About Amy Dain
Amy Dain is an independent consultant in public policy research and writing. Her focus is on urban and suburban planning and housing policy. She is a frequent presenter at conferences and events.
Her career has been a tour of Massachusetts-based think tanks. She has worked in-house or as a consultant on projects for: Collins Center for Public Management, Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, MassINC, the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, and other organizations.
In 2019, she wrote the State of Zoning for Multi-Family Housing in Greater Boston, a survey of zoning and plans in 100 cities and towns of Greater Boston. In 2008, she launched the StatNet initiative, a community of practice for municipal managers interested in data-driven decision-making. She received her Master in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School.
In recent years, she has been on a mission to visit all of the cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts.
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education
HARVARD UNIVERSITY, John F. Kennedy School of Government
Cambridge, MA
Master in Public Policy, 2003
Course Assistant for Quantitative Analysis and Strategic Management of Public Organizations
Thesis on federal regulation of municipal departments of public works
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
Middletown, CT
Bachelor of Arts in Russian and Eastern European Studies, 1996
experience
DAIN RESEARCH
Newton, MA
2015 - present
Consultant. Researched, wrote, and presented landmark study on zoning for multi-family housing in Greater Boston, for Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance.
Presented findings at 25 events and meetings, with 1,300+ people in attendance
Published policy brief on zoning for accessory dwelling units
Garnered more than 40 media hits
Also wrote reports for Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, MassINC, MAPC, Mass Housing Partnership, and Rappaport Institute
COLLINS CENTER FOR PUBLIC MANAGEMENT, UMASS BOSTON
Boston, MA
2008 - 2016
Associate. Launched and led initiative to convene hundreds of managers and analysts from city/town governments to learn from each other about using data and evidence in decision-making.
PIONEER INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH
Boston, MA
2004 - 2008
Project Manager. Designed and implemented first-of-its-kind research project on municipal land use regulation in Massachusetts. Authored two papers and oversaw production of four papers by outside authors.
Presented findings at 30 events/briefings, with 1,400+ people in attendance
Created on-line database with answers to 130 questions about zoning, subdivision, wetlands, and septic regulations in 187 communities
Recruited, trained, and supervised 10 researchers, and oversaw consultants for website and database design
Garnered more than 70 media hits about the research
AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE
Kharkiv, Ukraine
summer 2003
Group Leader. Led 26 college students on a community service mission to Ukraine.
MA EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Boston, MA
summer 2002
Rappaport Public Service Fellow. Received scholarship from the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston to intern at Boston-based public agency.
Designed protocol for conducting annual greenhouse gas inventories of the state executive branch
Researched and wrote memos on outdoor lighting policy, performance indicators, and dioxin
JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
Boston, MA
1998-2001
Program Coordinator. Worked with lay leaders of the Jewish community to advance domestic and international policy agenda.
Established and organized annual Jewish Community Advocacy Day at the State House which drew over 400 participants by the third year
Coordinated mission to Israel for 28 Massachusetts public officials