New research published by Public Policy assistant professor F. Chris Curran examines the impact of state zero tolerance laws on suspension rates, racial gaps in discipline, and student behavior. The article, “Estimating the Effect of State Zero Tolerance Laws on Exclusionary Discipline, Racial Discipline Gaps, and Student Behavior,” is available in the Online First section of Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. His work demonstrates that the presence of a state mandatory expulsion law, one that mandates expulsion for offenses such as weapons or assault, is predictive of increased use of exclusionary discipline. Furthermore, the increase is greater for Black and Hispanic students than for White students. For instance, Curran finds the presence of such a state law predicts a three time larger increase in suspensions for Black students as compared to White students.

The research was featured in the "Hit and Run" blog on Reason.com, and was mentioned in Politico's Morning Education Report under the heading “And on a related note, new school discipline research.”

Samford University in Birmingham Alabama has named Keith Elder (Ph.D., '02) the dean of the School of Public Health. The school was established in 2013 as part of Samford’s College of Health Sciences.

Elder is currently professor and chair of the Department of Health Management and Policy in the College for Public Health and Social Justice at Saint Louis University. He previously served as faculty in the Department of Health Services Policy and Management in Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina, and the Department of Health Services Administration in the School of Health Professions at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His research interests include health policy, health-care delivery and health-care processes. News release 

Samuel L. Brown (Ph.D., '97), has been appointed director of the Wichita State Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs. As director, Brown will oversee the Master of Public Administration degree and the department’s applied research and community service centers.

Brown is a professor at the University of Baltimore’s College of Public Affairs. Prior to his academic career, he served in positions with the private sector, as well as in state and federal government. News release

Shinogle Fellowship recipient Michael Abrams presented his dissertation research on the  impact of news coverage on the dissemination of prescription drug warnings issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at a lecture in the Commons Skylight Room on December 4. Michael is a Ph.D. candidate in Public Policy, and a senior research analyst at the Hilltop Institute.

The family of Dr. Judith Shinogle established the award in her memory to provide support for outstanding doctoral students committed to health policy research.

Go to the website link below for a summary and video of his presentation.

Photo by Marsha Willis.

Congratulations to Shariece Johnson, a PhD student in the health track, who received an Excellence in Program Planning Award at the 2015 American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. She was the program chair for the Community Health Planning and Policy Development section of APHA.

UMBC President Dr. Freeman Hrabowski was the keynote speaker at the APHA meeting. See the video of his speech here.

Public Policy PhD student Justin Vélez-Hagan has written an introductory economics book that offers easy-to-understand language and a humorous tone. The book, "The Common Sense behind Basic Economics: A guide for budding economists, students, and voters" (Lexington Books, 2015) is intended to educate the public on the importance of understanding the basics of economics before participating in upcoming elections.