Institute for Public Policy Studies

Co-Directors

Richard D. Lamm is currently a University Professor, Co-Director of the Institute for Public Policy Studies and Executive Director of the Center for Public Policy & Contemporary Issues. Gov. Lamm, who served three terms as Colorado Governor from 1975-1987, has always been in the forefront of political change. In 1992, he was honored by the Denver Post and Historic Denver, Inc. as one of the 100 most important people in Colorado history. Gov. Lamm teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, including "Hard Choices in Public Policy" and Medical Policy." A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, he earned his J.D. from Boalt Hall at the University of California, Berkeley.

Richard A. Caldwell is Co-Director of the Institute for Public Policy Studies and Director of the Graduate and Undergraduate Programs in Public Policy. He is responsible for the development and management of the University of Denver's policy programs, including the development of curricula in public policy analysis. Mr. Caldwell received his bachelor's degree in philosophy and English literature from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Both his law degree and master's degree in sociology of law are from the University of Denver. A former member of DU's senior administration, Mr. Caldwell completed the advanced program in higher education management at Harvard University.

FACULTY

Peter Groff is a lecturer in the Undergraduate and Graduate Programs in Public Policy, Executive Director of DU's Center for African American Policy and a Colorado State Senator (District 33). Sen. Groff was elected Pro Tem of the Colorado State Senate in 2004. He was previously elected to two terms in the Colorado House of Representatives. Prior to his position at DU, Sen. Groff worked as a senior assistant to Mayor Wellington E. Webb, assistant and campaign manager to Councilwoman Allegra "Happy" Haynes and deputy political director for the campaign of former Governor Roy Romer. Sen. Groff earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands in California and a J.D. from the University of Denver.

Patrick Heck is a lecturer in the Graduate Program in Public Policy and a strategic advisor for Denver International Airport. Mr. Heck's areas of research focus on the aviation industry, particularly on the economics of airport development. In 1997, he authored a study entitled "Denver International Airport: Public Strategies for Private Investment" that analyzed the intersection of public and private enterprise. He also authored a study in 2000 that analyzed airport response to demand for air travel. Mr. Heck double-majored in public policy and opera performance at the University of Denver and received an MPP from the Harris School for Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago.

Steve Hindes is a lecturer in the Graduate and Undergraduate Programs in Public Policy. He is also a board certified family physician in private practice. Dr. Hindes teaches “Medical Policy and the American Health Care System” and “Analytical and Critical Skills.” In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he also participates in program development for the Institute for Public Policy Studies and advises undergraduate and graduate public policy students. Dr. Hindes earned his M.D. and M.P.H. at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Andrew Sherbo is a lecturer in the Graduate and Undergraduate Programs in Public Policy. He teaches courses in Cost-Benefit Analysis, Microeconomics, Quantitative Analysis and Budgeting. Dr. Sherbo earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis and Administration (Fiscal Policy/Finance) from St. Louis University. He earned his Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree in Finance from the University of Georgia. He has over 30 years of professional experience in both the public and private sectors with positions as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Senior Economist, and Director of Centers in Cost and Financial Analysis. He also has over 30 years of teaching experience with courses in corporate and public finance, international finance, economics, managerial accounting, statistics, and investments at the undergraduate, masters, and doctorate levels.

Henry Sobanet is a lecturer in the Graduate Program in Public Policy. He teaches the Public Management and Budgeting course. Mr. Sobanet earned a bachelor's degree in Economics at the University of Colorado at Boulder and then completed a master's degree in the same subject at the University of Colorado at Denver. He worked as an economist for five years at the Colorado Legislative Council. Mr. Sobanet began working at the Office of State Planning and Budgeting in 1999 and soon after was appointed to Director of the office. He is currently the President of Colorado Strategies, LLC a private consulting firm specializing in economics, Colorado budget issues, legislative affairs and strategic management. He also represents Denver on the Colorado Transportation Commission and is a member of the Second Judicial District Nominating Commission.

Guest Lecturers

Eugene Bardach is a professor of public policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of numerous books and monographs. Prof. Bardach served as president of the Association for Public Policy Analysis in 2003 and is currently the editor of the "Insights" and "Professional Practice" departments of the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. In 1998 he received the Donald T. Campbell award from the Policy Studies Organization for creative contribution to the methodology of policy analysis. During the Winter Quarter 2007, Prof. Bardach taught a Great Issues Forum for the Graduate Program in Public Policy based on his popular book A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem Solving. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Andrew E. Busch is a professor in the Government Department at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, Calif. Prof. Busch is a former lecturer in DU's Graduate Program in Public Policy and former associate professor in DU's Department of Political Science, where he taught from 1992-2004. Prof. Busch's area of specialty is American politics and government. In the Political Science Department, he taught undergraduate courses on the U.S. Congress, American presidency, U.S. foreign policy process, campaigns and elections, and American political thought. Prof. Busch has authored or co-authored six books on American politics, including Ronald Reagan and the Politics of Freedom. He earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Virginia.

Christopher Carr is a guest lecturer for the Graduate Program in Public Policy and a professor at the Air War College of the United States Air Force. He is also a former professor at the United States Air Force Academy. Professor Carr earned his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics. In the winter of 2002, he taught a Great Issues Forum entitled "Modern War, the New Threat Environment, and National Security."

Sarah Kuehl is a guest lecturer for the Graduate Program in Public Policy and a senior policy analyst for the U.S. Senate Budget Committee. Ms. Kuehl is an analyst of Social Security, community and regional development, and transportation. She earned her master's degree in public policy (MPP) from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and is an alumna of the Public Affairs Program. In 2003, Ms. Kuehl and Gov. Lamm taught a Great Issues Forum on entitlements.

Natasha Léger is a lecturer in the Graduate and Undergraduate Programs in Public Policy and is an accomplished business and international trade advisor to senior executives and the U.S. government. Ms. Léger teaches courses in scenario planning, trade policy and comparative public policy. With boutique and Big 4 consulting firm experience, Ms. Léger has over seven years experience in scenario-based strategic planning. She has developed global planning strategies and alternative planning assumptions for Fortune 500 companies across various industries. As a former international trade attorney for the United States Department of Commerce, Ms. Léger worked on trade agreements and treaties and assisted U.S. companies competing for overseas projects. Ms. Léger double-majored in public policy and international studies at the University of Denver, earned her J.D. from Boston College, and earned her M.A. in international affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Link to Education Scorecard.

Jeffrey Levine is senior vice president of healthcare media relations for Hill & Knowlton in Wasthington DC, one of the largest communications consulting firms in the world. Mr. Levine spent 18 years as health reporter at CNN and several as D.C. bureau chief for WebMD. He also served as the health communications director at the American Institutes for Research. Mr. Levine earned his master's degree from the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berekeley and his bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Van Schoales is a program officer focusing on urban education for the Denver-based Piton Foundation. He has served as the interim president of the Colorado Children's Campaign and executive director of the Colorado Small Schools Initiative. Mr. Schoales was the founding principal and CEO of The Odyssey School, an Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound Denver Public School, and has helped establish a variety of other new schools, including the Denver School of Science and Technology. In 2003, he was named a Marshall Memorial Fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF). He received a BA in earth sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz, an MSc in Geological Sciences from Brown University, and an MA in education from Stanford University.

Senior Fellows

Bill Owens is a Senior Fellow of the Institute for Public Policy Studies and a special guest instructor in the Undergraduate and Graduate programs.  Gov. Owens, who served two terms as Colorado Governor from 1999-2007, was called “the best governor in America” by National Review magazine and has been praised by the Cato Institute and The Wall Street Journal for his pro-growth economic policies.  Prior to his service as governor, Gov. Owens served as State Treasurer and was elected to both the Colorado House and Senate.  He has been a regular speaker and panelist at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and a guest lecturer at Moscow State University, the University of Kazan, New Russian University (Moscow), British/American University in Alma Aty, Kazakhstan, and the University of Dublin.  Gov. Owens earned a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. (Click here to visit Gov. Owens' page.)

Staff

Chloé Gable
Program Manager

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Marketing Manager