Susan Moir

This is about me and it is a long story best told backwards. By the time more than a few people read this, I will be the Director of Research for the Labor Resource Center at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Previously I was the Director of the Center for almost 11 years. My goal when I took the Director's job was to make the Center and its education and research programs a valued and stable part of the University. I did my best and I think it is going in the right direction. I'll let you know the outcome.

I love participatory research-- partnerships between academic researchers and communities in the pursuit of useful analysis of problems and strategies for change. I learned the skills of participatory research-- and completed a Doctor of Science degree-- during my 12 years at the University of Massachusetts Lowell directing research on the health and safety dangers to the construction workers who were building Boston's Big Dig highway megaproject. I learned the politics of community, work and power in the years before that when I drove a Boston School bus and was a member of the United Steel Workers union; while working as a community organizer with CityLife/VidaUrbana; and when, as a young single parent, I became involved in the Welfare Rights Movement.

The child who was my buddy and partner through those early years is my oldest son, Kenny Moir. He is 47 years old, a hard worker and a good man in a loving relationship.

I am a fortunate woman to have had so many incredible opportunities to learn and to have had the love of so many people in my life. Two had my back at each step as I made an unlikely and somewhat dramatic transition from worker to academic. Eleanor Roffman, my best friend, has always cheered me on to more than I thought I could do. My partner and wife, Harneen Chernow, the brightest and most beautiful woman I have ever known, gave me just what I needed. She is completely blasé in her confidence in me and my abilities.

Harneen and I live in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts with our two children, the fabulous athlete and dancer, Simon (age 12) and the brilliant and hilarious, Hayden (age 10).

In January 2016, I will be traveling to India as a Fulbright Scholar. I hope you will follow my blog so I can share with you the interesting people I will be meeting and the new things I will be learning.