Hi, I’m Meg Chamberlin.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
Professional Summary
Collaborator
Since 2019 I have been building and leading an interdisciplinary team of researchers, strategists, artists and designers to conduct high-quality, innovative, impactful engagements with mission-driven clients. We do great work because we embrace our wildly different experiences and backgrounds and truly collaborate. This means valuing input from all team members, because insights from unexpected sources are often the most innovative.
Leader Advocate
I view my primary role as a leader is to set my team up for success. In practice this means advocating for them both internally and externally to ensure they have the resources they need to succeed, serving as a guide to help them navigate difficult situations and actively support their growth. Crucially, it also means being the ultimate point of accountability, always willing to accept blame and share praise.
Direct Communicator
I strive to create an environment where all members of the team know they can communicate directly about what they need without judgement. Direct and regular communication without judgement builds the type of trust and empathy needed for a team to function at its best. It also facilitates the type of debate and dissent needed to do great work. I believe critique has been unfairly maligned in the professional context. I have honed this skill and committed to giving and taking critique consistently, kindly and constructively.
Strategic Salesperson
I believe in the value of my work, which makes it easy to sell. I have deep experience across the whole spectrum of business and client development and retention. I have conceptualized projects both large and small, operationalized and developed those concepts into executable proposals that are meticulously budgeted and staffed, and communicated those proposals to potential and repeat clients through verbal, visual and written formats. I have also led these projects from kick-off and initial client engagement through to final presentation and delivery in a variety of engaging formats (illustrated summaries, infographics, presentations, etc.).
Creative Futurist
I believe our ability to shape for the future is only limited by two things: our ability to understand today and our imagination. I excel at investigating and distilling complex data and information on highly technical topics into key insights and useful frameworks. But most people with research training can do that. What makes me unique is my imagination. I love to break free from the parameters of incremental change and think creatively about the future. But the imaginer sets the parameters for the future they create. It is shaped by their values. For this reason it is critically important to anchor imagination in a shared mission of doing the most good for people and planet.
ASSISTANT POLICY RESEARCHER
The RAND Corporation
2011
2009
TEACHING ASSISTANT
The University of Texas at Austin
Boutique research & design consultancy helping leaders visualize, articulate and achieve their desired future.
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Built the foundation of an innovative consultancy, growing the team from 2 to 12 multidisciplinary professionals.
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Led all aspects of client project design & execution, including staffing, budgeting, timeline creation, and task delegation.
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Developed strong relationships and sedured research & strategy projects with mission-focused organizations.
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Implemented a weekly team-building exercise to enhance work culture and nurture employee strengths.
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Mentored a team of 10 employees and subcontractors, fostering a supportive, growth-focused working environment.
ASSOCIATE PARTNER
Imaginative Futures
2023
2019
Independent research institution providing research and policy solutions for complex global issues.
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Conducted innovative research on a variety of health and science policy issues, contributing both qualitative and quantitative analysis.
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Authored two ground breaking papers during my first year examining the US response to the Ebola crisis.
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Designed and executed a complex, mixed-methodology dissertation project in parallel to RAND research engagements.
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Successfully juggled multiple projects, maintaining a high standard of work while meeting stringent deadlines.
2020
2014
Office of the ASPR leads the nation’s medical & public health efforts in disaster & emergency preparedness, response & recovery.​
HEALTH ECONOMIST & POLICY ADVISOR
The US Dept. of Health & Human Services
2014
2012
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Led a complex, interagency annual review of the Strategic National Stockpile, synthesizing and communicating key recommendations to senior leadership.
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Acted as Policy Coordinator for an HHS leadership group responding to the emergence of Avian Influenza A (H7N9).
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Managed a complex array of responsibilities and demonstrated the ability to communicate effectively across different agencies and stakeholders.
Knowledgable and adaptable resource for professors & students in courses ranging from advanced graduate level statistics to undergraduate cultural geography.
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Developed homework curriculum, assisted students with assignments and graded.
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Helped students connect conceptual understanding with real world applications.
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Provided hands-on support for students in the use of STATA statistical software.
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Served as a guest lecturer during seminars and regularly facilitated class discussion.
Served the permanent joint committee of the Texas Legislature responsible for budget and policy recommendations.
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Researched state programs and composed reports and research briefs on pertinent policy topics.
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Supported a major agency performance review through primary and secondary data collection and analysis, and preparing portions of the final public reports.
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Tracked progress of proposed legislation in the State Legislature and analyzed potential impacts of those policies.
POLICY INTERN
The Legislative Budget Board of Texas
2009
2008
Work Experience
Education
2020
PhD Policy Analysis, focus: health policy & equity
The Pardee RAND Graduate School
2011
Master of Public Affairs
The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
2011
MA Russian, E. European & Eurasian Studies
The University of Texas at Austin
2008
BA Economics & International Affairs
The George Washington University
Skills
Business Development | Research & Analysis
UX Research | Strategic Problem Solving
Relationship Management | Art Direction
Empathetic Leadership | Mentoring
Clear & Effective Communication
Select Publications
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Robson, Sean; Leamon, Isabel; Lytell, Maria C; Matthews, Miriam; Chamberlin, Margaret. A Review of the Air Force Fitness Assessment. 2021. The RAND Corporation.
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Farmer, Carrie M; Whipkey, Katie; Chamberlin, Margaret. “Programs addressing psychological health and resilience in the US Department of Homeland Security”. RAND Health Quarterly vol. 9 no. 1 2020.
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Holliday, Stephanie Brooks; Hunter, Sarah B; Dopp, Alex R; Chamberlin, Margaret; Iguchi, Martin Y. Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 on Social Services for Vulnerable Populations in Los Angeles: Lessons Learned from Community Providers. 2020. The RAND Corporation
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Ashwood, J Scott; Osilla, Karen Chan; DeYoreo, Maria; Breslau, Joshua; Ringel, Jeanne S; Montemayor, Cheryl K; Shahidinia, Nima; Adamson, David M; Chamberlin, Margaret; Burnam, M Audrey. Review and Evaluation of the Substance Abuse, Mental Health, and Homelessness Grant Formulas. 2019. The RAND Corporation.
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Abbott, Michele; Ramchand, Rajeev; Chamberlin, Margaret; Marcellino, William. “Detecting changes in newspaper reporting of suicide after a statewide social marketing campaign”. Health communication vol. 33 no. 6, 674-680. 2018.
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Taymour, Rekar K; Abir, Mahshid; Chamberlin, Margaret; Dunne, Robert B; Lowell, Mark; Wahl, Kathy; Scott, Jacqueline. “Policy, practice, and research agenda for emergency medical services oversight: a systematic review and environmental scan”. Prehospital and disaster medicine vol. 33 no. 1, 89-97. 2018.
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Ashwood, J Scott; Kataoka, Sheryl H; Eberhart, Nicole K; Bromley, Elizabeth; Zima, Bonnie T; Baseman, Lesley; Marti, F Alethea; Kofner, Aaron; Tang, Lingqi; Azhar, Gulrez Shah; Chamberlin, Margaret; Erickson, Blake; Choi, Kristen; Zhang, Lily; Miranda, Jeanne; Burnam, M Audrey. “Evaluation of the Mental Health Services Act in Los Angeles County: implementation and outcomes for key programs”. RAND health quarterly vol. 8 no. 1. 2018.
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Ahluwalia, Sangeeta C; Chen, Christine; Raaen, Laura; Motala, Aneesa; Walling, Anne M; Chamberlin, Margaret; O'Hanlon, Claire; Larkin, Jody; Lorenz, Karl; Akinniranye, Olamigoke. “A systematic review in support of the national consensus project clinical practice guidelines for quality palliative care”. Journal of pain and symptom management vol. 56 no. 6, 2018.
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Abir, Mahshid; Moore, Melinda; Chamberlin, Margaret; Koenig, Kristi L; Hirshon, Jon Mark; Singh, Cynthia; Schneider, Sandra; Cantrill, Stephen. “Using timely survey-based information networks to collect data on best practices for public health emergency preparedness and response: illustrative case from the American College of Emergency Physicians’ Ebola surveys”. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness vol. 10 no. 4, 681-690. 2016.
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Manheim, David; Chamberlin, Margaret; Osoba, Osonde A; Vardavas, Raffaele; Moore, Melinda. Improving Decision Support for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control. 2016. The RAND Corporation.
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Chamberlin, Margaret; Okunogbe, Adeyemi; Abir, M. Intra-Action Report—A Dynamic Tool for Emergency Managers and Policymakers. 2015. The RAND Corporation.
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Chamberlin, Margaret; Efron, Shira; Moore, Melinda. A simple approach to assessing potential health emergency interventions. 2015. The RAND Corporation.
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Ajao, Adebola; Nystrom, Scott V; Koonin, Lisa M; Patel, Anita; Howell, David R; Baccam, Prasith; Lant, Tim; Malatino, Eileen; Chamberlin, Margaret; Meltzer, Martin I. “Assessing the capacity of the US health care system to use additional mechanical ventilators during a large-scale public health emergency”. Disaster medicine & public health preparedness vol. 9 no. 6, 634-641. 2015.
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Chamberlin, Margaret. Gender, aging, and major depressive disorder in Ukraine. 2011. The University of Texas at Austin.