Mindy Fried, M.S.W., Ph.D.

Mindy Fried, M.S.W., Ph.D. is a sociologist with over 20 years of experience conducting research, teaching and doing policy analysis on work, family and organizational issues (e.g., workplace culture, parental leave, flexible work policies and child care policy).  She has done extensive research on early childhood policy issues, with a particular focus on workforce development. Dr. Fried also applies her nearly 30 years of experience as a dancer, as well as a dance therapist and dance educator, to the evaluation of arts and arts education programs. She has consulted with a broad array of diverse organizations, designing and conducting evaluation research and policy assessments, as well as providing technical assistance on research design issues.  Dr. Fried received an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from Brandeis University, and an M.S.W. in Community Organizing and Social Policy Planning from Syracuse University.

Dr. Fried has taught participatory evaluation at Tufts University, and social policy focusing on race and gender issues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, Department of Urban Studies and Planning/Women’s Studies), Tufts University and Boston University, and has been a guest lecturer at many universities, including Harvard University, Brandeis University, University of Maine/Portland and Boston College. She is a skilled facilitator and trainer, and has initiated and implemented large-scale community-based participatory research projects. Dr. Fried is currently on the faculty of VSA arts Institutes where she teaches research methods to teachers, teaching artists and arts administrators who work in arts-integrated settings.  In addition, she provides management coaching services, and works on organizational issues in a variety of venues.

Dr. Fried has presented her research at many professional conferences, including those sponsored by the American Sociological Association, Society for the Study of Social Problems, Sociologists for Women in Society, the Conference Board, American Public Policy and Management, and the Eastern Sociological Society. Her books include: Taking Time: Parental Leave Policy and Corporate Culture (Temple University Press, 1998), Babies and Bargaining: Working Parents Take Action, and How Does Your Community Grow: Planting Seeds for Quality Day Care. She has also written numerous articles on the evaluation of work-life policies and on issues related to measurement, and has given presentations throughout the U.S. on these and related issues. Dr. Fried has also worked in the Massachusetts state legislature as a child and family expert; and she has taught budget analysis and legislative lobbying techniques at the state and federal level on issues affecting women, children and families.back to About Us