Barbara Dyer

Research Affiliate, MIT Sloan School of Management’s Institute for Work and Employment Research

Barbara Dyer is a Research Affiliate at MIT Sloan School of Management’s Institute for Work and Employment Research, (IWER). She arrived at MIT in 2017 as Senior Lecturer and Executive Director of the Good Companies, Good Jobs Initiative, shaping research, course development and facilitating the cross-fertilization of ideas aimed at making work “work” in the 21st century.  Dyer concentrated on how work is changing and the implications for low-wage workers. She initiated major research quality jobs in low-wage sectors, worker voice and skills training. She was instrumental in designing and teaching two MBA courses: People and Profits – Shaping Work of the Future; and Bridging the American Divides – Work, Community and Culture (aka USA Lab). In 2019 USA Lab was honored with the Aspen Institute’s Ideas Worth Teaching award.  She also served as an advisor to MIT’s Task Force on Work of the Future; and to MIT Sloan’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee on Alumni Affairs.  

Dyer was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), in 2021.  Twelve Grand Challenges define NAPA’s work. First among these is to protect electoral integrity and enhance voter participation.  Dyer is a member of NAPA’s Election Working Group, formed to advance this Grand Challenge, with an emphasis on the election workforce.  Dyer also serves on NAPA’s Homelessness Working Group. 

Prior to joining the MIT faculty, Dyer was president and CEO of The Hitachi Foundation. Under her leadership, the Foundation became an influential force in bringing focus to the role of business in society and received the Council on Foundations’ two highest honors in 2010: Critical Impact Award; and the Distinguished Grantmaker Award. Dyer had an extensive career in public policy, serving as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior and in senior positions at the National Governors’ Association; the Western Regional Office of the Council of State Governments; and the National Academy of Public Administration. She is an Advisor to the Marist Institute for Public Opinion and served as a Trustee of Clark University.