One way to understand the School of Public Policy is to look at all the programs, majors, and people we house. Four undergraduate programs offered on campus and online: Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, and Sociology. Three graduate degrees: MPP (on-campus and online), Executive MPP (online), and PhD in Public Policy (on-campus). Two graduate certificates online: Rural Policy and Energy Policy.
But how about in our own words? The heart of SPP is seen clearly in this word cloud where our faculty describe their work. We clearly prize our roles as mentors and teachers, and our diverse substantive interests highlight the breadth of our work. Interested in learning more? Drop Director Bolzendahl a note at [email protected]!
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On March 8 - International Women's Day - SPP co-sponsored the U.S. West Coast panel of the Global Conversation about Women's Leadership in Times of Crisis with UC Irvine. This event, organized by the Athena40 organization brought together coordinated panels from 10 cities across European, Asian, and African nations. OSU panelists included Ambassador (ret.) Mary Carlin Yates, an OSU Foundation Trustee, and Dr. SreyRam Kuy ('00), Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Quality & Safety for VISN 16. They joined fellow panelists Julie Hill (Anthem Lord Abbett Mutual Funds), Karen Toliver (Sony Creative), and Berndette Boden-Albala (UCI Public Heath).
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Buzzing about Energy Policy |
Bad puns aside - crafting excellent Energy Policies is serious and important work. We're proud to train our graduate students in the cutting edge on these issues, including Dr. Vijay Satyal's class on International Energy Policy. In the video posted here, Dr. Satyal and MPP Student Diane Brandt discuss his class and the project Diane and fellow student Katherine Clark co-wrote on Estonia's policies. You can read Diane and Katherine's project paper here!
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Exciting Economics
April 27th, 5:30-7:30 is the student/alumni networking night. If you're interested in participating contact Economics Associate Director Todd Pugatch.
Over $19K raised through crowdfunding! Money will go into a scholarship for undergraduate Economics majors who have financial need and who have overcome barriers in pursuit of their degree.
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This exciting talk by China expert Dr. Andrew J. Nathan of Columbia University is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts, School of Public Policy, School of History, Philosophy and Religion, the Asian Studies Program, and the Chiu Program for Taiwan Studies with funding from the Chun and Jane Chiu Family Foundation. Thanks to Political Scientist and Head of Asian Studies Dr. Hua-yi Li for helping to make this happen! April 29th, 12:00 PM (PT); Register here.
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Biden's First 100 Days: A Conversation on the Future of American Politics |
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Political Scientist David Bernell takes an in-depth look at the future of American politics when he discusses President Biden’s first 100 days in office on Tuesday, April 27, from noon – 1 p.m. PT. This event is free to all alumni and will explore the new administration’s plans to guide the country out of a global pandemic, moving past recent political unrest, filling critical Cabinet positions, foreign policy changes, and more.
Are there questions you’d like Bernell to address? Include them when you register for the OSU Alumni Association webcast at osualum.com/Biden-100-Days.
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Catching up on Faculty Research |
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Economist Liz Schroeder uses microeconomic data to study how people make decisions and respond to policy interventions, political media, and other information.
She recently collaborated with Economics colleague Todd Pugatch, looking at whether proactive outreach and information can attract more women to the field of economics. They are continuing to study the effectiveness of outreach at attracting underrepresented minority students and first-generation college students to the Econ major. Their findings are being used to improve and grow our own program, where Liz is developing a new mentoring program for underrepresented students in Economics.
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She's now working on a new book project examining public fear and rhetoric around human trafficking, which reached a fever-pitch in the last four years with the rise of the QAnon movement in the U.S.
Data from public opinion surveys, social movement organizations, news articles, and press releases from elected officials reveal how some demographic groups became convinced that human trafficking is an urgent threat, who they believe to be at risk, and what policy solutions they demanded.
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When not teaching hugely popular courses, such as governing after the zombie apocalypse, Political Scientist Rorie Solberg studies issues related to diversity and the courts.
Her most recent publication showed that when men watch a white woman leading a state Supreme Court, as compared to listening to the same oral argument, their support for the judiciary as an institution declines. Women, however, increase their support for the courts when they see a woman leading. Dr. Solberg is now working on an expansion of this project to test this audio versus video effect for other demographics.
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Student Spotlight Q&A - Grace Doleshel |
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Our newest undergraduate major in SPP is Public Policy, and one of our first graduates will be Grace Doleshel. We asked Grace to tell us a bit about herself and her decision to become a Public Policy major.
Why did you decide to major in Public Policy?
I originally was majoring in marine biology with the intent of focusing on a career in marine conservation. Then, in June of 2019, I had the opportunity to attend Capitol Hill Ocean's Week in Washington DC to advocate for increased marine protected areas. I saw how critical policy was to progressing conservation efforts, and I fell in love with the city. It really felt like that's where I was supposed to end up. I switched my major to public policy as soon as I got home from that trip!
How does Public Policy connect with issues you’re passionate about?
I'm very passionate about issues relating to the environment, environmental justice, and food justice. These issues are often results of deep-rooted systems that can only be addressed through policy and legislation. On the other hand, many current environmental issues are consequences of older policies or political actions, especially historic policies surrounding hunting, forestry, and manufacturing. In order to work in environmental conservation in any capacity, an understanding of the impacts of public policy is needed.
What are you hoping to do after you graduate from OSU?
I would love to work on environmental justice policy and research/analyze the way in which systems of patriarchy and heteronormativity influence environmental perceptions and policy. I took a class here that touched on these issues briefly and I learned that there isn't a lot of research being done on this particular topic, so I want to address it in my work!
Thanks, Grace! We look forward to seeing where your OSU degree takes you!
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SPP Alumni - Making a Difference in Our World |
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This May, Esther Matthews (Political Science '17) will finish her Ph.D. in the Justice, Law and Criminology Department at American University, and begin her new position as a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Gonzaga University in the Department of Sociology and Criminology.
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Her research, which was recently highlighted in The Washington Post, focuses on punishment, incarceration, and reentry. At Gonzaga, she will be in charge of creating a prison education program that allows Gonzaga students to learn alongside incarcerated students in a local prison. Esther uses her experience, academic training, and passion for social justice to improve the lives of individuals affected by incarceration.
Of her time at OSU, Esther says, “my experience at the School of Public Policy not only created a passion for research, but also a passion for teaching. My professors at OSU were instrumental in my decision to pursue a doctoral degree. They set an example for how to mentor students, and I intend to pay it forward by providing my students with the same support I received at Oregon State.”
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Prachet Bhatt (Economics ’16) is a first-year Ph.D. student at the University of Houston in the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes & Policy. Before the pandemic, he worked as a health outcomes analyst with the PREMIER Center; federally funded through a $6 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA).
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His research focus was on developing and implementing safe and effective methods to mitigate the ongoing opioid epidemic. Current research interests include developing econometric and epidemiological study designs, health policy, and pharmacoeconomics.
While at OSU, Prachet recalls, “I thoroughly enjoyed the array of elective economic courses (energy, behavioral, developmental, labor, and mathematical economics) taught by the dedicated professors. These, in conjunction with math and econometrics courses, set the foundation to pursue a doctorate with an intent to develop meaningful health policy changes domestically and globally.”
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Graduate Student Alumni Updates |
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Qammar Abbas (MPP '19; Fulbright Scholar) is currently a Lecturer in the Government and Public Policy department at National Defence University in Islamabad, Pakistan. He teaches Microeconomics, Development Economics, and Welfare Economics to undergraduate students. He also studies international trade, economic development, research methods, and policy processes.
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Breannon Babbel (MPP ’12). After OSU, she completed her Ph.D. in Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow. She is the COVID-19 Tribal Coordinator for the CDC Foundation, ensuring tribal communities are supported in their emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She uses her comprehensive expertise in public health programming, research and analysis, and grants management to address health disparities in underserved communities.
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Gabe Wigtil (MPP ’15) was recently named the Arizona State Director of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Gabe will lobby for state and local animal protection legislation, build relationships with policymakers and stakeholders, represent the organization in the media, support the enforcement of animal cruelty laws, and lead a team of volunteers. HSUS fights the big fights and works to end all forms of animal cruelty.
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Stephen Naimoli (MPP '16) is the Associate Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) where he develops the Energy Security and Climate Change Program’s electric power sector research and events. He frequently writes on the Texas Grid crisis and other energy issues. You can hear more at the Energy 360 podcast.
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Excellent work on things that matter
Through our teaching, mentoring, research, and community outreach, all of us in SPP take pride in the timeliness and impact of our work, as detailed above.
Thank you to our alumni, friends, and generous donors who support the School of Public Policy and our students! We welcome your engagement from attending events, to mentoring students, to making donations. Contact Maureen Nikaido at [email protected] to get involved or click below to make a gift.
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Discover
innovative undergraduate programs in Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology
Develop
leadership and research skills to address evolving policy challenges though our graduate degrees in Public Policy
Deliver
groundbreaking research into emerging policies, practices, and understandings of the world that will improve local to global policy decisions
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School of Public Policy
https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/spp/about-us
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