Leadership

Elizabeth is an Associate Professor of Economics at Illinois and serves as the Associate Director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA). Prior to her position with the University of Illinois, Dr. Powers worked in the Research Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland as an Economist, for the President’s Council of Economic Advisers in the George H.W. Bush Administration as a Junior Staff Economist during her Ph.D. program, and for the Economic Research Service of the USDA during college. Dr. Powers started at IGPA over 20 years ago with a joint appointment with the economics department at the Urbana-Champaign campus.

Brenda Hixson is the Director of Strategic Operations at the University of Illinois System Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA). Before coming to IGPA, Brenda was the Director of Strategic Program Planning in the office of the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Illinois System.

Rene Dunnam is the Senior Coordinator of Business and Events Management. Rene has extensive experience with budgeting, finance and business management in the federal, state, private and non-profit sectors. Prior to coming to the University, she was the Budget Officer with a US Army Research & Development Lab managing a $100M program

Alyssa began working as Coordinator of Collaborations at IGPA in October 2021. Before IGPA, Alyssa worked as an Urban Planner and in Economic Development in Bloomington-Normal. Alyssa earned her Master’s in Economics and Community Development from Illinois State University, her Bachelor’s from SIU Carbondale, and is a 2x AmeriCorps Alum.

Kyle Peebles is the Coordinator of External Relations at IGPA. Previously, Kyle served as the communications manager for the Illinois State Library. He spent four years on the House speaker’s issues staff in Springfield while also working on state legislative campaigns. Kyle holds a B.A. in administration of justice from SIU Carbondale.

Kristen began working as the Senior Coordinator for Strategic Communications at IGPA in March 2024. Before coming to IGPA, she worked at the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, Sarah Bush Lincoln, and The Grainger College of Engineering at Illinois. Kristen earned her master’s in public administration and her bachelor’s in political science from Eastern Illinois University.