Alison BerubeGraduate Studentshe/her/hers

I am a first-generation college graduate and a fourth-year PhD student in Consumer Behavior & Family Economics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. My research focuses on the complex interplay between family dynamics, neighborhood mobility, and economic and behavioral well-being, with particular attention to families involved in the child support system. I am especially interested in understanding how policies designed to promote financial stability can intersect with other social systems in ways that unintentionally create new challenges for families. My overarching goal is to generate research that informs equitable policies and supports family stability.

I have a background in finance and financial economics from the University of Maine where I was a volunteer tax preparer and participated in the International Collegiate Business Strategy Group Competition.

Currently, I work with Professors Judith Bartfeld and Megan Bea through the Institute for Research on Poverty, where I am a graduate research fellow. Our research examines how neighborhood context and residential mobility shape compliance with child support orders. We are also developing a study on the impact of driver’s license suspensions on child support-involved parents, particularly those living in geographically disadvantaged areas.

Selected Publications

Bea, M. D., Bartfeld, J., & Berube, A. (2024) Understanding the Neighborhood Contexts of Custodial and Noncustodial Parents in the Child Support System. 2022-2024 Child Support Policy Research Agreement: Task 8. https://www.irp.wisc.edu/resource/understanding-the-neighborhood-contexts-of-custodial-and-noncustodial-parents-in-the-child-support-system/

Teaching Experience

I have worked as a teaching assistant for CNSR SCI 273 (Finance & Families), CNSR SCI 275 (Consumer Finance), and CNSR SCI 355 (Financial Coaching).