Institute For The Future

Meet Research Director Rebecca Shamash!

Rebecca Shamash, Research Director

Rebecca Shamash grew up in the Bay Area, and after stints in Southern California and Minnesota, has now returned to San Francisco. She brings to IFTF her expertise in critical analysis and social impact, particularly around mitigating economic, gender, and racial inequality.

Rebecca arrives by way of the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (PACS), where she was Associate Director of Research. She also teaches courses like “Culture and Ideas” Santa Clara University in the Sociology department. When she encountered the job listing for the Equitable Futures Lab, she felt an immediate connection.

“It just looked like a really exceptional fit, and connected to the work that I had been doing on my dissertation and questions I was really interested in,” Rebecca says.

Rebecca’s work leading the Equitable Futures Lab will center on the Equitable Enterprise Project, where she will help us better understand the future of work, equity, and community wellbeing. Her interest in the dynamics of the workplace are longstanding, and something she experienced firsthand working as a server and manager in restaurants earlier in her career.

“There are certain jobs where people treat you as invisible,” she says. “Being a server is one of those—you’re privy to seeing various elements of people’s behavior and relationships that other people are not.”

The last book Rebecca “flew through” was The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, but she also highly recommends In the Sea There Are Crocodiles, a Young Adult nonfiction book that chronicles a young boy’s migratory journey from Afghanistan to Italy.

“It’s an easy read, but a really impactful one,” Rebecca says.

We’re excited to add Rebecca to our team!