About US
“Diaries During Lockdown” is a network of professionally trained mathematical modelers (along with some of their friends and colleagues) who are using the tools of system dynamics and systems thinking to explain many of the complex choices facing individuals, organizations, and governments as we collectively grapple with the COVID19 pandemic. The apparent voice of this story is that of David Andersen, a retired Professor of System Dynamics and Public Policy who lives on New Fadum Farm. This voice is actually the synthesis of a number of different analysts and writers.
Contact us via
diaries.during.lockdown@gmail.com
Our Team
David Andersen
Author
David F. Andersen is a retired professor of public administration and information science at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany--SUNY. He holds an AB in Mathematics and Social Sciences from Dartmouth College and his PhD in Management from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Ali Mashayekhi
Modeler Expert
Ali N. Mashayekhi is a retired professor of management from Sharif University of Technology at Tehran, Iran where he taught system dynamics and strategic management. He received his BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Sharif University and his PhD in System Dynamics from MIT in Cambridge Massachusetts.
Dan Gordon
Author / Modeler
Now retired, Dan Gordon worked for the New York State Department of Health in the fields of health services research and HIV epidemiology. He holds an SB degree in Life Sciences from MIT and PhD in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York.
Luis Luna-Reyes
Author / Modeler
Luis Felipe Luna-Reyes is a Professor of Public Administration and Policy at the University at Albany and a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow. His research is at the intersection of Public Administration, Information Systems, and Systems Sciences.
Andrada Tomoaia-Cotisel
public policy modeler
Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation and Professor of Policy Analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She teaches and mentors Ph.D. students in mixed-methods approaches to system dynamics modeling and systems thinking. She received her Ph.D. in Health Services Research & Policy from LSHTM. She specializes in developing and applying formal methods bringing the strengths of qualitative and quantitative data to improve conceptualization and validation. Her current work explores dynamic complexity in health service delivery, implementation, and outcomes, as well as the influence of context and resulting variation.
Hyunjung Kim
Learning Material Developer
Hyunjung Kim is a professor of management at California State University, Chico. She teaches strategy and management courses using system dynamics. She received her Ph.D. in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany.
Babak Bahaddin
Web Developer / Modeler
Babak Bahaddin works as an associate consultant at isee systems. Babak holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from Sharif University of Technology, and a PhD in Information Science, from University at Albany, State University of New York.
Latest Diaries
Even the CDC has flip-flopped on mandates to wear masks—Why is that?
Recently, it seems like everyone has been changing their minds about whether or not we have to wear masks indoors. Even the CDC recently flip-flopped on the guidance that it is giving. This has been causing some issues within David’s church. What is going on here?
Micah and Habakkuk, the Delta variant, and Ali’s Model
This is the 50th “Diary During (or After) the Lockdown” story to come from New Fadum Farm since the first story in April of 2020. Two recent sermons at David’s church, both pertaining to minor prophets in the Old Testament, provide a jumping off point for this “golden anniversary” story.
Why should “I” wear my mask (again) to protect “Them”?
The CDC is now recommending that even fully vaccinated persons should once again start to wear masks indoors because of the emerging highly-infectious Delta variant. David goes on a rant, reasoning, “I got the vaccine, why should I wear a mask to protect people who refuse to get vaccinated?”
