Sign Up to Receive PHI Alerts

PHI’s Robert Espinoza Appointed as Nonresident Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution

September 6, 2023

Robert Espinoza, Executive Vice President of Policy

PHI’s Robert Espinoza, a nationally recognized expert on aging, workforce, and equity issues, will spend a year as a nonresident senior fellow with Brookings Institution.

The appointment allows Espinoza to lend his extensive expertise to the research and impact of Brookings’ various programs, specifically on the subjects of direct care workers and long-term care.

“I’m thrilled to join Brookings Institution in this capacity and contribute my insights to their renowned research,” Espinoza said. ” I look forward to working with their staff to shape the future of care work in this country.”

His contributions to Brookings may include written work as well as appearances at Brookings-sponsored events.

“We are delighted that Robert is joining Brookings as a Nonresident Senior Fellow. He brings a wealth of experience and much-needed perspectives on direct care workers and long-term care that will enhance our work,” said Alan Berube, interim vice president and director of Brookings Metro.

“Robert’s background in aging, long-term care, and social justice will be invaluable in our continued work to create more prosperous, just, and resilient communities,” added Berube.

As Executive Vice President of Policy at PHI, Espinoza has developed and led numerous advocacy and public education initiatives to support the direct care workforce, while contributing vision and leadership to PHI’s organizational strategy, marketing and business development, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In 2020, he was selected for the first-ever CARE 100 list of the most innovative people working to reimagine how we care in America today and as one of Next Avenue’s 2020 Influencers in Aging. In 2021, he testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor on the need to improve funding nationwide for workforce interventions in direct care.

Espinoza’s work has been featured in major media outlets, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, CNN, Forbes, and The Washington Post. He also serves on the board of directors for the American Society on Aging, the National Academy of Social Insurance, and the FrameWorks Institute.

Working with Brookings researchers and writers, Espinoza will also share his knowledge and experiences with other organizations interested in advancing pathbreaking policies and practices related to the direct care workforce.

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization that conducts in-depth research to generate new ideas for solving social problems at the local, national, and global level.

Contributing Authors
PHI

Caring for the Future

Our new policy report takes an extensive look at today's direct care workforce—in five installments.

Workforce Data Center

From wages to employment statistics, find the latest data on the direct care workforce.