Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs

TSPA News

Institute of Public Policy Names Policy Research Scholars: The Institute of Public Policy in the Truman School of Public Affairs is pleased to announce that five Policy Research Scholars have been appointed for the 2008/2009 academic year. The Institute of Public Policy offers funding for Policy Research Scholars to support high quality academic policy research, support a vibrant academic policy research community, encourage funding streams supporting research, and disseminate academic policy research. The Policy Research Scholars help the Institute fulfill the policy research component of its mission by producing and disseminating their academic research, writing research funding proposals, and writing policy briefs to share their research with the broader policy community. The Policy Research Scholars have a diverse set of interests across several policy areas. (more)
Ph.D. Program Announcement: Beginning in Fall 2009, the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri will offer an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Public Affairs that will prepare graduates for careers in universities, colleges and applied research settings in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Students will complete core sequences in public policy and management as well as research methods, and specializations tailored to their research interests. For more information, please contact Dr. Michael Diamond, Associate Director for Academic Programs, 101 Middlebush Hall, (573) 884-1656, truman@missouri.edu. (more)
International Students Bring Diversity to the Truman School: An increase in enrollment of international students reflects the visibility and prestige of a degree from the Truman School of Public Affairs. The School has 35 international students enrolled this semester. These students comprise 32% of the student body, a proportion that is similar to that found in peer institutions around the country, according to informal research by Truman School director, Bart Wechsler. More students come from South Korea than any other country, but students are drawn from other Asian countries, including China, Taiwan and Vietnam as well as former Soviet bloc counties, such as Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Kosovo. In addition, one student is from Peru and another is from Afghanistan. These international students bring different experiences and perspectives which both broaden and enrich the learning experience for all students. (more)
Fatality Rates Increase with Repeal of Helmet Laws, MU Study Finds...: COLUMBIA, Mo. – Since 1975, more than 100,000 motorcycle riders in America have died in crashes. The majority of states required motorcycle helmets in 1975, but today, only 20 states have universal helmet laws that require all riders to wear helmets, 26 states have partial coverage laws (usually only for young riders), and four states have no helmet laws. A recent study by a University of Missouri professor found that the motorcyclist fatality rate has increased in states that repealed their universal helmet laws during the past decade. (more)
Despite Awareness of Global Warming Americans Concerned More about Local Environment...: MU Professor Finds Americans are Hesitant to Support Global Environmental Efforts (more)
Professor Milyo testifies before Senate Committee...: Truman School Professor Jeffrey D. Milyo testified before the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration on "In-Person Voter Fraud: Myth and Trigger for Disenfranchisement." His testimony extends his Institute of Public Policy report on Indiana's Voter ID law. (more)
Gov. Blunt Appoints TSPA Alum Larry Schepker as OA Commissioner: JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt today appointed Larry Schepker, who is currently the State Budget Director, as Commissioner of the Office of Administration. (more)
James "Denny" Shelton (MPA '78), Chairman of the Board of Legacy Hospital Partners, named Executive Advisor of CCMP Capital…: NEW YORK-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- CCMP Capital Advisors, LLC (“CCMP Capital"), a leading New York-based private equity firm, today announced that John D. Bowlin and James “Denny” Shelton have become executive advisors to the firm, focusing on investment opportunities in the consumer and healthcare sectors, respectively. Mr. Bowlin is a 30-year veteran of Kraft Foods Inc./Philip Morris Companies, Inc. where he served in various leadership capacities including President of Kraft and President and CEO of Miller Brewing Company. Mr. Shelton has more than 30 years of healthcare experience, including serving as Chairman and CEO of Triad Hospitals, Inc. (more)
New Associate Directors appointed: Dr. Lilliard Richardson has been appointed as Associate Director for Policy. In this capacity he will lead the school’s growing policy research efforts. Dr. David Valentine will serve as Associate Director for Public Service. The public service mission of the Truman School includes applied research, technical assistance and training. (more)
Voter ID study cited by Wall Street Journal: Prof. Jeffrey Milyo’s study of Indiana’s Voter ID law found no evidence that counties with more poor, elderly or minority voters had "any reduction in voter turnout relative to other counties." The WSJ article may be found at http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110011102 and the paper is available at http://truman.missouri.edu/uploads/Publications/Report%2010-2007.pdf (more)
Blunt Appoints TSPA Alumn to State Rehabilitation Council: Rose Marie Hopkins, 49 of Jefferson City, is executive director of the Missouri Training and Employment Council. Ms. Hopkins holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and master’s of public administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her appointment is for a term ending on March 11, 2010. For more information on Missouri’s boards and commissions visit http://www.gov.mo.gov/boards/boards.htm. (more)
Dr. Diamond appointed Associate Director for Academic Programs: Dr. Michael Diamond has been appointed Associate Director for Academic Programs. In this capacity, he will provide important leadership to the Truman School’s degree and graduate certificate programs. Professor Diamond, an internationally recognized scholar of organizational change, has been an MU faculty member since 1981. (more)
Call for Papers: A Symposium on Psychodynamics: What Changes when Organizations Change? A Symposium on Organizational Psychodynamics (more)
Students awarded Botner scholarships: Second year students Diana Gaughan and Bethany Zabcik and first year student Angela Vogel were awarded Botner Memorial Scholarships. The scholarship, established through a gift from alumnus Denny Shelton, honors Stanley Botner who served for many years as head of the MPA program and professor of public administration. (more)
Adams wins Dimock Award: Dr Guy Adams, along with his co-authors Drs. Danny L. Balfour and George E. Reed, received the Marshall Dimock Award from the American Society of Public Administration for the best lead article published in Public Administration Review. Their article, "Abu Ghraib, Administrative Evil and Moral Inversion: The Value of 'Putting Cruelty First'" was published in the September 2006 issue of the journal. (more)
New Faculty join Truman School: Jason Grissom (PhD, Stanford), Colleen Heflin (PhD, Michigan) and Sean Nicholson-Crotty (PhD, Texas A&M) have joined the Truman School faculty as assistant professors. (more)
Professors Milyo and Richardson promoted: Dr. Jeffrey Milyo and Dr. Lilliard Richardson have been promoted to the rank of Professor. Chancellor Brady Deaton approved the action effective September 1, 2007. (more)
Assessing MoDOT's Efforts to Provide the Right Transportation Solution: In their effort to “provide a world-class transportation system that delights our customers,” the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has developed a Tracker system that assesses performance with tangible results. The set of goals includes the concept of “Fast projects that are of great value,” and an important aspect of this Tracker measure is whether Missourians view MoDOT projects as the right transportation solution. To assess customer satisfaction with MoDOT projects, a mail survey was conducted in fall 2006 by the Institute of Public Policy in the Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri Columbia. Two waves of the survey were mailed with the first in November and the second in December. Almost 2,900 Missourians returned a valid survey questionnaire so the margin of error for the analysis is slightly smaller than plus or minus two percent.
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Tested by Time: The eight-year term limit that lawmakers face sometimes puts inexperienced people into decision-making positions. But are voters willing to give state senators and representatives more time in office? (more)
Never Made It Campaign Highlights Consequences for Teens: Never Made It Campaign Highlights Consequences for Teens (more)
To Avoid Abuse by the Military, Government Must ‘Put Cruelty First’: COLUMBIA, Mo. – Abuse of prisoners by U.S. soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Cuba has shocked the world. Now inmates at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and other military prisons will be classified as prisoners of war, entitling them to protections under the Geneva Conventions. Guy B. Adams, a researcher at the University of Missouri-Columbia, calls this a step forward, but urges that more must be done to make cruelty prevention a priority, something that political theorist Judith Shklar calls “putting cruelty first.” (more)
Deciding to Click It: Seatbelt Use by Missouri Teens: The Institute of Public Policy conducted twelve focus groups across Missouri with two main purposes: 1) to more fully understand how teenagers make decisions on seat belt use, and 2) to determine what outreach methods have the potential to influence safety decisions. The target group was teenagers in the 15- to 19-year-old age range, and there were 101 such participants. In addition, nineteen other youths aged 11 to 14 years old participated in some of the discussions. The analysis focuses on the attitudes and behaviors of older teens, but the younger teens’ views augment the analysis. The investigation was conducted in cooperation with the U. S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. (more)
Officials Promote Child Vehicle Safety: Officials promote child vehicle safety (more)
Project aims to help kids after meth busts: When law enforcement officers bust parents for running meth labs, what happens to the children in the home?

A new task force set out yesterday to answer that question by developing standard statewide procedures for helping children from meth homes. The project by the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association is being funded by $250,000 from the federal government.

For more information go to: http://mjja.org

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Help for Children Affected by Meth: “Children in Meth Labs” project focuses on youths left in the wake after a bust is made.

For more information go to: http://mjja.org (more)
Missouri Juvenile Justice Association and MU Team to Assist Children Found In Meth Labs: "The MJJA and the Institute of Public Policy in the MU Truman School of Public Affairs will work with three workgroups and a multidisciplinary steering committee consisting of representatives from various agencies to develop, implement and publish statewide, coordinated interagency protocols for children in meth labs," Agee said. "We will develop a training curriculum based on these protocols and use this curriculum to provide six regional training programs to multidisciplinary personnel throughout Missouri. We also will develop a Web-based course focused on these protocols."

For more information go to: http://mjja.org (more)
Program Educates Servers about Alcohol: Columbia bar owners get feedback on a state program meant to discourage underage drinking.

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The Missouri Medicaid Program: A Graphical Profile: This report provides a graphical summary of the Missouri Medicaid program. It is intended to provide background information of the policy issues being considered by the Missouri Medicaid Reform Commission. The report was compiled by a group of researchers from several centers at the University of Missouri-Columbia (see Acknowledgements). (more)
Analysis in Action: Thousands of people apply annually for the Environmental Protection Agency Intern Program, a full-time employment and career development program with a guaranteed job offer at the end of two years. Only about 25 applicants are chosen for the prestigious positions, and in 2004, one of them was Melissa Saddler, MPA '04. (more)