Deb Brucker

Debra Brucker

Research Professor
Phone: (603) 862-4320
Office: 10 West Edge Drive, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:
Curriculum Vitae

Dr. Debra L. Brucker studies the economic, health, and social well-being of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. She has over 25 years of applied policy research experience and has held social and health policy research positions at academic institutions, research organizations, and state government agencies. She currently serves as 1) Principal Investigator (PI) on a two-year US Department of Agriculture funded project to develop improved measurement of food security for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2) Co-PI on a five-year National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) grant that is exploring how Long COVID has impacted living and working for people with disabilities, and 3) Co-I on the NIDILRR-funded Disability Statistics & Demographics RRTC. Dr. Brucker is an elected member of the National Academy of Social Insurance.

Education

  • Ph.D., Resource Planning/Dev, Rutgers University
  • M.A., Public Administration, University of Delaware
  • B.A., Psychology, University of Delaware
  • B.A., Criminal Justice/Safety, University of Delaware

Research Interests

  • Public policy
  • Economics of Disability
  • Person With a Disability (Health/Safety/Medical)
  • Aging and life course
  • Food Assistance Programs
  • Food Security
  • Affordable Housing
  • Public Access Programs for People With Disabilities
  • Employment/Unemployment Studies

Selected Publications

  • Brucker, D. L., Kim, H. J., & Potvin, B. E. (2025). Is participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program associated with physical food security among people aged 16 to 64 with disabilities in the U.S.?. Disabil Health J, 18(3), 101831. doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101831

  • Sundar, V., & Brucker, D. L. (2022). Work limitations as a moderator of the relationship between job crafting and work performance: results from an SEM analysis of cross-sectional survey data. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL REHABILITATION. doi:10.1007/s10926-022-10055-6

  • Brucker, D. L., Stott, G., & Phillips, K. G. (2022). Food sufficiency and the utilization of free food resources for working-age Americans with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic (vol 14, 101153, 2021). DISABILITY AND HEALTH JOURNAL, 15(3). doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2022.101298

  • Brucker, D. L., Jajtner, K., & Mitra, S. (2022). Does Social Security promote food security? Evidence for older households. APPLIED ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES AND POLICY, 44(2), 671-686. doi:10.1002/aepp.13218

View All