After a day that featured speeches by a fantastic membership breakfast and presentations by internationally-known figures in public policy, APPAM President David Johnson delivered his Presidential Address and APPAM Awards this evening at 5:30 pm. His address was entitled
Measurement Matters: Policy in Federal Statistics and Data. The event featured presentations of the David N. Kershaw Award to David J. Deming and the Peter H. Rossi Award to Mark W. Lipsey.
The format changed a bit this year, with drinks available during the event and continuing into the following reception. In awarding Mr. Deming and Mr. Lipsey during the evening's first hour, the award presenters stressed the high standards that the recipients had set for ethics in the field. Perhaps most memorably, it was said that Mr. Lipsey has lived up to his award's namesake by encouraging young people in the profession through his kindness and critical eye for their research papers.
In addressing the audience after the presentation of those awards, David Johnson - APPAM'S 2017-2018 President - offered a number of incredibly useful tips for public policy researchers. Some of the most memorable included: "If feds ask for your professional opinion, give it - early and often." "Not responding to the ACS is just as irresponsible as not voting." "Don't just complain or criticize; provide suggestions." And, finally, he advised researchers to attend association meetings and join committees, both at APPAM and elsewhere.
Dr. Johnson and his successor, Matthew Stagner, had warm words for one another as they looked to the start of Stagner's term. Neither man imagined that when they collaborated on a child & family policy project 25 years ago, they would be working together now as leaders in the public policy field at APPAM. However, they agreed that they were happy with the turn of events, and expect to continue to do great work together for the association.
Following the Presidential Address, all conference attendees were invited to the nearby Reception to enjoy food and drinks with peers and to congratulate the 2018 award winners. They were greeted in the Thurgood Marshall North ballroom with wine and an assortment of cupcakes, before being treated by the Marriott staff to shrimp cocktails, duck rolls, chicken waffle skewers and a parade of other delicious finger foods. Dr. Johnson commented that the next time APPAM would have a Fall Research Meeting here at the Marriott, it would be November 2020, and a U.S. Presidential Election will have just taken place a day or two earlier.
