Staff: Alexandra M Alden, PhD
Alexandra M. Alden, PhD
Associate Director of Research, Center for Workforce Development
| Degree | Major/Emphasis | Institution | Year |
| PhD | Sociology | Northeastern University | 2022 |
| MA | Sociology | Northeatern University | 2017 |
| BA | Sociology | University of Massachusetts Amherst | 2012 |
Biography
Dr. Alexandra Alden is the Associate Director of Research for the Center for Workforce Development at William James College. She holds a PhD in Sociology from Northeastern University and has built a career applying social science research to complex real-world challenges. Her work spans behavioral health services and systems, health policy, racial equity, organizational change, and workforce development. She brings extensive experience leading research and evaluation initiatives, managing teams, developing organizational infrastructure, and working with stakeholders across health care, community, academic, and government settings. At William James College, she leads research initiatives that advance understanding of the behavioral health workforce and inform evidence-based decision-making. She also strengthens data and evaluation systems to drive program improvement and support the development of a stronger, more diverse behavioral health workforce.
Research and Practice Interests
- Behavioral health systems and services
- Racial justice and equity strategies
- Health policy and governance
- Organizational change and workforce growth
Publications and Presentations
- Alden, A. M., & Lincoln, A. K. (2025). Championing racial equity within mental health systems: Perceptions and experiences among state government organization staff leading the charge. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 95(4), 427–434. doi.org/10.1037/ort0000801
- Alden, A. M. (2024). Should I stay or should I go? [Community forum presentation, co-presented]. Community Forum on Behavioral Health Workforce Retention.
- Tvrdy, L., Marshall, E., Hazen, K. P., Alden, A. M., Lincoln, A. K., & Parmet, W. E. (2024). Salus Populi: Educating Judges on the Social Determinants of Health. Judicature, 108, 52.
- Alden, A. M. (2023). Operationalizing antiracism in health systems: Strategies state government administrative organizations use towards racial and ethnic mental health equity. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 322, 115809. doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115809
- Alden, A. M. (2023). Building a scalable workforce retention model with community-based behavioral health organizations. [Symposium presentation, co-presented]. Accelerate the Future: Research Symposium on Innovation in Behavioral Health Workforce Development.
Prior Experience
- Researcher, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
- Researcher, Boston Public Health Commission
- Researcher, DMA Health Strategies
- Researcher, Northeastern University’s Public Evaluation Lab
- Researcher, Northeastern University’s Departments of Sociology, Public Health, and Law
- Instructor, Northeastern University’s Department of Sociology
- English Teacher, St. Francis Xavier Mathanothai School
- Corps Member, AmeriCorps NCCC
- Researcher, UMass Amherst’s Department of Sociology
- Researcher, Youth Action Coalition
- Researcher, UMass Medical School’s Center for Mental Health Services Research