IGPA is home to an active body of academic faculty and staff. Some highlights of their many accomplishments this year are detailed below.


Robert F. Rich, Director
Also: Appointed in College of Law, the College of Medicine, the Department of Political Science, and Department of Community Health at Urbana, and the School of Public Health at Chicago
Research Areas: Health law and policy; federalism, the role of the states; environmental, science policy
Highlights of 2008-2009: Rich seved as a member of many state councils and organizations, including the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Council/Chicago Community Trust, the Disparity Study Group for the Illinois Toll Highway Authority; and Academic Policy Council of the University of Illinois Global Campus, among others. Rich was also Associate Editor of Encyclopedia of Health Services Research (2009). Rich gave several presentations over the year on topics including, "Health Care Reform and the 2008 Election," "2008 Elections: National State, Local," "Ethics: A Critical Component of Leadership Success," and "Insights on the Illinois Economy and Higher Education."


Nathan B. Anderson
Also: Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Research Areas: Public finance and urban economics, specifically local government finance and the property tax
Highlights of 2008-2009: Anderson's 2008 paper, "Local Amenities and Rents: Tiebout Takes a Vacation," published in Journal of Regional Science, used a simple theoretical model to illustrate the likely effects of the ability of local residents to export a share of their tax burden to non-residents. Anderson was also an invited speaker for several events, including the Annual Meeting of the National Tax Association.

Michael R. Cheney, Senior Fellow
Also: Professor in Communication and an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Springfield
Research Areas: Education funding/education policy; politics, specifically political campaigns, elections and polls; technology's role in public policy
Highlights of 2008-2009: Cheney's chapter in The Obama Effect (Catherine Squires et. al., 2009), "Media, Politics and Organizing: An Obama Effect," became the basis for a forthcoming book, Social Organizing: Public Narrative, Social Media and the Obama Campaign. Cheney edits the Journal of Media Sociology and regularly contributes analysis for local television, radio, and newspapers. He continued to serve the university in several capacities, including as the co-director of the E-Learning Program, and on IGPA's development committee.

Richard F. Dye
Also: Professor of Economics at IGPA and Visiting Fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Research Areas: State and local government finance as it relates to economic development
Highlights of 2008-2009: Dye worked with Richard W. England as co-editor of Land Value Taxation: Theory, Evidence, and Practice (2009), which brought together 12 scholars to contribute the most comprehensive survey of land value taxation literature to date. Dye also provided several radio, television, and newspaper interviews about the state budget and taxes, and worked with other Fiscal Futures scholars at IGPA to continue developing a long-term budget forecasting tool to assist policy making for fiscal sustainability.

Jim Edgar, Distinguished Fellow
Former governor of Illinois
Highlights of 2008-2009: Edgar speaks to dozens classes throughout the University of Illinois community each year. He also coordinates the Edgar Lecture Series, which brings political leaders from across the state to the University for informal discussion and questions. During the past year, Edgar also stepped outside of IGPA to serve as co-chair of Advance Illinois, a politically independent organization promoting improvement in public education in Illinois.

Don Fullerton
Also: Gutgsell Professor of Finance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Energy policy; economics; taxation; finance
Highlights of 2008-2009: Fullerton's forthcoming edited book, The Distributional Effects of Environmental and Energy Policy will include his seminal 2007 paper, "The General Equilibrium Incidence of Environmental Taxes," (with G. Heutel), along with the work of several other scholars of note. Fullerton organized numerous conferences and seminars, including several with the National Bureau of Economic Research, and was a regular participant in five different seminar series on the Urbana-Champaign campus.

Brian J. Gaines
Also: Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Campaign finance; politics, political campaigns, elections and polls; race and politics; state government/legislation/legislative process Highlights from 2008-2009: Gaines played an active role in the 2008 campaign, contributing analysis of the election through more than 80 interviews with both local and national news organizations, as well as several lectures, seminars, and presentations. Gaines also oversaw new waves of the Illinois Opinion Monitor and continued to be the academic advisor/supervisor for the Big Ten British Parliamentary Internship Programme, operated out of the Urbana-Champaign campus.

J. Fred Giertz
Also: Interim Head, Department of Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Economics; taxation; public pensions; fiscal policy
Highlights of 2008-2009: Giertz continued to compile the University of Illinois Flash Index, a monthly report of economic activity (see pg. 37). He also participated in a panel discussion, Obama Fiscal Stimulus Program for the States, Assessing the State and Local Sector at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Giertz is a monthly columnist for Central Illinois Business Magazine and Southern Business Journal. Other publications include articles in journals, interviews for magazines, television and radio, and speeches to local and national organizations.

Rachel A. Gordon
Also: Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Research Areas: Child care/after-school programs; demographics/immigrant populations; early childhood education; public policy and families; social policy/social research; welfare Highlights from 2008-2009: Gordon received funding for several important projects, including a book project entitled Place and Race: Variation in the Rise and Fall of Gang Participation, Drug Selling and Gun Carrying Among Pittsburgh Youth During the 1990s. Gordon's most recent book, Regression Analysis in the Social Sciences, is forthcoming in the winter of 2010. Gordon also directed the Fourth Annual Illinois Family Impact Seminar with the IGPA, a briefing for Illinois legislators on "Helping Illinois Families in Economic Crisis."

George Gross
Also: Professor of Electrical, Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Power system analysis; economics; electric utility regulatory policy Highlights from 2008-2009: Gross received the Best Paper Award in the Engineering and Economics Interactions Minitrack of the Electric Power Systems Track at the 2008 International Conference on System Sciences. Gross was also the keynote speaker for the Summer Workshop on Neural Computing for the Electric Power Industry, sponsored by the International Neural Network Society. He was also the Power Engineering Society Distinguished Lecture Program speaker at several international Chapters of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

Lorens A. Helmchen
Also: Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Administration at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Research Areas: Health behaviors; health care, policy and regulation; medical malpractice; prescription drugs. Highlights from 2008-2009: Helmchen received a Visiting Fellowship in Aging Research with the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, MA. There, for 2010-2011, he will conduct research projects relating to the information asymmetries inherent in markets for medical care. In fall 2008, Helmchen organized a conference with the IGPA entitled, "Reducing Medical Errors: Is Full Disclosure the Answer?" and he also presented at several conferences and seminars on health economics.

Cedric Herring
Also: Professor of Sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and faculty associate at the Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago
Research Areas: Civil rights; racial attitudes, discrimination and equality; race and politics; demographics/immigrant populations; opinion surveys; social policy/social research Highlights from 2008-2009: Herring authored several publications, including "Does Diversity Pay?: Race, Gender, and the Business Case for Diversity," which appeared in the April 2009 American Sociological Review. He also gave a number of presentations, including "Diversity and Organizational Performance: Quantifying the Connection," at the Changing Color of Leadership Conference sponsored by Chicago United. Herring made appearances on local television networks and national media outlets. His study, "Does Diversity Pay?" was featured in The Business Review. Herring testified as an expert witness before the Chicago City Council at hearings on extending the city's affirmative action ordinance.

Geoffrey Hewings
Also: Professor of Geography, Economics, and Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Economics; employment/unemployment; economic development
Highlights of 2008-2009: Hewings' 2008 article, "On some conundra in regional science," published in Annals of Regional Science, reflected upon 20 years of analysis of the Chicago and Midwest economies in a narrative form, creating an accessible discussion for a wide array of scholars and practitioners. Hewings also received several grants, including a two-year, $300,000 award from the National Science Foundation. Hewings also helped foster the work of more than 20 graduate students as a doctoral dissertation committe chair or member.

Stanley O. Ikenberry
Also: Regent Professor and President Emeritus, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Higher education
Highlights of 2008-2009: Ikenberry launched a three-year national study of learning outcome assessment in higher education with Dr. George Kuh at Indiana University. The initiative has a budget of approximately $2 million. Ikenberry also worked with IGPA to host the Illinois Higher Education Summit in June 2008, co-sponsored by the College of Education and the College of Media. Ikenberry also agreed to serve on the IBHE Public Agenda Task Force, providing oversight of development of an Illinois Action Plan for Higher Education.

Andrew Isserman
Also: Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Analytical methods for studying economic and demographic change and related policy issues
Highlights of 2008-2009: Isserman received support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a project entitled Evaluating Rural Economic Change. He continued his work on editorial boards of four scholarly journals. Isserman also developed several new graduate courses. He published three papers on rural development and gave several presentations, including an invited plenary talk to the Association of Public Data Users.

Robert Kaestner
Also: Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Research Associate for the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Research Areas: Community health; health behaviors; health care, policy and regulation; Medicaid/Medicare; medical malpractice; prescription drugs; universal health insurance
Highlights of 2008-2009: Kaestner is principal investigator on several grants, including a $247,000 award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health, which examines Youth Employment and Substance Use. He published four articles and a book chapter, and presented at several conferences. Kaestner also conducted a weekly seminar in health economics and health policy.

Maria Krysan
Also: Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Research Areas: Racial attitudes, discrimination and equality; residential segregation
Highlights of 2008-2009: Krysan published four journal articles and two book chapters this year, including research on racial blind spots. Utilizing this research, in the summer of 2008 Krysan contributed public testimony to the National Commission on Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Krysan contiuned to work with the Chicago Area Study, disseminating and analyzing the results. She also helped organize the Fair Housing Conference with IGPA, working with the Jane Addams Hull House Association and Oak Park Regional Housing Center.

James Kuklinski
Also: Matthew T. McClure Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Campaign finance; Illinois constitution; political campaigns, elections and polls; state government/legislation; race and politics; opinion surveys
Highlights of 2008-2009: Kulkinski organized the Urbana Brownbag Series. He continued his work with students, chairing several doctoral dissertation committees. Kuklinski joined a research team whose objective is to undertake the most comprehensive study of comparative electoral systems ever completed, utilizing a $2 million grant and based out of the University of Montreal.

Anthony T. Lo Sasso
Also: Associate Professor and Senior Research Scientist at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Research Areas: Health care policy and regulation; Medicaid/Medicare; medical malpractice; prescription drugs; universal health insurance access
Highlights of 2008-2009: Lo Sasso published five journal articles and an edited book with Lorens A. Helmchen and Robert Kaestner entitled Beyond Insurance: Public Policy to Improve Health. Lo Sasso ontinued his work as a reviewer for several academic journals and organizations and two editorial boards. He also helped organize the IGPA Critical Issues Forum in September. Lo Sasso is co-Principal Investigator (with Robert Kaestner), "Youth Alcohol, Tobacco and Marijuana Use: Effects of Hours of Work and Wages," from the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse.

Darren Lubotsky
Also: Associate Professor appointed to the Department of Economics and the School of Labor and Employment Relations, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Early childhood education; demographics and immigrant populations
Highlights of 2008-2009: Lubotsky joined IGPA in August 2008. He completed several publications, including a journal article with Todd Elder entitled, "Kindergarten Entrance Age and Children's Achievement: Impacts of State Policies, Family Background, and Peers," which he presented at three universities. He is also the principal dissertation advisor for five students in the Department of Economics and is the faculty advisor to the Undergraduate Economics Club.

Daniel McMillen
Also: Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Economic development; tax increment financing; urban/suburban development
Highlights of 2008-2009: McMillen published several scholarly articles, including a paper on the clustering of auto supplier plants that contributed a new statistical method and provided data later used by the Treasury Department to help identify the location of auto suppliers plants as part of the stimulus plan. McMillen also gave several interviews to local and state media about the economic crisis. He presented his research at several conferences as well as at Federal Reserve Banks in Atlanta, St. Louis, and New York City. He continued his work as editor of Regional Science and Urban Economics and on seven editorial boards.

David Merriman
Also: Professor of Public Administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Research Areas: Economic development; property taxes; Medicaid/Medicare; state budget and taxes; tax increment financing; urban/suburban development; welfare/welfare reform Highlights from 2008-2009: Merriman provided testimony entitled "Fundamental questions about property tax reform and relief" to The Property Tax Reform and Relief Task Force. He also gave several interviews and commentaries to local and state media. Merriman worked with IGPA collegue Richard Dye as co-director the Fiscal Futures project. He also presented at several seminars and conferences.

Christopher Mooney
Also: Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois at Springfield
Research Areas: Politics, political campaigns, elections and polls; state government/legislation/legislative process; race and politics
Highlights of 2008-2009: Mooney published a book with Todd Donovan and Daniel S. Smith titled Governing States and Communities: The Essentials. Mooney also completed research with the National Conference of State Legislatures' Joint Project on Term Limits (funded by the Smith-Richardson Foundation). Mooney gave interviews to local, national and international publications and television and radio stations, including NBC Evening News, CBS Nightly News, CNN, and National Public Radio.

Andrew Morriss
Also: H. Ross and Helen Workman Professor of Law and Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Energy and regulatory policy; economics
Highlights of 2008-2009: Morriss completed several publications, including both scholarly articles and law reviews and two edited books, one with Gerald Korngold entitled Property Stories and the other with Samuel Estreicher entitled Global Labor and Employment Law for the Practicing Lawyer. Morriss contributed many articles to local, national, and international media on topics such as green jobs, tapping oil reserves, and offshore finance issues.

Peter Mulhall
Director of the Center for Prevention Research and Development
Research Areas: Public health, education and human services
Highlights of 2008-2009: The Center for Prevention Research and Development produced eight research briefs on topics including mentoring and tutoring programs, substance abuse prevention, and youth prevention education among others. Mulhall published "Matching young adolescents to middle-grade schools" in Education for the 21st Century: Illinois Kids Count 2009. He also continued his work as a member on the Illinois Steps AHEAD/GEAR UP Advisory Board.

James D. Nowlan, Senior Fellow
Also: Adjunct Professor of Public Policy at Knox College
Research Areas: Political science; public policy; Illinois state government; campaigns
Highlights of 2008-2009: Nowlan worked on two books that will be out by the end of 2009, including Illinois Politics with Samuel Gove and Rick Winkel and The Struggle for Power in the Cities and States of North America with Dick Simpson. Nowlan spoke at engagements across the state. He served as Chair of the Union League of Chicago's Constitutional Convention Committee and on the board of several other organizations. He played a lead role in organizing the IGPA and Taxpayers' Federation Fiscal Futures program. Nowlan also served on Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's Taxpayer Action Board.

Elizabeth Powers
Also: Associate Professor of Economics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: Economics; child care/after-school programs; impact of public policy on families; opinion surveys; social policy/social research; welfare/welfare reform
Highlights of 2008-2009: Powers published an articled entitled "The Impact of Minimum Wage Increases: Evidence from Fast-Food Establishments in Illinois and Indiana" in the Journal of Labor Research, which proved that minimum wages led to employment declines in the fast-food sector. Powers received the 2008 Applied Consumer Economics Award from The American Council on Consumer Interests for research conducted with Yunhee Chang and Andrea Beller.

Tom Prudhomme
Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Center for Technology and Public Policy
Research Areas: Predictive modeling, textual analysis, and support programs for people with disabilities; information technology
Highlights of 2008-2009: Prudhomme directed research for a number of grants, including the Digital Divide Project, (DCEO, $100,000), the Demand Side Employment Placement (US DoEd/NIDRR, $782,000), and Computer Gaming Approaches to Preparedness Training for Middle School Students (Illinois Terrorism Task Force, $323,000). Prudhomme also continued his work on the Board of Advisors for Math Science & Technology Education. He also conducted training activities for LEAD and FORUM on the promises and perils of information technology.

Kent D. Redfield
Also: Professor of Political Studies and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Springfield
Research Areas: Campaign finance; politics, political campaigns, elections and polls; state government/legislation/legislative process
Highlights of 2008-2009: Redfield provided numerous interviews and commentary during the 2008 election campaign. He contributed testimony, data analysis, and reports on campaign finance reform for Illinois Reform Commission and Joint Committee on Government Reform and reports and analysis for Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and Change Illinois. Redfield received a $114,000 grant from the Joyce Foundation for the Sunshine Project. He also continued his work as Chair of the Executive Committee for the Center for State Policy and Leadership at UIS.

Patricia Rushing
Director, Center for Community Safety and Justice (Regional Institute for Community Policing)
Research Areas: crime and public safety trends affecting quality of life in both rural and urban locations throughout the country
Highlights of 2008-2009: The Center for Community Safety and Justice, through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), test piloted the Household Pets and Service Animals in Disasters Evacuations and Emergency Sheltering Workshops in Springfield, Kankakee and Chicago. The center also conducted a series of summits in Tennessee, Texas, and New Jersey titled, DNA Trend and Issues: A High Impact Summit for Law Enforcement. Rushing also directed a number of publications, training workshops, and educational outreach programs.

Richard J. Winkel
Director, Office of Public Leadership and Adjunct Professor in the College of Law at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Research Areas: State politics and public school financing
Highlights of 2008-2009: As Director of the Office of Public Leadership, Winkel organized and presented at many leadership education and training programs, including the Municipal Clerks Institute, the U of I Leadership Symposium, and the UCCI New Board Member workshops. He continued to build partnerships, collaborations, and sponsorships with the OPL.


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