School of Public Policy

Welcome to the School of Public Policy at OSU, home to programs in Economics, Political Science, Sociology, and the Masters in Public Policy.  Approved in 2011 as part of the strategic realignment of the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Public Policy offers on campus and online undergraduate majors in Economics, Political Science, and Sociology, as well as an on campus Masters in Public Policy program. The School also offers undergraduate minors in Economics, Political Science, and Sociology as well as graduate minors in Political Science and Sociology.

Students who graduate from the School of Public Policy are the next generation of leaders who know how to operate in environments of tight budgets, produce more with fewer resources, and work in an environment of increased public skepticism, all while addressing some of the most complex problems humans have ever faced. 

NEW HIRES

	Alison Johnston is a recent graduate of the London School of Economics where she did research on European Political Economy.  She completed her undergraduate degree in Economics at the University of Washington.  Dr. Johnston has published research related to welfare state reconfiguration, wage inflation in the EU, and the cost of higher education funded through loans.  As one of the Provost Initiative hires in the School of Public Policy, Dr. Johnston’s home will be in the Political Science program. Learn more about Dr. Johnsont at: Faculty Profile.
	Jennifer Sykes is a 2011 graduate of Harvard University in Sociology and Social Policy.  Her undergraduate work was done at Michigan Statue University-James Madison College, Honors College.  Her teaching interests include but not limited to Poverty & Inequality, Child and Family Welfare, and Social Policy. As one of the new hires in the School of Public Policy, Dr. Sykes home will be in Sociology.  Learn more about Dr. Sykes at: Faculty Profile.
	Todd Pugatch received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan in 2011, with an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.  Dr. Pugatch is currently working on questions related to youth unemployment in South Africa, and the effect of Mexican immigration on labor markets in the US.  His scholarly interests and expertise spans labor markets, education, and migration in developing countries, and will be of great interest to the increasing number of students in the School of Public Policy working on international issues.  Learn more about Todd at: Faculty Profile.
	Brett Burkhardt recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in sociology.  He did his undergraduate work at Linfield College in McMinnville and is excited to be returning to the Pacific Northwest.  Dr. Burkhardt is currently researching the growth of private prisons and jails in the United States.  Dr. Burkhardt’s home will be in the Sociology program and he will be developing courses to support a new concentration in both Sociology and the Policy Graduate program related to law and crime policy. Learn more about Brett at: Faculty Profile.
	Camille Soltau Nelson comes to OSU from Texas A&M University where she has spent the last 9 years teaching and mentoring students. Dr. Nelson received her PhD in Economics from Washington State University and is a Beaver alum, having received her undergraduate degree from Oregon State University. Her teaching interests include microeconomic theory, applied microeconomics and economic development. Dr. Nelson’s home will be in the Economics program. Learn more about Camille at: Faculty Profile.
	Michael Nelson comes to OSU from Texas A&M University where he taught Economics for the past 11 years.  He earned his Ph.D. in economics at Washington State University, and was an award-winning instructor at  both schools.  Dr. Nelson enjoys teaching a variety of topics including microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, applied microeconomics, and environmental economics.  He will teach courses within the Economics program in the School of Public Policy. Faculty Profile.