Research Scholar Initiatives

IGPA’s Research Scholar Initiatives catalyze large-scale policy inquiries to undergird the development of policy decision making models by teams of scholars across the University of Illinois System and maximize public engagement and impact.

FY 2023 Research Scholar

About

Since 1947, the Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) has connected scholars across the University of Illinois System with legislators, civil servants, and key decision makers in Springfield, throughout the Land of Lincoln, and beyond. As the only System-level institute dedicated to policy engagement, we connect world-class research with the state’s needs—and we support policymakers in pursuing research-driven solutions.

IGPA’s Research Scholar Initiatives catalyze large-scale policy inquiries to undergird the development of policy decision making models by teams of scholars across the University of Illinois System and maximize public engagement and impact.

FY 2023 Research Scholar Initiatives

IGPA’s Research Scholar Initiatives catalyze large-scale policy inquiries to undergird the development of policy decision making models by teams of scholars across the University of Illinois System and maximize public engagement and impact.

FY 2023 Funded Research Scholar Initiatives

Happy young volunteers in gloves collecting, sorting food for needy people, Diverse team working together on donation project in charitable organization office, Selective focus, Horizontal shot
Building the Next Generation of Engage Researchers: Utilizing Youth Participatory Action Research to Engage Teens in Community Policy Change

This project engages teens as partners to research issues in their communities that impact their daily lives and then develop plans for action change to advocate with the appropriate policy organizations. Commonly termed youth participatory action research (YPAR), the project empowers teens to civic participation and begins their training as the next generation of engaged researchers.

Principal Investigator

Amy Leman

Professor, Assistant Professor, Agricultural Leadership Education, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Co-Investigators

Jacinda Dariotis

Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Aisha Griffith

Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Zachary Kennedy

Extension State Specialist, Community and Economic Development, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ye Rang Park

Research Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Mynda Tracy

4-H Youth Development Educator, Illinois Extension, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Housing reg
The Ecology of Rental Housing Regulation in Illinois

Housing code enforcement has been described as “law in action” – in this project, we evaluate local government rental property regulation and the extent to which code enforcement actions influence housing affordability, housing stability, and access to resource-rich neighborhoods. Using a combination of traditional policy evaluation techniques coupled with documentary video, we develop policy-informed narratives to share with local governments, housing professionals, and policymakers.

Principal Investigator

Andrew Greenlee

Associate Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

Co-Investigators

Sharon Legenza

Executive Director, Housing Action Illinois

For More Information about the Research scholar Initiatives please contact

Brenda Hixson (bwaller7@uillinois.edu).

FY 2021 Research Scholar

About

Since 1947, the Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) has connected scholars across the University of Illinois System with legislators, civil servants, and key decision makers in Springfield, throughout the Land of Lincoln, and beyond. As the only System-level institute dedicated to policy engagement, we connect world-class research with the state’s needs—and we support policymakers in pursuing research-driven solutions.

IGPA’s Research Scholar Initiatives catalyze large-scale policy inquiries to undergird the development of policy decision making models by teams of scholars across the University of Illinois System and maximize public engagement and impact.

Funded Scholar Initiatives

FY 2021 Research Scholar Initiatives

IGPA’s Research Scholar Initiatives catalyze large-scale policy inquiries to undergird the development of policy decision making models by teams of scholars across the University of Illinois System and maximize public engagement and impact.

FY 2021 Funded Research Scholar Initiatives

Baykivtsi, Ternopil region, Ukraine - October 18, 2019: John Deere 8370r farm tractor plows the field
Farm Bill Mapping Initiative

The Farm Bill Mapping Project uses existing public data to visualize agricultural and conservation policies in support of policy design efforts in the forthcoming 2023 Congressional Farm Bill reauthorization process. The project further combines statutory and regulatory interpretation with data and computation from the Policy Design Lab at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications. Eventually, the resulting public-facing mapping effort will demonstrate the statutory and regulatory provisions of the Farm Bill. 

Principal Investigator

Jonathan Coppess

Director of the Gardner Agriculture Policy Program and Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Co-Investigators

Jong Lee

Deputy Associate Director, Software Directorate, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Christopher Navarro

Lead Research Programmer, National Center for Supercomputing Applications, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Focused cute stylish african american female student with afro dreadlocks, studying remotely from home, using a laptop, taking notes on notepad during online lesson, e-learning concept, smiling
Effects of COVID-19 and Work From Home on Local Government Revenue Initiative

How have changes in the work-force due to COVID-19 and shifts to work-from-home employment models impacted local government sales taxes and mass transit agencies’ revenues? This initiative seeks to provide data and methodologies that will help policymakers understand and react to the most significant change in the labor market in decades.

Principal Investigator

David Merriman

James J. Stukel Presidential Professor, Department of Public Administration, University of Illinois Chicago

Co-Investigators

Kenneth Kriz

Director, Institute for Illinois Public Finance and Distinguished Professor, School of Public Management and Policy, University of Illinois Springfield

Richard Funderburg

Associate Professor, School of Public Management and Policy, University of Illinois Springfield

Yonghong Wu

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, University of Illinois Chicago

Doctor in protective workwear disinfecting female patient's skin for vaccination. Prevention and immunization from corona virus infection at home.
Effects of COVID-19 on Vaccine Uptake and Mental Health Initiative

Using innovative qualitative and quantitative research methods, this project will explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected mental health and vaccine uptake among children, families, and childcare providers. The research team will inform public health policy narratives and recommend messaging for mental health and vaccine uptake in the wake of COVID-19.

Principal Investigator

Jacinda Dariotis

Pampered Chef, Ltd., Endowed Chair in Family Resiliency, Professor and Director of the Family Resiliency Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Co-Investigators

Liza Berdychevsky

Associate Professor, Department of Recreation, Sport, & Tourism, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Brenda Koester

Associate Director, Family Resiliency Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Rebecca Smith

Associate Professor, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Leona Yi-Fan Su

Associate Professor, Charles H. Sandage Department of Advertising, College of Media, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Brent McBride

Director of the Child Development Laboratory and  Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Family Resiliency Center, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

For More Information about the Research scholar Initiatives please contact

Brenda Hixson (bwaller7@uillinois.edu)