APPAM Webinars

APPAM is pleased to offer complimentary webinars throughout the year. Below you can find a list of upcoming webinars, recent webinars with public recordings, and members-only archived webinar topics. You can find recent webinar recordings on APPAM's YouTube channel and all recordings in your APPAM membership profile in the webinar library.

Don't see a topic that you were looking for? APPAM collects webinar proposals from active APPAM members throughout the year. If you have a timely and broadly appealing topic that you're interested in sharing, please see the webinar proposal section below.

Questions? Email [email protected]. 

Live APPAM webinars are available to everyone, but our webinar library is reserved for active APPAM Members as a membership benefit. Log in as a member to view our full archive. 

Data Visualization and Communication Training

Host and Speaker: Jon Schwabish, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute

Once upon a time, a picture was worth a thousand words. But with online news, blogs, and social media, a good picture can now be worth much more. Researchers who want to disseminate their research, both inside and outside the seminar room, should invest some time in thinking about how to construct compelling and effective graphics. In this webinar, the audience will learn some of the best practices around creating effective graphs to help support their arguments and hypotheses.

Policy Research & Program Evaluation After DOGE

Speakers: Paul Decker (President, Mathematica), Sherry Glied (Dean, New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service), David Reingold (Chancellor, Indiana University-Bloomington), and Cecilia Rouse (President, Brookings Institution and Professor, Princeton)

Moderator: Douglas Besharov (Professor, University of Maryland School of Public Policy and Senior Fellow, The Bipartisan Policy Center)

Major cuts have been made in the federal structure and funding for policy research and program evaluation—in health, education, and social programs; international aid, and throughout the federal government. 

This has been a deeply troubling process, not just for the staff involved, but because past decades have seen strengthened evaluation methods advance our understanding of many societal problems, and how to better address them. Nevertheless, past federal approaches to program evaluation were not without weaknesses, and many of us would like to see various and, in some cases, fundamental changes made. 

After a brief summary of what has happened (and is still happening), the panelists will address five questions about the future: What opportunities are likely to open in policy research? Can we build on past successes to make evaluations more policy and program relevant? What methodologies would be in an updated evaluation toolkit? How will AI and IT generally affect evaluation practices? And, what should students and prospective students be told? 

Cogent & Concise: Finding the Story in Your Study 

Host and Speaker: Dan Gorenstein, Founder and Executive Editor, Tradeoffs

You can sign up for Tradeoffs' free weekly newsletter to get their latest reporting delivered straight to your inbox each Thursday morning.

In today’s environment, researchers must not only possess subject matter expertise but also master the art of translating their work in a way that will resonate with diverse audiences. When policymakers or members of the media find data or reports confusing, that information is often dismissed and the opportunity to influence decisions is missed. In this session, you will learn how to find the story in your research, clearly communicate your findings, and confidently engage with reporters and key stakeholders. Learning these skills will help you establish yourself as a trusted expert and thought leader in your field.

Exploring Clean Slate Legislation: Perspectives from Different States

Speakers: Kristin Bechtel (RTI International), KiDeuk Kim (Urban Institute), Alissa Skog (California Policy Lab), Derek Veitenheimer (SEARCH)

Moderator: Laura Chavez (The Clean Slate Initiative)

Criminal records can severely impact individuals' lives, restricting access to safety-net benefits and job opportunities. However, in recent years, 12 states have enacted “Clean Slate” laws, leveraging technology to automate record relief for eligible individuals who maintain a clean record for a specified period. 

This roundtable brings together researchers from various states to discuss the status and complexities of Clean Slate legislation. The discussion will begin by outlining research and policy perspectives on the barriers posed by a criminal record, providing a foundation for a deeper exploration of Clean Slate policies. Speakers will also analyze differences in who has received relief and which records have been cleared across states. 

The Future of Public Service: Are the Kids Alright?

Speakers: Dan Mallinson (Penn State Harrisburg), T.J. McCarthy (University of Southern California), Kosali Simon (Indiana University)

Moderator: Don Kettl (University of Maryland)

The winnowing away of staff throughout the federal government since January has captivated the nation, not the least of whom are the thousands of APPAM students currently enrolled or about to be enrolled in public policy, public administration, and public affairs graduate programs across the country. Many of these students have chosen to pursue public service as their chosen field and might be feeling unsettled based on these recent and ongoing events. Join us for an upcoming webinar featuring a panel of experts discussing where job opportunities exist in the current market, how students can add value to their training and skill sets as they enter the job market, and what might be in store for those entering the world of public service in the near future.

How to Get Accepted to the APPAM Conference (APPAM Members Only)

Speakers: Sade Bonilla (University of Pennsylvania), Michael Lens (University of California, Los Angeles), Jonathan Schwabish (Urban Institute), Sebastian Tello Trillo (University of Virginia)

Moderator: Antonia Vazquez (University of Texas at Austin)

Ever wonder about the conference submission process? In this webinar, you'll get the tips needed for your APPAM Fall Research Conference submission to stand out! We’ll walk you through the process of submission, the review process and what we look for in a conference session. Panelists will have a background serving on an  APPAM Program Committee. These speakers have made decisions on proposals in the past and are ready to answer your questions to help you present at the next APPAM conference. Join us for resources on how to highlight your conference proposals for APPAM and beyond!

The Future for Data Access (APPAM Members Only)

Speakers: Jed Kolko (Former Undersecretary for Economic Affairs at the Department of Commerce), Amy O’Hara (Director, Georgetown Federal Statistical Research Data Center), Steve Pierson (Director of Science Policy, American Statistical Association)

Moderator: Erica L. Groshen (Senior Economic Advisor, Cornell ILR School and Former Commissioner of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

This webinar, the second hosted by APPAM about changes in the federal government, focuses on data access and what researchers who rely on federal datasets for their work might expect in the future from the Trump administration. The webinar will explore the availability of data on agency websites, access to confidential data, interaction with agency staff, and data continuity and quality. Panelists will assess what has changed and where efforts to get answers from the administration stand. The panel will also discuss the next steps in the pursuit against missing public information that underpins the research all our members engage in.

Assault on Federal Employment and Programs (APPAM Members Only)

Speakers: Nicholas Bednar (University of Minnesota Law School), Donald Kettl (University of Maryland), Loren DeJonge Schulman (Telos Lab, formerly Office of Management and Budget)

Moderator: Don Moynihan (University of Michigan)

This webinar, the first of a series hosted by APPAM about changes in the federal government, focuses on how the Trump administration has sought to weaken federal employee protections, while downsizing programs and entire agencies. The webinar will explore the legality of actions taken thus far, and what might happen next, considering the effect on federal employees, and public service provision. Time will be reserved for audience questions. This webinar is free and open to all.​

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Webinar Proposals

APPAM is continuously looking for fresh and timely webinar content and our best resource is our members! Active APPAM members are encouraged to submit webinar proposals for policy-related content and professional development topics.

Submit a Webinar Proposal Here

Webinar Proposal Questions? Email [email protected]. 
 

Archived APPAM Webinars

Live APPAM webinars are available to everyone, but our webinar library is reserved for active APPAM Members as a membership benefit. Log in as a member to view our full archive. 

• APPAM Professional Development Series (August-October 2023)
• Networking and Mentoring in Economics and Policy (October 2023)
• Collecting Information on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in NCES Surveys (May 2023)
• People and Places: Inequality, Migration, Place-Based Economic Development, and Equity (March 2023)
• Utility Decision-Making and Public Policy Around Energy Poverty and Insecurity (September 2022)
• Promoting Equity in State and Local Governments (July 2022)
• Growing the Field of Early Childhood Policy (June 2022)
• Beyond GDP: Measuring Genuine Progress (March 2022)
• Conference Submissions: How to Get Accepted (January 2022)
• Minimum Wage Policy: Impact and Future Direction (October 2021)
• Immigration Policy - Reshaping U.S. Border and Asylum Policy (August 2021)
• How to Start Strong with Research-Government Partnerships (June 2021)
• Food Insecurity, the Child Allowance, and Child Poverty (May 2021)
• Defining Policy Analysis: A Journey That Never Ends (February 2021)

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Retired APPAM Podcasts

 APPAM retired our podcast series in 2023. You can find our previous podcast recordings here.

APPAM's Let's Grab A Coffee podcast was recorded by the Student Advisory Committee (SAC). The episodes were informal conversations with a scholar from the field to show the human side of public policy.