Tiffany Laursen

I believe that ordinary people can make an extra-ordinary difference. Ushering in such transformative change, however, requires evidence on how social change strategies work – or not! Situated between science and practice, i.e. translation science, I work to find multiple answers to the question: how do I help people who are trying to help people, truly help people? Inspired by 20+ years of practice experience both domestically and abroad in nonprofits, for profits, and social enterprises, my research explores the ability of differing grassroots organizations’ social change strategies in Global South countries like India, Bangladesh, and South Africa in producing social development outcomes like decreasing multi-dimensional poverty and its consequences, increasing gainful employment, increasing access to clean water and sanitation, and decreasing marginalization while increasing social inclusion.

I enjoy teaching social innovation, social entrepreneurship and social change; international development; research methods for social service practice; social sector management; and theories of diversity, inequality, and social change.