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Barton J. Hirsch

Barton J. Hirsch

Faculty Profile

Barton J. Hirsch

Professor Emeritus, Human Development and Social Policy

bhirsch@northwestern.edu

Biography

Bart Hirsch is an applied developmental scientist whose work emphasizes program development, implementation, and evaluation in relation to adolescents. His research examined some of the most prominent programs in the country (Boys & Girls Clubs; After School Matters).  The studies are notable for presenting an enhanced vision of the potential of the programs, while acknowledging an array of implementation issues. Two of his books won “best book” awards.

Hirsch is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Community Research and Action. He has served on the editorial boards of leading journals in adolescent development and community psychology and as general editor for Adolescent Lives in Context, a book series from NYU Press.

Hirsch held several leadership positions at Northwestern. As chair of Human Development and Social Policy, he led a major transformation of the program that greatly increased the number of PhD graduates placed in top-tier academic positions. As chair of the executive committee of the School of Education and Social Policy, he guided the School through a series of organizational changes that involved restructuring its academic programs and changes in senior leadership. Hirsch also served several terms as chair of the School’s tenure and promotion committee.

Hirsch enjoyed teaching talented students and seeing them go on to successful careers.  At his retirement celebration, former grad students Nancy Deutsch, David DuBois, and Maria Pagano spoke with appreciation of Hirsch’s mentoring and how he continued to support them long after graduation.

Research Interests

After-school programs; soft skills and the school-to-work transition; program development, implementation, and evaluation, particularly with respect to positive youth development.

Awards/Honors

  • 2012 – Social Policy Award for Best Authored Book from the Society for Research on Adolescence for After-School Centers and Youth Development: Case Studies of Success and Failure, published by Cambridge University Press.
  • 2006 – Social Policy Award for Best Authored Book from the Society for Research on Adolescence for A Place to Call Home: After-School Programs for Urban Youth, copublished by the American Psychological Association and Teachers College Press.

Education

Year Degree Institution
1981 Postdoctorate, Social Ecology Stanford University
1979 PhD, Psychology University of Oregon
1971 BA, Philosophy University of Wisconsin

Selected Publications

Hirsch, B. J. (2019). A hard outcome for positive youth development programs. in S. Bae, J. Mahoney, S. Maschke, & L. Stecher (Eds.), International developments in research on extended education: Perspectives on extracurricular activities, after-school programs, and all-day schools (pp.135-149). Berlin: Barbara Budrich Publishers.
( Adobe Acrobat PDF Logo Download )

Hirsch, B. J. (2017). Wanted: Soft skills for today’s jobs. Phi Delta Kappan, 98, : 12-17.

Hirsch, B. J. (2015). Job Skills and Minority Youth: New Program Directions. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Mekinda, M.,& Hirsch, B. J. (2014). After-School Programs in D. DuBois & M. Karcher (Eds.), Handbook of Youth Mentoring (2nd edition) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Hynes, K., & Hirsch, B. J. (Editors) (2012). Career Programming: Linking Youth to the World of Work. New Directions for Youth Development (Special Issue).

Hirsch, B. J., Deutsch, N., & DuBois, D. (2011). After-School Centers and Youth Development: Case Studies of Success and Failure. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Hirsch, B. J., Hedges, L. V., Stawicki, J., and Mekinda, M. (2011). After-School Programs for High School Students: An Evaluation of After School Matters. Technical Report. [A publication version of this report appears as Appendix 1 of Job Skills and Minority Youth, 2015].
( Adobe Acrobat PDF Logo Download )

Hirsch, B. J. (2011). Learning and Development in After-School Programs. Phi Delta Kappan: 92, 66-69.

Hirsch, B. J., Mekinda, M., & Stawicki, J. (2010). More than Attendance: The Importance of After-School Program Quality. . American Journal of Community Psychology: 45, 447-452..

Hirsch, B. J. (2008). After-School Programs: Positive Places in Unsafe Urban Communities in E. Goodenough (Ed.), Where Do the Children Play?  Detroit: Wayne State University Press.

Hirsch, B. (2005). A Place to Call Home: After-School Programs for Urban Youth. Washington, D.C: American Psychological Association and New York: Teachers College Press.

Loder, T., & Hirsch, B. (2003). Inner-city youth development organizations: The salience of peer ties among early adolescent girls. Applied Developmental Science: 7, 2-12.

Hirsch, B., Roffman, J., Deutsch, N., Flynn, C., Loder, T., & Pagano, M. (2000). Inner city youth development organizations: Strengthening programs for adolescent girls. Journal of Early Adolescence: 20, 210-230.

Selected Presentations

Hirsch, B. (2016). White House Summit on Beating the Odds: Successful Strategies from Schools & Youth Agencies that Build Ladders of Opportunity.. As part of the research panel, Prof. Hirsch presented some of the main findings from his book, Job Skills and Minority Youth, and discussed the developmental importance of programs for adolescents. Washington, DC.

Hirsch, B., Hedges, L., Stawicki, J., Mekinda, M., Alexander, K., & Hirsch, R. (2015). After-School Programs for High School Students: An Evaluation of After School Matters. Keynote address presented at the Itaú International Seminar on Economic Evaluation of Social Projects: After School and Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs. Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Hirsch, B., Alexander, K., & Mekinda, M. (2012). Promoting Successful School-to-Work Transitions among Low-Income, Minority Youth. Paper presented at the Workshop on Inequalities, Neighborhoods, and Institutions in the United States and France.  Sciences Po, Paris, France.
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Hirsch, B. (2008). A Place to Call Home: Studies Documenting the Crucial Support that Programmes Provide to Youth.  Keynote Address, Conference on Youth Work, Policy, and Practice in the Future. Organized by the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Welsh Assembly Government.  Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
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