TSPA News
Institute of Public Policy Names Policy Research Scholars
Posted: 4/30/2008The 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.
- Jason Grissom received his PhD from Stanford University, and his policy research focuses on the politics of education, teacher labor markets, and education finance. His research project uses quantitative methods and survey data to assess how the relationship between school boards and teacher unions affect resource allocation and student achievement.
- Colleen Heflin received her PhD from the University of Michigan, and her policy research focuses on policies affecting the well-being of children and families. Her research project uses quantitative methods and survey data to explore how policies, economic conditions, and individual context shape material hardships related to food sufficiency, housing, and medical needs.
- David Konisky received his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his policy research focuses on environmental and energy policies. His research project uses quantitative methods and survey data to examine public attitudes on energy use, not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) attitudes related to power plant construction, and environmental policy issues such as global warming and urban sprawl.
- Jill Nicholson-Crotty received her PhD from Texas A&M University, and her research focuses on nonprofit organizations and their roles in the policy process. Her research project examines how nonprofit organizations participate in the delivery of health services and how this affects government programs and policies.
- Sean Nicholson-Crotty received his PhD from Texas A&M University, and his policy research focuses on immigration policy. His research project develops a database of state policies on immigration and examines how state institutions, interest groups, and budgetary politics shape the development of immigration policies.