The Policy Research Shop [PRS] is your opportunity to contribute directly to the public policy debate in Vermont and New Hampshire by providing valuable, non-partisan research to legislators on critical issues facing each state. You will begin your work with an intensive research class in the fall term, followed by up to two terms of additional research as an independent study or a paid internship. You will meet directly with elected officials and staff as you develop and refine high-quality research products. See the most recent PRS Policy Briefs from academic year 2008-2009 below. See all academic year 2008-2009 Testimonies. See the collection of PRS Policy Briefs from 2004-2008. For additional information, please contact Professor Ronald Shaiko.
If you are interested in participating in the PRS you should enroll in PBPL 45: Introduction to Public Policy Research during the fall term in order to work in the PRS during the winter and/or spring terms. Professor Ron Shaiko, associate director of the Rockefeller Center, teaches PBPL 45; the initial work on student projects begins in this course. If you excel in the Public Policy Research course you will be invited to work as an intern in the Policy Research Shop during the winter and spring terms. You may work in the Policy Research Shop for academic credit (PBPL 91) or as a paid intern. Working in the PRS provides an opportunity for you to apply your learning by completing research on policy issues of interest to policymakers in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Course description for PBPL 45: Introduction to Public Policy Research
Course description for PBPL 48: Policy Analysis and Local Governance
[Back Row (left to right): Karen Doster, Raymond Rodriguez, Schuyler
Evans, Tyler Ford, Michael Coburn, Derek Summerville, Michael Fields,
Chris Zablocki.Front Row (left to right): Brian Freeman, Tara
Wohlgemuth, Christine Souffrant, Jennifer Murray, Anya Perret, Alex
Mahler-Haug, Lucy Pollard. (Not pictured: Elisabeth Ericson)]
[From left to right: Professor Ronald Shaiko; Graduate Research Fellow, Micah Sagebiel; Policy Research Shop Co-Managers, Serena Laws and David Glick]
Visiting Assistant Professor David Glick was a graduate student in the Department of Politics at Princeton University (Ph.D. expected, November 2009). His dissertation "Learning from Others to Make Sense of the Law: Legal Response Policy Making in Higher Education," combines a formal model with original survey and interview data. He analyzes how those affected by legal changes decide how to respond to them. He focuses on how they learn from others, and how responses to the law are systematically interdependent. His research and teaching interests include political institutions, learning and decision making, law, regulation, research methods, and education. He is the author of "Strategic Retreat and the Gold Clause Cases," which won the APSA's Law and Courts section's CQ Press award. The article was recently published in the Journal of Politics (July 2009). Professor Glick graduated from Williams College with a B.A. and worked as a consultant for the Monitor Group in Cambridge Massachusetts before graduate school. Professor Glick's academic web page.
Visiting Assistant Professor Serena Laws received her B.A. from Amherst College, and did her graduate training in Political Science at the University of Minnesota (Ph.D. expected 2009). Her dissertation, “What is Owed: Debt, Bankruptcy, and American Citizenship,” examines how the rise of consumer debt in the United States has been historically linked to an ever changing meaning of American Citizenship. Given this shift, the institution of bankruptcy has become part of the American social safety net, acting as a form of relief for those in extreme debt. Before coming to Dartmouth, Professor Laws taught courses in law and public policy at St. Olaf College and Macalester College. Her research has been supported by the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy Grant in 2007 and through a Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship and Thesis Research Grant through the University of Minnesota.
Graduate Fellow Micah Sagebiel is a student at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth (M.B.A. expected, June 2010). He received a B.A. in International Relations from Colgate University and a M.P.A. from the LBJ School at The University of Texas at Austin. He has worked in organizations across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Prior to Dartmouth, he led the Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Initiative (T-STEM), a $110 million education reform initiative of the Texas High School Project. The project is funded by the State of Texas, Communities Foundation of Texas, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.
Danielle O’Bannon ’11, Chase Raines ’11, Derek Summerville ‘11, "Town of Hanover Sustainability Initiatives: Community Outreach & Partnership Opportunities", PRS Policy Brief 0809-14, August 6, 2009
Kristen Liu ’11, Alexandra E. Mahler-Haug ’11, Anya H. Perret ’11, Christine Souffrant ‘11, "Funding Options for Sustainability Initiatives: An Examination of Resources and Ideas for Hanover, NH", PRS Policy Brief 0809-13, August 4, 2009
Alicia Modeen '10, Christine Souffrant '11 and Tara Wohlgemuth '09, "Westboro Rail Yard Brownfield in Lebanon, New Hampshire: Remediation and Redevelopment Funding Options", PRS Policy Brief 0809-12, June 3, 2009
Steven Cheng '10 and Alicia Modeen '10, "Participant Outcomes of the Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO) Program", PRS Policy Brief 0809-11, June 23, 2009
Allyson Bennett '10, Louisa Pollard '10 and Michael Coburn '10, "Campus Security vs. Hanover Police Department: Jurisdictional Boundaries in Hanover", PRS Policy Brief 0809-10, May 27, 2009
Anya Perret '11, Derek Summerville '11 and Kelsey Clark '11, "Local Governance in New Hampshire: Comparing Selected Cities and Towns", PRS Policy Brief 0809-09, June 9, 2009
Kahlie Dufresne '09, Schuyler Evans '10 and Christopher Zablocki '10, "Coordinating the New Hampshire Corrections System: Standardization and Coordination Policy Options to Curb Recidivism Rates of the Mentally Ill and Those with Substance Abuse Problems", PRS Policy Brief 0809-08, May 18, 2009. Powerpoint Presentation
Kelsey Clark '11, Tyler Ford '11 and Jessica Guthrie '10, "New Hampshire Retirement Savings: Working to Ensure New Hampshire's Present and Future", PRS Policy Brief 0809-07, April 30, 2009. Powerpoint Presentation
Kristen Liu '11, Hope McIntyre '11, Michael Fields '11 and Derek Summerville '11, "Personal Financial Literacy in New Hampshire: Assessing the Need and Efficacy of Personal Financial Education in New Hampshire Public Schools", PRS Policy Brief 0809-06, April 30, 2009. Powerpoint Presentation
Karen Doster '11, Alicia Modeen '10, Jennifer Murray '09 and Anya Perret '11, "Mental Health and Substance Abuse Insurance Parity: Current Status of Mental Health Problems in New Hampshire, Effects of New Federal Legislation and Other States' Experiences", PRS Policy Brief 0809-05, April 23, 2009. Powerpoint Presentation
Christine Souffrant '11, "Funding Transportation in Vermont: An Assessment of Applicable Funding Options", PRS Policy Brief 0809-04, May 12, 2009
Kahlie Dufresne '09, Chase Raines '11, Christine Souffrant '11 and Tara K. Wohlgemuth '09, "Public Transportation in Vermont: An Assessment of Applicable Methods of Improvement and Funding for Vermont Transportation", PRS Policy Brief 0809-03, March 1, 2009. Powerpoint Presentation
Brian Freeman '11, Michael Fields '11 and Raymond Rodriguez '09, "Voter Suppression: New Hampshire's Response to a National Problem", PRS Policy Brief 0809-02, March 9, 2009. Powerpoint Presentation
Lauren Bowman '11, Kelsey Clark '11, Karen Doster '11, et al, "The 2008 New Hampshire State of the State Poll: Analysis of Results", PRS Policy Brief 0809-01, December 11, 2008.
Students who participate in the PRS are committed to providing accurate research that responds to the needs of elected policymakers and their legislative staff throughout the year. Our researchers examine emerging issues of concern that are relevant to legislative discussions in both New Hampshire and Vermont. These topics are selected through a consultative process with policy stakeholders. We make every effort to include policy experts from both states in this process.
The PRS typically produces reports with opportunities for follow-up research upon request. Our goal is to provide useful information in a clear format, and to deliver this information in a timely manner so that it is useful during legislative deliberation. If you are interested in working with our students on a policy research project this year, we would be delighted to discuss it with you. Our students will work hard to bring their research skills to assist your committee in meeting its policy needs.
Policy Research Shop Administrative Office 603-646-2229
Jane DaSilva, Program Administrator
