The central motivation of my research is to understand: How can nonprofit organizations leverage technology and data to effectively advocate for social and environmental change in both online and offline environments? My scholarly work explores the intersection of nonprofit advocacy, climate change, communication theory, and technology, focusing how on organizations use digital tools and big data to engage communities and drive policy change.
My research agenda is guided by three core themes: community, technology, and transformation.
Ultimately, my desire is to bridge the gap between technological innovation and practice in the nonprofit sector. My aim is to produce work that not only advances theoretical understanding, but also provides actionable insights for nonprofits helping them become more effective and technologically adept in their advocacy efforts.
Dissertation Title: “Tweet this Not That: Examining the Interaction of Environmental Nonprofit Organizations’ Online and Offline Advocacy Efforts for Climate Change Action.” [proposal approved]
Committee: Heather MacIndoe (chair), Michael Johnson, Gamze Yilmaz
MacIndoe, H., & Beaton, E.E., Pache de Athayde,* M.M., & Ojelabi,* O.“Giving Voice: Examining the Strategic Repertoires of Nonprofit Advocacy for Marginalized Populations.”
Pache de Athayde, M.M.,* "Use and Adoption of Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence by Nonprofit Organizations: A Systematic Review".
Johnson, Michael, Killemsetty, N. & Pache de Athayde, M.M.,*. "50 Years of Community Operational Research" [finalizing for submission for the European Journal of Operational Research].
Pache de Athayde, M.M.*, & MacIndoe, Heather. "Nodes of Change Connectedness: An Analysis of Environmental Nonprofits Twitter Behavior About Climate Change". [Presented at ARNOVA 2023].
Johnson, Michael, Pache de Athayde, M.M.,* & Jani, S. “Measuring Success: Community Analytics for Local Economic Development".
"Understanding the Challenges of Credentialing on the Economic Prosperity for Under-Employed Immigrants and US-born Wokers in Massachusetts." [Project conducted at the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development & Public Policy, UMass Boston. Funded by the Latino Equity Fund].