Last modified: Thursday, May 31, 2012
Former Chief Justice Shepard will join IU Public Policy Institute as first executive in residence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2012
INDIANAPOLIS -- Recently retired Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard has been named the first executive in residence at the Indiana University Public Policy Institute in IU's School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie welcomed the appointment of Shepard. "Justice Shepard is without question one of the legal giants in the history of Indiana, and it is an honor to have him associated with Indiana University in this important capacity," he said.
As executive in residence, Shepard will work with PPI on finding ways that nonpartisan research and data can help leaders understand the challenges and opportunities of the future. Under the two-year joint academic appointment with SPEA and the IU McKinney School of Law, Shepard will lead executive seminars and mentor faculty and staff as they develop academic programs focused on the relationship between law and public policy.
"The chief justice's years as leader of one branch of Indiana government have prepared him to be an expert resource and mentor for the work we do at the IU Public Policy Institute," said institute Director John L. Krauss. "We are gratified and pleased that he has chosen to give us the benefit of his knowledge and experience and to use the institute as a forum through which he can continue to help shape Indiana's future. And his past work with PPI ensures that he will hit the ground running."
Shepard has co-chaired two recent projects for PPI: Policy Choices for Indiana's Future, which provides policy guidance for Indiana officials and candidates for office; and the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform, which was formed by Gov. Mitch Daniels and staffed by PPI. Both projects made detailed recommendations intended to guide policy-makers' decisions and benefit the people of Indiana. Shepard will continue to serve as co-chair of PPI's Advisory Board, furthering the institute's mission of providing nonpartisan research, data and analysis that Indiana's residents and leaders need to make informed decisions.
"Naming Randy Shepard to this post establishes the high standard of quality we expect for this program and the stature of the executives we wish to include in the future," Krauss said. "We also hope Chief Justice Shepard's work with the institute will allow us to seek larger national projects and relationships."
Shepard retired in March after serving on the Indiana Supreme Court for 27 years. He had been chief justice for a quarter of a century, making him the nation's longest-serving state court chief justice. He will continue judicial services as a senior judge at the Indiana Court of Appeals, and he anticipates being involved in other endeavors.
"When I decided to leave the bench, it was with the hope that I could find new opportunities to contribute in a meaningful way, and my appointment with PPI certainly fits the bill," Shepard said. "I find it attractive as a combination of public policy exploration that's anchored in rigorous academic enterprise and focused on engaging audiences beyond the university who are charged with leading public institutions."
A native Hoosier who served in city government and as a judge in Evansville and Vanderburgh County before being appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court in 1985, Shepard has been recognized nationally for his service and expertise. In 2006, he was appointed by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to serve on a committee that advises the U.S. Supreme Court.
"The chief justice's commitment to engaging beyond the campus is a perfect fit with IUPUI's commitment to engaging our city, state and nation," said Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Chancellor Charles R. Bantz. "In addition, his willingness to mentor McKinney and SPEA students and faculty contributes to our mission of teaching and research."
Shepard is available for media interviews: Contact Jen Thomas, JTPR Inc., at jen@jtprinc.com or 317-441-2487.
About the Indiana University Public Policy Institute
Celebrating 20 years of research and public service, the IU Public Policy Institute is a collaborative, multidisciplinary research institute within the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The institute serves as an umbrella organization for research centers affiliated with SPEA, including the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment and the Center for Criminal Justice Research. The institute also supports the Indiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.
