CPAR Data and Research Series for Community Impact

Josie Gatti Schafer, Ph.D.

Director

University of Nebraska at Omaha Center for Public Affairs Research

Schafer joined UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service as the director of the Center for Public Affairs Research in 2018 because of their national reputation for public scholarship on public policy topics in their community, state, and region. She manages a stellar team with a current portfolio of projects totaling over $1 million per year. Her personal, project portfolio ranges with several smaller engaged research projects working collaboratively with a community partner as well as some high-profile research like CPAR's work with the Planning Committee of the Nebraska State Legislature. Recent grants and projects led by Schafer include research and analysis as part of the “6 Regions, One Nebraska” initiative; review of demographics, workforce, and housing in Omaha neighborhoods; collaboration with UNMC to analyze the status and future of the healthcare workforce; fellowship from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank and Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Institutions to study the economic impact of anchor institutions; and a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to study inclusive entrepreneurship.

Morgan Vogel, Ph.D.

Research Associate

University of Nebraska at Omaha Center for Public Affairs Research

Vogel joined the CPAR team in 2021 as a research associate because she wanted to bridge her academic research skills and passion for community engagement. She believes wholeheartedly in CPAR’s mission to produce and disseminate high-quality public scholarship that impacts the lives of Nebraskans. She works closely with CPAR’s director to develop and conduct research projects for a variety of community partners. She also enjoys working with a stellar group of graduate student research assistants in CPAR and encouraging their interests in applied research.

K.C. Belitz

Director

Nebraska Department of Economic Development

As the director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Belitz focuses on how to attract people — and businesses — to his home state. Previously, Belitz served as COO of the Nebraska Community Foundation and president of the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce since 2000. Belitz is a native of Columbus and graduate of Columbus High School and Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University). He and his wife, Colleen, have a daughter, Emerson.

Alex Brodersen, Ph.D.

Assistant Director for Research and Evaluation

Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS)

Brodersen was named assistant director for research and evaluation at the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS) in August 2021. His work experience includes over five years in the quantitative psychology, data science, and educational measurement fields. Prior to NSWERS, he worked as a talent analyst at Gallup and a psychometrician at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. As assistant director for research and evaluation, Brodersen plans, organizes, and executes research and evaluation functions. This includes both conducting and providing oversight for the technical quality of data analysis, providing in-house research design and quantitative measurement expertise, and creating a robust research dissemination approach to inform public policy and educational practice in alignment with NSWERS research priorities. Brodersen holds a bachelor’s degree in forensic science from the University of Nebraska, a master’s degree in applied/computational math and statistics from the University of Notre Dame, and a doctorate in quantitative psychology from the University of Notre Dame.

Katie Bass, Ph.D.

Policy Research Manager

First Five Nebraska

A McCook, Nebraska, native, Bass joined First Five Nebraska as a data and policy research advisor in fall 2020 and is now the policy research manager. Prior to that she worked to improve outcomes for Nebraska children in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Most recently, as research director for the Foster Care Review Office, she oversaw data collection, analyzed available data and made recommendations to the Legislature and Nebraska stakeholders for system improvement based on results. She has a passion for making data accessible and engaging for all, and uses skills gained in the classroom and as a faculty member at Eastern Illinois University to make complex research clear, relatable and applicable to policymakers. Katie received a Ph.D. and M.A. in sociology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a B.A. from Hastings College. When Katie met her husband, Dave, she gained a bonus daughter, Brittany. Together, Katie and Dave have two children, daughter, Parker, and son, Reece.

Lina Traslaviña Stover, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Heartland Workers Center

John McCoy

Associate Economist in Regional Affairs

Omaha Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

McCoy is an associate economist in the Regional Affairs Department at the Omaha Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. In this role, he supports research and outreach efforts surrounding economic developments in the state of Nebraska. His responsibilities include serving as Board Secretary to the Omaha Branch Board of Directors and co-authoring The Nebraska Economist. He joined the Bank in 2017 as a research associate in the Regional Affairs Department at the Omaha Branch. Prior to 2017, he spent two years as an intern with the department. John holds a B.A. and M.A. from Creighton University.

Adam Grundy

Supervisory Statistician

Data User and Trade Outreach Branch, Economic Management Division, U.S. Census Bureau

Grundy began his career at the Census Bureau in 2009 as part of the Investment Goods Industries Branch in the Manufacturing and Construction Division. He worked as a survey analyst in the Computers and Electronic Products NAICS. Shortly after, he moved to the Economic Indicators Division to work as a survey analyst in the Manufacturer’s Shipments, Inventories and Orders Survey (M3). During his tenure in M3, Grundy was selected as a leader for the Economic Directorate’s (ECON) first General Workforce Advisory Board. He served as the board’s president from its initial start-up in the summer of 2014 through early 2016. Grundy most recently worked in the Economy-Wide Statistics Division as a survey analyst in the Healthcare and Education Branch. During his tenure in the services area, Adam was elected as a co-leader for the Joint Sub Committee for Communication. During Grundy’s tenure in the Data User Outreach and Education Branch in the International Trade Management Division, he developed an online calendar for the ECON Directorate, participated in several key stakeholder meetings for developing the Census Business Builder data platform, and served as a valuable member of the Data Outreach team for the Census Bureau. Grundy received a bachelor’s degree in human studies and a certification in elementary education. He lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his wife, Jill, son, Bennett, and daughters, Julia and Cecilia.

Christopher Decker, Ph.D.

Professsor

University of Nebraska at Omaha Department of Economics

Decker received his Ph.D. in Business Economics from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in 2000 and teaches courses in Microeconomics, Business Economics, Economic Forecasting, and Natural Resource Economics at UNO. His academic work has been published in a variety of academic journals. Decker has also partnered with several organizations to conduct economic assessments and forecasts of city and regional economies, including the production of a large number of economic impact studies using IMPLAN. Other studies have included assessing the economic impact of immigrant populations on the local economy. Before joining UNO, Professor Decker worked in the private sector for DRI/McGraw-Hill (now IHS Global Insight) from 1990 to 1993, and FW Dodge/McGraw-Hill from 1993 to 1995, producing forecasts for regional economies, of energy prices and demand, long-range macroeconomic and demographic indicators, as well as construction prices, and commercial and institutional construction activity.