Fourth Annual
Talking Policy in the Queen City
Friday, February 11, 2022
A Virtual Event, Free and Open to the Public
Download the Full Program with Zoom Links
The Schedule
| 9 a.m.–10:20 a.m. | Education Policy Panel |
| 10:30 a.m.–11 a.m. | Careers in Public Policy |
| 11 a.m.–12:20 p.m. | Transportation Policy Panel |
| 12:20 p.m.–12:50 p.m. | Lunch Break |
| 12:50 p.m.–1:50 p.m. | Plenary Address: Critical Issues for Public Health and Policy |
| 2 p.m.–3:15 p.m. | Careers in Health Policy |
Plenary Address: Critical Issues for Public Health and Policy, Dr. Marcus Plescia
l leadership and expertise across the agency and oversees ASTHO’s portfolio of chronic disease prevention and control programs. During the COVID-19 epidemic he has served as ASHTO’s principal spokesperson, and primary liaison to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, U.S. territories, and District of Columbia, as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. Dr Plescia has served in public health leadership roles at the local, state and federal level in North Carolina and at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In these roles he has led successful efforts to enact systemic public health interventions including expanded cancer screening coverage, prescription drug and disease reporting requirements, revised clinical guidelines, and state and local tobacco policy. He has been prominent in nationwide efforts to transform public health practice to a more population-based, strategic framework, and led the implementation of the CDC's national colorectal cancer screening program based on this approach. Dr Plescia received his Medical Degree, Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He trained in Family Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and has practiced in a variety of settings serving homeless, urban poor and rural underserved populations. He has published extensively in the public health and family medicine literature.Plenary Presider: Dr. Teresa Scheid, Professor, Department of Sociology, UNC Charlotte
The Panels
Education Policy Panel
Panelists will share their research and expertise on Education Policy, addressing developments, challenges, and opportunities. Attendees may submit questions for the panelists on the registration form or online during the event. The panel will conclude with a 20-minute open-networking opportunity, where all participants may chat informally.
Dr. Andy Baxter, Educator Recruitment and Support Research Fellow, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Dr. Martha Bottia, Senior Research Analyst, Institutional Research, UNC Charlotte
Dr. Sara Dahill-Brown, Associate Professor, Department of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University
Dr. Stephanie Potochnick, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, UNC Charlotte
Presider: Dr. Jason Giersch, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, UNC Charlotte
Organizers: Dr. Jason Giersch and Dr. Stephanie Potochinick, UNC Charlotte
Careers in Public Policy Panel
Panelists will share their career experiences along with challenges and opportunities in their fields, emphasizing what can be learned by current students and individuals launching their careers in policy research.
Dr. Kirstin Wells, Principal Economist, Payments Division, Federal Reserve Board
Dr. Stephany De Scisciolo, Vice President of Impact and Evaluation, Enterprise Community Partners
Presider: Dr. Jason Windett, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration and Associate Director, Public Policy Doctoral Program, UNC Charlotte
Transportation Policy Panel
Panelists will share their research and expertise on Transporation Policy, addressing developments, challenges, and opportunities, especially in the light of the recently passed Federal Infrastructure Bill. Attendees may submit questions for the panelists on the registration form or online during the event. The panel will conclude with a 20-minute open-networking opportunity, where all participants may chat informally.
Dr. Genevieve Giuliano, Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Director, METRANS Transportation Center, University of Southern California
Dr. Noreen McDonald, Department Chair, Thomas Willis Lambeth Distinguished Professor, Director of Carolina Transportation Program, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dr. Olga Smirnova, Associate Professor of Public Administration, East Carolina University
Organizer and Presider: Dr. Jean-Claude Thill, Knight Distinguished Professor of Geography and Earth Science, UNC Charlotte
Careers in Health Policy Panel
Panelists will share their career experiences along with challenges and opportunities in health policy, emphasizing what can be learned by current students and individuals launching their careers in policy research. The panel will conclude with a 30-minute open-networking opportunity, where all participants may chat informally.
Dr. Ashley Dunham, Senior Director of Clinical Research, Cleerly
Dr. Cicily Hampton, Deputy Director of Operations and Eligibility Services at UMWA Health and Retirement Funds
Dr. Stephen Stemkowski, Research Consulting Principal at Humana Healthcare Research
Presider: Dr. Bill Brandon, Emeritus Metrolina Medical Foundation Distinguished Professor of Health Policy, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, UNC Charlotte
