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WINTER 2008/2009Welcome to Findings, the online newsletter for PRGS/RGS/RGI alums. Findings is sent by email to all PRGS alumni. If you do not wish to be contacted, please email us at findings@prgs.edu. In this issue . . .
Susan L. Marquis Selected as Fourth Dean of the Pardee RAND Graduate School
"Susan has had an impressive and diverse career that will certainly prove valuable to RAND and to the graduate school," said Jim Thomson, RAND Corporation president and CEO. "We're extraordinarily pleased to have her as our new dean and look forward to the many contributions she will make to the school, its students, and RAND at large." James Q. Wilson, a member of the school's Board of Governors, said, "Susan's lifelong dedication to public service provides an excellent example to our students as they begin to consider where their careers will take them." Since 2002, Marquis has served as corporate officer and operational vice president of LMI, a nonprofit government consulting firm based in McLean, Virginia, that is dedicated to improving public management. In that capacity, she was responsible for developing and managing the resource management practice; was the lead officer for corporate thought leadership and outreach, brand definition, and enhancement; and led strategic recruiting efforts. According to Marquis, "This is a unique opportunity to combine my longtime beliefs in public service, public service education, and the importance of developing the next generation of public policy analysts. PRGS students get to be part of an intellectual community that doesn't just write about problems but actually helps the government and other clients solve those problems." From 1997 to 2002, Marquis was with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, first as the deputy director of the Assessment Division, and then as assistant deputy chief of naval operations (resources, requirements, and assessments). In the latter capacity, she helped lead the development of the U.S. Navy's strategic plan and multiyear budget of $100 billion a year. She twice served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. From 1994 to 1997, she served as director of the Planning and Analytic Support Division and as director of the Information Management and Analysis Group. From 1989 to 1994, she was an operations research analyst. From 1987 to 1989, she was a program analyst for the Army Chief of Staff. Marquis currently is a member of the advisory council of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and is currently serving on the school's Task Force on the Changing Nature of Public Service. She has authored numerous articles as well as the book Unconventional Warfare: Rebuilding U.S. Special Operations Forces, published by the Brookings Institution Press. Marquis has a bachelor's degree in history from Rutgers College, and master's and doctorate degrees in public and international affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. U.S. Culture and Politics Boot Camp Boot campers and their friends and family enjoyed an afternoon picnic at Will Rogers State Park in Santa Monica International fellows arrived in Santa Monica early this year to take part in PRGS's first U.S. Language and Culture Workshop, a weeklong orientation program designed to boost their odds of success in the Ph.D. program. Although admitted international students have historically scored high on standardized English proficiency tests, many have expressed interest in improving their informal language skills. Some fellows have had difficulty finding on-the-job training (OJT); others are reluctant to speak up in class or are unable to forge the kind of working relationships with RAND staff members that produce a successful dissertation. John Graham, the school's former dean, suggested the special orientation for international fellows and the program was supported with RAND internal investment funds and a generous donation from PRGS board member Gurminder S. Bedi. The September workshop, or "boot camp," combined tailored English instruction with a review of U.S. institutions and a primer on RAND's internal culture. Students spent their mornings learning about the U.S. Constitution and the workings of the federal government with Interim Dean Molly Selvin. They spent afternoons with Mary Ann Murphy, an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor who has worked at USC and UCLA, on such skills as email etiquette, vocabulary and pronunciation, informal workplace conversation, and interviewing. Eight of the nine entering international fellows attended (the Canadian student was exempted) along with three fellows from earlier classes who were encouraged to attend. Three teaching assistants—fellows Sarah Gaillot, Sara Hajiamiri, and Andres Villamizar—participated in all class sessions and worked one-on-one with the new students. To maximize their cultural and linguistic immersion, fellows lived with RAND staff members who graciously opened their homes for the week. The host families were included at the opening dinner and the barbeque that ended the week. In their responses to class surveys as well as informal reactions, "boot campers" said the program was a success. "I almost didn't realize I was sitting in the classroom all day long," said first-year fellow Alessandro Malchiodi from Italy. "I was deepening my knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and political system, and my English was improving in a very personalized and interactive way," he added. PRGS administrators are currently evaluating the survey responses and other input, with an eye toward offering the program again next fall. Politics Aside WeekendThe Politics Aside weekend (November 14–16) engaged philanthropists, opinion leaders, current and former government officials, and RAND research experts in a three-day, post-election exploration of the world's most pressing challenges. The event also celebrated RAND's legacy and 60-year anniversary as an independent nonprofit institution. In the wake of much punditry and podium pounding, Politics Aside invited people from across the political spectrum to take a fresh look at issues that need to be tackled at home and abroad in the months and years ahead. The weekend activities began on Friday evening at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles with a light supper and panel discussion in the museum's Billy Wilder Theater. Former White House chiefs of staff Andrew H. Card, Jr., and Thomas F. "Mack" McLarty shared their candid observations about the role of the White House chief of staff and the challenges and opportunities ahead at this time of presidential transition in an exchange moderated by former RANDite Paul Light of the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University. The two former chiefs observed the spirit of the weekend by offering substance on policy and process in a genial and nonpartisan manner. On Saturday, guests convened at RAND's Santa Monica office for a series of panel discussions featuring policymakers and RAND researchers. Topics included the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; aging societies; alternative energy; public service; global security; Russia and the West; health care reform; immigration; and poverty and class in America.
First-hand account from Ethan Scherer, second-year fellow, who participated in the event The goal of the weekend was to bring together experts from a wide variety of areas to discuss emerging topics for our nation in an objective and analytic fashion. The weekend opened with the perfect topic: the transition of presidential administrations. It was less than two weeks after Obama team claimed victory in the midst of one of our country's greatest economic crises. Who better to discuss these complexities than two former transitioning chiefs of staff, Andy Card and Thomas "Mack" McLarty? Despite their stark political differences, the discussants generally agreed on the important elements and factors of a presidential transition, with insights that only someone in their position could have provided. The theme of common ground extended to the panel that I helped prepare on Saturday, on preventing a permanent underclass in America. It was a great opportunity for me to meet people like renowned academic and author James Q. Wilson, whose books I had read while working on my master's degree. Despite some differences of opinion on how the dynamics of the economy were changing, the panelists came together to endorse high-quality services for families with children between the ages of 0 and 5. Both the audience and the panelists engaged in a lively discussion to address an extremely complex issue and identify potential actionable options. Saturday ended on the perfect note, with a plenary dialogue in the Forum that brought together four former international heads of state to assess the new global agenda. Overall, it was an amazing experience. Making It Happen: Turning Analysis into PolicyOver the last few months, PRGS hosted a number of current and former policymakers as part of a brownbag series called "Making It Happen: Turning Analysis into Policy." Interim Dean Molly Selvin organized the series on the premise that while PRGS fellows learn sophisticated quantitative tools, the ineffable factors that make a good policymaker or political leader are hard to teach. Sometimes the best way to learn, she believes, is by hearing how others have done it—where they have succeeded and failed. Selvin reached out to PRGS alumni and local policymakers; and throughout the fall of 2008, PRGS hosted the following speakers:
Additional speakers are scheduled for December and we're eager to hear from PRGS alumni interested in sharing their real-world policy experiences with current fellows. APPAM ConferencePRGS—along with the University of Southern California; the University of California, Los Angeles, and Pepperdine University—hosted the 30th Annual Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) Conference in November 2008 at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. PRGS hosted a reception for students, alumni, RAND staffers, and guests. Several of our students and alumni participated:
Serving as session discussants were current students Zoe Cullen, Seo Yeon Hong, and Xiaoyan Li. At a special PRGS table, attendees were able to review current RAND literature and purchase RAND publications. Approximately 800 people attended, and RAND's presence was prominent, with a photo of PRGS on the cover of the conference program. New Director of DevelopmentMaura Ann Krah joined PRGS as the new Director of Development in November 2008. A veteran fund-raiser, Maura's expertise is in building and expanding major gifts strategies, launching campaigns, and implementing effective fund-raising programs. She comes to us most recently from Otis College of Art and Design, where she served as Director of Major Gifts. Prior to that, she was affiliated with Southern California Public Radio, where she was the Manager of Major Gifts from 2003 to 2006. From 1998 to 2003, Maura launched national programs for the Arthritis Foundation as a senior vice president for the Southern California Chapter. She has served on the Board of Governors for The Groundlings, Los Angeles. Maura holds a B.A. from Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina Alumni UpdateGordon Bitko '06 visited PRGS on November 18 to speak to interested fellows about opportunities with the FBI in general, and of the need for policy professionals in the Corporate Policy Office in particular. Gordon shared how network connections with RAND researchers helped him secure his current position. He and his wife Sai Ma '07 are expecting their first child in March. Let Other Alums Know What You Are Up To! Send us a class note, or just update your contact information; please be sure to include your name, graduation year, current contact information, and, if available, a recent photo. Please send to findings@prgs.edu. Dissertations from Recent AlumsJames Griffin, Improving Cost-Effectiveness and Mitigating Risks of Renewable Energy Requirements In December 2008, James accepted a position as assistant researcher at the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Jane McClure Burstain, Adolescent Mothers Involved in the Child Welfare System in Los Angeles: Who Are They and How Can We Help Them? In September 2008, Jane accepted a position as senior policy analyst at the Center for Public Policy Priorities in Austin, Texas. Bogdan Savych, Effects of Deployments on Spouses of Military Personnel In September 2008, Bogdan began working as a public policy analyst with Workers Compensation Research Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Yuhui Zheng, Economic Determinants of Obesity Among Older Americans Yuhui is a postdoctoral fellow, under the guidance of Dana Goldman, director of the Health Economics, Organization, and Finance Program within RAND Health. Dissertation AwardsIn September 2008, PRGS held its annual dissertation award competition. Thirty-five proposals—an all-time high—were submitted for consideration. More important, thanks to the generosity of PRGS board members, friends, and alumni, PRGS was able to award nearly $450,000 in dissertation grants to 27 fellows on dissertation status. Cazier Award in Sustainability An award to Sara Hajiamiri Energy and Environment Dissertation Awards An award to Myles Collins An award to Ryan Keefe The Kip and Mary Ann Hagopian Dissertation Awards An award to Liz Brown An award to Jack Clift An award to Sarah Gaillot An award to Ben Kim An award to Xiaohui Zhuo JL (Jim Lovelace) Foundation Awards An award to Lindsay Daugherty An award to Meena Fernandes The Frederick S. Pardee Multi-Nation Regional Analysis Dissertation Fellowships An award to Sarah Olmstead An award to Jeff Tanner The Eugene Rosenfeld Dissertation Awards An award to John Fei An award to Qiufei Ma An award to Alisher Akhmedjonov An award to Liz Brown The Anne and James Rothenberg Dissertation Awards An award to Emre Erkut An award to Anna-Marie Vilamovska An award to Seo Yeon Hong An award to Ying Liu An award to Zoe Cullen An award to Jordan Fischbach The Paul A. Volcker Dissertation Award An award to Bryan Tysinger The Susan Way-Smith Seed Money Grant in Education An award to Richard Bowman PRGS Seed Money Grants An award to Claudia Diaz An award to Chris McLaren An award to Silvia Montoya An award to Helen Wu PRGS Softball Ends Rollercoaster Season, Says So Long (and Thanks) to Manager
However, the team missed out on the playoffs by a single game after a heartbreaking 7-5 loss to close rival Hair of the Dog. Although the team was the winningest in PRGS history, manager Jack "Tito" Clift expressed mixed emotions in his final press briefing of the season. "Despite the 'sympathy' extended by the press and our critics, I am proud of our performance. We've drafted and trained several novice players, never making experience or team tenure a prerequisite for playing time," Clift said. "But this is a game of results. We have .500-level talent and a .250 record. Numbers don't lie, but they certainly say unflattering things about my performance as manager. I owe it to the team's loyal fan [RANDite Jennifer Prim] to end the speculation about my position with the club and let the team make a fresh start with someone else at the helm." Following the "shock" resignation, Chris "Red" McLaren was installed as interim manager and immediately pledged that the team would finish "in at least the same standing [next season] . . . as we did this season." The appointment represents a shot at redemption for McLaren, who, despite leading the team in on-base percentage (.765), played in eight of the team's nine losses last season and none of its three wins. In other team news, PRGS fellow Brandon "Duesy" Dues, sent down to the RAND Sharks to practice multitasking wit and softball under noted expert Benson Wong, saved the Sharks from a disappointing early playoff exit in the Santa Monica men's C– league with a final-inning, two-out, three-run home run in a 12-10 victory over Herd 2, bringing So Long and Thanks for All the OJT's characteristic clutch hitting to the team after it was down to its last out. Entering the off-season, veteran players remained philosophical about the future. The team's all-time at-bat and spiritual leader Diana "Deps" Epstein invoked Walt Whitman in summing up the mood of the team: "We see great things in softball. It's our game, the American game. It will repair our losses and be a blessing to us." Recent Issues of Policy InsightBrian A. Weatherford and Henry H. Willis David K. Evans and Arkadipta Ghosh your_name@alumni.prgs.edu: Sign Up for Lifetime Email Forwarding!Want to make sure that PRGS/RAND friends and colleagues can always find you? Sign up for a free lifetime email forwarding and keep "@alumni.prgs.edu" permanently attached to your name. By signing up, PRGS will automatically forward all e-mail sent to your "alumni.prgs.edu" address to a current email account that you designate. As you change jobs, addresses, and Internet access providers, your PRGS alumni address will remain constant so that fellow alums, RAND staffers, friends, business associates, and family will always be able to reach you. To sign up, please contact Mary Parker at PRGS (mary_parker@prgs.edu). Subjectively SpeakingWe know you have opinions, and we'd like to hear from you. Just drop a line to findings@prgs.edu. Please include your full name and hometown. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Previous Issues
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Susan L. Marquis, a former senior Pentagon official and government management expert, will become the new dean of the Pardee RAND Graduate School (PRGS) in January 2009. She will also hold the Distinguished Chair in Policy Analysis at RAND.
A shorthanded So Long and Thanks for All the OJT (The John Graham Farewell Tour) romped to victory in its final game of the summer season, defeating congenial foes Fun with Dick and Jane by a score of 19-7. In an unprecedented offensive explosion, the team racked up 17 hits and one extra-base walk to carry recently promoted pitcher COL S. Jamie Gayton (pictured at left) to his third win of the season, despite giving up seven unearned runs. The team received strong support from the baking of managerial spouse Alexandra "Team Mom" Clift, whose caramel apple rum cupcakes marked her 11th extra-taste hit in 11 sweet-plate appearances.