Congratulations to CHRIS MOONEY, professor of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield and the U of I’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs, on being named the first Honorable W. Russell Arrington Professor in State Politics.
Mooney, a national expert in the field of state politics and policy who focuses on legislative decision making, legislative leadership and morality policy, was selected for the honor from candidates at all three U of I campuses. The professorship, which is part of the IGPA, is named for Arrington, who served in the legislature from 1945-73, became the Senate’s leader and was considered the father of the modern General Assembly in part for building up the operation with adequate staff.
The late Arrington’s son MICHAEL ARRINGTON and former Gov. JIM EDGAR, an Arrington admirer, were involved in the efforts to fund the professorship. JIM PAUL, assistant director of the IGPA, said the goal of $500,000 needed for an endowed professorship was nearly reached.
Mooney, who has the honor for a five-year renewable term, said the chair comes with a research support fund of $10,000 to $20,000 per year. His first project is conducting a series of interviews to determine how lawmakers think about cause and effect in public policy.
At UIS since 1999, Mooney is founding editor of a national journal called State Politics and Policy Quarterly.
Mooney was featured in a March 13, 2011, article in The State Journal-Register.
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