Raiven Greenberg coordinates new initiative
With the goal of fostering innovative research, community engagement and policy development for social change, the School of Social Ecology has launched its Social Impact Hub and hired Raiven Greenberg to serve as the new initiative’s research and policy coordinator.
“We will be concentrating on taking the research conducted in our school to the community,” Greenberg says. “We want to see more of our research reach policy makers and engage people who could really benefit from it.”
The school’s research touches society’s biggest problems in myriad ways and the hub aims to become the go-to place to help people understand the impact it can have on policy and in people’s lives. Examples include studies on affordable housing, homelessness, water quality, climate resiliency, criminal justice, environmental justice, social justice and mental health issues.
“In our school, we don’t just study social problems, we try to solve them and this hub will help amplify our efforts to that end. It’s all about improving life,” says Jon Gould, dean of the School of Social Ecology.
About Greenberg
Greenberg comes from the nonprofit organization Seed Consulting Group, where she was the chief development officer. She previously worked at UC Irvine leading a climate change research project, spent several years in wetland restoration and conservation in Southern California, and has provided pro-bono consulting services to numerous Orange County-based nonprofit groups. She has an MBA from Duke University, with concentrations in social entrepreneurship and energy & environment, and a B.A. in psychology from Lewis & Clark College.
Among Greenberg’s responsibilities as the hub’s coordinator are: developing interdisciplinary programs that encourage grant-writing and research; policy outreach; supporting new research opportunities; fostering collaboration among faculty and stakeholders; and coordinating events that promote community engagement.
She lives in Irvine with her husband, Eric. In her free time, she volunteers as a contributor for LA Climate Tech Cities’ newsletter. She also enjoys hiking, yoga, and bouldering (indoor rock climbing without a rope).
Fun fact: Greenberg and her husband have visited 49 of America’s 50 states. They plan to complete their goal of seeing all 50 states when they visit Alaska during their next vacation.
— Mimi Ko Cruz