August 26, 2026
The W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research will welcome nationally recognized social policy scholar Pamela Herd for a public lecture on “Paperwork Requirements or Work Requirements? Administrative Burdens in Medicaid,” Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. at The Fetzer Center on the campus of Western Michigan University (WMU) in Kalamazoo. A reception will follow the lecture, which is co-sponsored by the WMU Department of Economics.
A leading expert on public policy and health access, Herd is the Carol Kakalec Kohn Professor of Social Policy at the University of Michigan. Her research explores how bureaucratic processes and administrative requirements can create barriers for individuals seeking access to government programs and services. Herd's work has helped shape national conversations about administrative burden and its impact on social policy.
During the lecture, Herd will discuss the role of new paperwork requirements in Medicaid and how they can disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and contribute to broader inequities.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged.