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Quote by Ruth Simmons

“There are hundreds, even thousands of remarkable pilot or experimental projects in all fields - in agriculture, health, education. But where do these pilots take us? Do they lead to change on a broader scale? If not, how can we ensure that they have broader impact?”

Quote by Ruth Simmons

Author

Ruth Simmons (born July 3, 1945) is a distinguished American academic and educator, best known as the first African American woman to lead an Ivy League institution as president of Brown University. Born into poverty in Texas, she overcame racial and economic barriers through education, earning degrees from Dillard University and Harvard University. Simmons served as president of Smith College and provost of Princeton University before leading Brown from 2001 to 2012. She is a prominent advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education, and her leadership has been widely recognized with numerous honorary degrees and awards. Her memoir, 'Up Home: One Girl's Journey,' was published in 2023. more

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“In the late 60s, 70s and possibly early 80s, social scientists were interested in researching the diffusion of innovation and studying the link between applied research and policy and program development. Recently there has been less interest in these issues and we feel that this interest must be rekindled.”

Feels Has Beens Social Interest Study Issues Policy Development Late Research Program Scientist Innovation Links 80s Diffusion

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“Our practical purpose is to facilitate expansion of service innovations on a larger scale to improve access to, and the quality of reproductive health care. We are very grateful to have received support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to continue our work.”

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“A longer time perspective is needed because we face a daunting task both in an intellectual and practical sense.”

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“One of the things we have learned in the first year is that if you want to scale-up, the first thing you have to do is to expand your own team.”

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“We felt that the Gates Foundation looked at our track record and our publications and decided that "this is persuasive; this needs to be done. Let's see what they can do."”

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“We are trying to discover where this approach could have the greatest possibility of large-scale impact. We have to choose wisely and see where there is greatest interest and need.”

Needs Trying Interest Possibility Approach Impact Scales Large Scale Choose Wisely

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“If we succeed in learning more about how to expand program innovations from pilot projects so that they have broader program impact, this should be very relevant for public health initiatives in Michigan and elsewhere in the US.”

Ifs Should Succeed Projects Program Innovation Impact Relevant Pilots Elsewhere Initiative Public Health Michigan Learning More

Author:Ruth Simmons

“My colleagues from the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education are working on participatory public health initiatives in Michigan, and there is much that we can learn from each other. In fact it is essential that we strengthen efforts to learn from each other, and stop considering public health in the third world and in the U.S. as separate intellectual and practical endeavors.”

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“We hope to organize team residencies and a conference bringing together professionals from Latin America and from other groups around the world who are also focusing on this issue. We want to bring them together so we can learn from each other, and then widely publicize our conclusions.”

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“I would like to see policy makers and international donor agencies realize that it is not enough to give money for demonstration projects. From the very beginning plans should be made for the scaling-up of successful innovations.”

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Author:Ruth Simmons