About
Robert
I’m inspired by the possibility of positive social change. From my experience with nonprofit organizations and from a sociological perspective, I think of positive change as reducing racial/ethnic inequity and improving the human condition. I develop, conduct and disseminate research on nonprofit and other organizations, and facilitate community use of mixed-methods equity neighborhood data.
I’m also on research gate: Robert Ressler!
Current Work
Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy and diversitydatakids.org
I am currently a Sr Research Associate in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University working on projects using the Child Opportunity Index and other data to help improve child well-being and reduce inequality.
Race/Ethnicity and Equity
My work is grounded in research on race/ethnicity, and other cultural contexts that require some families to make out-sized gains in order to close opportunity gaps along socioeconomic lines. Drawing on research spanning the work of nonprofit organizations, the sociology of education, the family, and inequality, my work investigates how policy and community organizations can help families confront racism and segregation and enact positive social change. I am particularly interested in exchanges of social capital, the formation of helpful relationships, and how equity promotes universal healthy human development. I also pursue projects that delve more deeply into organizations within the nonprofit sector, including textual analysis of Form 990 data.
Professional Affiliation
ARNOVA
The research community I most identify with meets annually at the ARNOVA conference, a gathering of scholars and practitioners interested in nonprofit research, philanthropy, and public administration/management. I have served as the Chair of the Early Scholar’s Section, participated in dissertation development and mentorship programs, and also helped selected the best article in NVSQ award. I’m particularly fond of this group of people because many of them are interested in the solutions to pressing social issues.
About Me Personally
Family is important to me, both personally and professionally.
My research designs leverage the sociological imagination to help inform the practices and policies we can pursue to provide equitable opportunities to all children, families, and individuals.
Hobbies
In addition to spending as much quality time as possible with our cat, Obi (short for Obergefell), I also enjoy bike riding, cooking, historic walks, arts and crafts, and watching bad 80’s movies.
National Adventurer
From my studies in Austin, to working at Gonzaga in Spokane, to our current home at Brandeis in Massachusetts, I’ve traveled the country in pursuit of my research and professional agenda. I’m an expert at working remotely but value proximity to my team.