June 20, 2013

Matt Baughman selected as a 2013 Edgar Fellow

by Pete Rosenbery

Matt Baughman

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Matt Baughman, associate director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, has been chosen a 2013 Edgar Fellow.

Baughman is one of 41 Illinois elected and appointed officials, and business and community leaders to be part of an initiative to foster cooperation across regional, political and ethnic lines to address the state’s future challenges.  The program is part of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois and under the stewardship of former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar. 

Baughman and other fellows will gather Aug. 4-7 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to participate in an executive training program that includes scholars and practitioners in policy areas including health care and transportation. 

“I am confident these emerging leaders representing the great diversity of our state will become friends.  They will realize that they have much in common and appreciate differences in perspective.  They will form bonds and sharpen leadership skills that should help them solve problems as they assume even more responsibility,” Edgar said in a release.

Baughman has been with the Institute since beginning as development officer in July 1998.  He became assistant director in 2005, and associate director in 2009.  A graduate of Illinois College, Baughman earned an MBA from SIU Carbondale in 1997.  Chosen for the Dunn Fellowship Program in 1994, Baughman spent a year working in Edgar’s press office.  Prior to coming to SIU Carbondale he was with the Executive Development Center at the University of Central Florida.

“It’s an honor to be selected to participate in the Edgar Fellows program.  I have the highest respect for Gov. Edgar and was fortunate to have had the opportunity to start my career working for him and his outstanding staff,” Baughman said.  “I believe in the mission of the governor’s initiative to bring together a diverse group of leaders to create strong personal relationships despite our partisan, ethnic and regional differences.  Trust and respect are foundational to finding common ground and to solving disagreements.”

There were more than 160 Edgar Fellow nominees.  The 2013 Edgar Fellows include state senators and representatives, policy analysts, local government officials, businessmen and community organization officials.