Andrea Hetling

Andrea Hetling is a Professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, where she also serves as Associate Director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development. Her roles include membership in the Faculty Advisory Board of the Center for Women and Work and as a Faculty Affiliate at the Center for Research on Ending Violence. She holds a B.A. and Master of International Affairs from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.

Dr. Hetling’s research focuses on anti-poverty policies, equity analysis, and social policy implementation, particularly for vulnerable groups such as families in poverty and survivors of intimate partner violence. Her work bridges policy research with practical applications, including a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services as a Family Self-Sufficiency and Stability Research Network (FSSRN) Scholar (2019–2024).

Her publications analyze administrative burdens in welfare systems, TANF program effectiveness, technology’s role in public assistance, and housing solutions for domestic violence survivors. Recent research highlights equity gaps in welfare access and the impact of policies during crises like the pandemic. She regularly connects her academic work to teaching, mentoring, and community service, emphasizing policy’s real-world implications.

Awards include the FSSRN Scholar designation, recognizing her contributions to family stability research. Her teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses in public policy research, U.S. social policy, and policy design. Dr. Hetling’s interdisciplinary approach leverages qualitative and quantitative methods to address systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities.