currently available for guest lectures related to research methods, UX research, social policy, poverty, and inequality.Publications
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:
Rodems, R. and Pfeffer, F. (2021). "Avoiding Material Hardship: The Buffer Function of Wealth." Journal of European Social Policy.
Rodems, R. and Shaefer, H.L. (2020). "The Kids Are Not Alright: Material Hardship among Children in the United States." Children and Youth Services Review.
Richards-Shuster, K., Rodems, R., and Espitia, N. (2019). "Exploring Values and Actions: Definitions of Social Justice and the Civic Engagement of Undergraduate Students." Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics.
Rodems, R. and Shaefer, H.L. (2016). "Left Out: Policy Diffusion and the Exclusion of Black Workers from Unemployment Insurance." Social Science History.
Selected Policy Briefs and Reports:
Rodems, R. and Mattingly, M. (2021). "Financial Strain and Material Hardship in the New England States During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
Shaefer, H.L., Cooney, P., Rodems, R., and Mattingly, M. (2020). "Hardship and Well-Being in the United States after the CARES Act." Poverty Solutions.
Wileden, L. and Rodems, R. (2020). "Reach and Impact of Federal Stimulus Checks in Detroit." DMACS Policy Brief.
Rodems, R. and Cooney, P. (2020). "America Needs More Relief—Now." The Hill.
