September 08, 2006
Paula Wolff to speak at SIUC Sept. 18
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A veteran civic leader will visit Southern Illinois University Carbondale later this month.
Paula Wolff, senior executive of Chicago Metropolis 2020, will speak in the SIUC Student Center Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Sept. 18. Her appearance is part of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute's fall lecture series. Wolff will receive the 2006 Ralph A. Dunn Public Service Award, named for the late Du Quoin businessman and state legislator. The event is free and open to the public.
In addition to her lecture, Wolff will speak to students in a legislative process class taught by Randy Burnside, SIUC assistant professor of political science.
Chicago Metropolis 2020 is a civic organization implementing policy initiatives and programs for regional action on issues including land use, transportation, childhood development and education. Wolff's policy emphasis is on justice and violence, examining issues of crime, violence, incarceration and rehabilitation.
"Paula Wolff is one of the best public servants with whom I have interacted during more than 40 years of observing and participating in Illinois state government," said institute Director Mike Lawrence." Her remarkable intelligence, enthusiasm, tenacity and high ethical standards – all have contributed to an extraordinary record of making a positive difference for the people of our state."
From 1992 to 2000, Wolff served as president of Governors State University, located in Chicago's south suburbs.
Prior to her appointment at the university, she was a visiting fellow at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, where she helped establish a not-for-profit collaborative serving four pilot sites in the Chicago public schools.
Wolff served as director of policy and planning for former Gov. James R. Thompson from 1977 to 1991.
Wolff holds a bachelor's degree from Smith College and master's and doctoral degrees in political science from the University of Chicago.
She serves on numerous boards, including the Joyce Foundation, the Ariel Capital Management Board, the Metropolitan Planning Council, the Johnson Foundation, the Safer Foundation, the University of Chicago Hospitals and the University of Chicago Boards.
Wolff also co-chairs Gov. Rod Blagojevich's Council of Economic Advisors and is a gubernatorial appointee to the Illinois Courts Commission. Previously, she chaired and served on state policy panels, including the Redeploy Illinois Oversight Board, the Commission on the Status of Women and the Transition Committee for the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Wolff is married to Wayne W. Whalen, a lawyer, and has five children.
Developing citizen-leaders with global perspectives, and pursuing leadership opportunities to address social, health and economic development issues of importance to our region are among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.
Paula Wolff
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