A longtime political scientist and faculty member at University of Illinois Springfield has been appointed as director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs.
Christopher Mooney, who joined UIS in 1999 and has been a member of IGPA since 2004, will succeed University of Illinois economist J. Fred Giertz. Giertz was named interim director in 2012 when UIS professor Robert Rich retired after serving as the institute’s director from 1986 to 1997 and 2005 to 2012.
Mooney’s appointment is subject to approval by the U of I board of trustees.
On Sunday, Mooney said he hopes to uphold IGPA’s mission to conduct exceptional public policy research, educate the public and provide assistance to government and policy-makers on critical issues facing the state.
Prior to his appointment as director, Mooney authored or co-authored five books relating to Illinois politics. He wrote two of the books as a UIS faculty member: “State and Local Politics: Institutions and Reform” and “Lobbying Illinois”.
He also was the founding editor of State Politics and Policy Quarterly, a peer-reviewed publication for research on state politics and policy.
Mooney was featured by The State Journal-Register on July 28, 2013.
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