Northwestern University professor Kirabo Jackson has been selected to receive the David N. Kershaw Award and Prize for his contributions to the field of public policy analysis and management. Dr. Jackson will be honored at the 2020 APPAM Fall Research Conference, happening virtually this November.
Dr. Jackson is the Abraham Harris Professor of Education and Social Policy, and Faculty Fellow with the Institute for Policy Research at the Northwestern University. He is a very accomplished scholar in the education policy area, with numerous publications and conference presentations, and his work focuses primarily on better understanding teacher labor markets. In 2016 and 2017, Jackson was listed among the top university-based scholars who are doing the most to influence educational policy and practice by Education Week. He is currently the coeditor at the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. and he is a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.
“As the nation continues to grapple with critical education challenges in the context of COVID-19, bringing timely, relevant evidence to these discussions has never been more important,” said Paul Decker, President and CEO of Mathematica and a former president of APPAM. “Through his research and insights, Kirabo is helping to build the evidence base on student achievement and teacher effectiveness, and ensuring that education leaders have access to the information they need to make informed decisions to benefit teachers and students.”
Jackson is the 20th winner of the David N. Kershaw Award and Prize, established to recognize young professionals under the age of 40 who have made distinguished contributions to the field of public policy. The award, consisting of a commemorative sculpture and a $20,000 cash prize, is offered every other year. David N. Kershaw, for whom the award is named, was the first president of Mathematica. The award and prize, first presented in 1983, is made possible by a memorial endowment established in Kershaw's honor after his death from cancer at the age of 37.
Dr. Jackson will give the Kershaw lecture on Thursday, November 12, at 1:00 PM Eastern, during the 2020 APPAM Fall Research Conference.