About Us
Mission
The Hildreth Institute, a trusted source of independent research, is committed to driving systemic change in higher education by promoting affordability, accountability, and equity, empowering advocates and decision-makers with student-centered, equity-driven policy analysis, thereby, fostering an inclusive and transformative educational landscape.
Vision
At the Hildreth Institute, we envision an inclusive world-class higher education system that ensures students have the support and financial resources they need to fully realize their educational and career goals.
Our Strategies
Conduct Research with an Equity and Empowerment Lens
We strive to level the playing field through inclusive research and analysis that exposes the causes and consequences of systemic disparities in higher education.
Inspire Transformational Policy Change in Public Higher Education
By centering the experience of those impacted by systemic inequities, we work to highlight the underlying structural factors that perpetuate inequity in public higher education in a way that shows the true, human impact of these disparities.
Work Towards Achieving Equitable Outcomes and Closing Racial Wealth Gaps
By democratizing research and authentically engaging all stakeholders, we aim to co-develop solutions that address the underlying structural factors that perpetuate systemic inequities in the higher education system.
Our History
Co-founded in 2018 by Bob Hildreth and Dr. Bahar Akman Imboden, the Hildreth Institute is an independent research and policy institute that seeks to confront the inequities that are embedded in our higher education systems. After a decade of working directly with students and families from underserved communities, we recognized that transformational change could not be achieved without addressing the underlying systemic factors that perpetuate those inequities.
Meet Our Team
-
Dr. Bahar Akman Imoden is a researcher and influential thought leader, passionately committed to driving social justice change through insightful research and analysis. Holding a PhD in Political Science, she has dedicated her career to the study of higher education policy, with the aim of developing innovative solutions that advance social, economic, racial justice, and equity. With over 15 years of experience, Bahar has refined her expertise in program evaluation, policy analysis, community-engaged participatory research, coalition building, legislative strategy, and communication.
Bahar's dedication to achieving equity in higher education was ignited during her time at Inversant, an organization committed to delivering financial education and savings incentives for college to families and aspiring students. At Inversant, she gained firsthand insight into the systemic nature of social, economic, gender, and racial disparities. Serving as the Research Director, Bahar leveraged her program evaluation expertise to craft scalable interventions for marginalized communities. In partnership with the Massachusetts Treasurer's Office of Economic Empowerment and the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA), she played a key role in designing, launching, and evaluating state-funded pilot programs. Her efforts culminated in the establishment of the BabySteps Savings Plan in 2020, a universal educational savings program in Massachusetts seeking to empower families through financial education and college savings incentives.
Currently serving as the Managing Director of the Hildreth Institute, Bahar leads the organization's research and policy agenda focused on equity, inclusion, and affordability in higher education. Her notable accomplishments include providing critical research informing policy debates on the need for a more robust and simplified student financial aid system, the adequacy of higher education funding, and the importance of strengthening student loan borrowers’ consumer protections.
Through her efforts to elevate, democratize, and distribute equity-focused research and policy analyses, Bahar remains dedicated to shaping the educational landscape and driving change toward a more just and inclusive society.
During her tenure as the research director of Inversant, Bahar utilized program evaluation to inform scalable solutions that address the needs of underserved communities. Through collaborations with the Massachusetts Treasurer's Office of Economic Empowerment and the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA), she played a key role in designing, launching, and evaluating state-funded pilot programs. Her efforts culminated in the establishment of the BabySteps Savings Plan in 2020, a universal educational savings program in Massachusetts seeking to empower families through financial education and college savings incentives.
Currently serving as the Managing Director of the Hildreth Institute, Bahar leads the organization's research and policy agenda focused on equity, inclusion, and affordability in higher education. Her notable accomplishments include providing critical research informing policy discussions on the need for the Student Loan Borrowers' Bill of Rights in Massachusetts, and the benefits of reviving the Public Higher Education Endowment Incentive program.
Through her research, community engagement, strategic advocacy, and progressive policy implementation, Bahar remains dedicated to shaping the educational landscape and driving change toward a more just and inclusive society.
Bahar Akman Imboden, PhD
Managing Director, Founding Member
-
Hiba is an experienced research professional interested in issues related to social justice and how to confront socio-economic hurdles on a macro scale. She is particularly interested in how to break down systemic issues that contribute to the disempowerment of communities. She believes that rather than placing the burden to overcome systemic barriers on individuals, families and communities whilst maintaining the status quo, we must think about how to remove those barriers altogether and how to make systems more inclusive, diverse, just and equitable.
Hiba holds a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from the American University in Cairo and an M.A. in political science from McGill University and has experience managing programs, managing research departments, capacity building initiatives, grant-writing and collaborating on projects with external stakeholders.
Hiba continues to learn about how to improve systems and how to break down barriers. She is interested in conducting more community-engaged research, with the belief that the communities affected are the ones that are best placed to find solutions to the problems they face.
Hiba Agha, M.A.
Director, Strategic Initiatives
-
With over 20 years of experience, Julie Blanchard has a proven track record of securing major gifts, leading campaigns, and managing boards and volunteers for various cultural and educational institutions.
Most recently, Julie served as the Campaign Director on the Campaign for Thayer Academy, the most comprehensive in the school’s history. Prior to Thayer, Julie worked at the strategic fundraising firm CCS, where she provided counsel to nonprofit leaders in advancement growth, development operations, and the planning
and execution of an array of $25 to $150 million fundraising campaigns. Julie was also the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Women’s Forum (MWF) from 2007-2016. The MWF, now the International Women’s Forum of Massachusetts, is a community of top women leaders in sectors ranging from government, business, education, and not for profit organizations, to hospitals, the arts, community organizations, and higher education with the common purpose of advancing women’s leadership.
Julie graduated Cum Laude from Emerson College. She attended Suffolk University Law School and was a recipient of the National Association Public Interest Law fellowship. Julie is a 2011 Cohort in the Emerging Leaders Program at the UMass Boston Center for Collaborative Leadership.
Julie is an active soccer coach and member of the board of directors for both the Cohasset Soccer Club and the Cohasset Education Foundation.
Julie Burke-Blanchard
Advancement Director
Meet Our Board
Bob Hildreth
President
Dr. Charles Desmond
Treasurer
Sally Currier
Dr. Stacy Scott
Meet Our Supporters
Our Organizational Commitment
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice
-
Organizational Strategies in Support of Diversity:
Cultivating curiosity by asking questions and listening to learn something new
Acknowledging the subconscious assumptions we make
Being aware of how our beliefs affect the decisions we make and how we interpret and report data
Continually reviewing our policies and practices for bias
Intentionally prioritizing team diversity through hiring strategies
Participating in professional learning opportunities that build our knowledge and skills to implement research and evaluation strategies that address diversity
Research and Evaluation Strategies in Support of Diversity:
Using culturally responsive study designs that bring multiple voices, experiences, and outcomes to the forefront
Taking a participatory or empowerment approach to evaluations involving underrepresented, marginalized, and disempowered populations to ensure all aspects of studies are culturally representative and appropriate
Partnering with individuals and organizations who not only express a commitment to antiracism and antidiscrimination practices, but whose actions back up that commitment
Advocating to clients and funders the importance of addressing diversity in our research and evaluation strategies
-
Organizational Strategies in Support of Equity:
Giving team members access to support and opportunities to address barriers and challenges that could affect their overall health and wellbeing
Providing equitable pay to team members
Establishing recruiting and hiring practices that include working with organizations and platforms that reach diverse populations
Research and Evaluation Strategies in Support of Equity
Asking questions of our clients and in our studies about the systems and conditions that have maintained inequities among underrepresented, marginalized, and disempowered groups
Ensuring we communicate findings in an accessible and understandable way for all stakeholders and advocating to clients the importance of supporting information accessibility
-
Organizational Strategies in Support of Inclusion:
Cultivating an environment where everyone can thrive and feel valued as well as where they can value themselves and feel inspired
Creating space for connection, celebration, input, ownership, leadership, mindfulness, and collaboration
Seek out others who might offer different perspectives from our own
Research and Evaluation Strategies in Support of Inclusion:
Making our study findings accessible to those who would use them to catalyze action for positive change
Communicating to study participants that their voices matter, and everyone’s voice is respected and honored
Represent study participants’ voice in reporting study findings through direct quotes, vignettes that capture participant experiences, and recommendations that focus on acknowledging and elevating participant and stakeholder voice
Interacting with others with kindness, openness, and respect so they feel welcome and justly treated
-
Organizational Strategies in Support of Justice:
Intentionally asking team members and partners how we can do better to respond to the needs of underrepresented, marginalized, and disempowered groups
Developing an understanding of the intersection between research and evaluation practices and discrimination, marginalization, and inequities
Recognizing and supporting partners who are actively engaged in efforts to promote justice
Research and Evaluation Strategies in Support of Justice:
Integrating research and evaluation questions aimed at advancing social justice into study designs
Seeking partnerships with organizations that advocate for social justice and welfare for underrepresented, marginalized, and disempowered populations
Seeking funding for studies that give a voice to populations who have been oppressed, devalued, or marginalized and elevating understanding of their experiences and rights
Putting study results in the hands of those positioned to take action for catalyzing positive change
Our Values
We advocate on behalf of students and families on higher education-related issues.
Our recommendations are grounded in data, research, and analysis.
We provide an unbiased and actionable set of policy solutions by which we empower students.