The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute remains firmly rooted in Southern Illinois, is keenly focused on the challenges and opportunities that confront Illinois, and is delighted to be part of the national debate on leadership and citizenship. We continue to bring high quality speakers to Carbondale for public policy discussions. Fellowships, internships and work opportunities for SIU students remain central to our mission. Your support and generosity is vital to our programming.

*For anyone who makes a $500 donation or greater on SIU Day of Giving to the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute will receive an autographed copy of “Southern Illinois University at 150 Years: Growth, Accomplishments, and Challenges” by Dr. John Jackson (Est. Value $40)

Learn more about our three pillars of our “Better Politics, Smarter Government” agenda here.

Institute Priorities

1. Further our new projects such as the Town Hall Meetings Project with the Lugar Center. The Institute has developed a set of best practices for the conduct of congressional town hall meetings in Illinois that is becoming the basis of a national program that we are developing with the Lugar Center in Washington, D.C. 
2. Contribute to the future of Illinois. The Institute is determined to play an active and constructive role to revitalize Illinois. With the 50th anniversary of the Illinois Constitution approaching in 2020, it is crucial to learn the lessons of history and consider how our state can be better governed in the future. We look forward to hosting a Summit of Illinois university students this spring to discuss public policy challenges and making our state a more attractive place for young people to settle after graduating.
3. Support Statesmanship in Politics. The Institute has also launched an initiative to study, teach, and celebrate statesmanship which we define as inspired leadership characterized by courage, vision, civility, fairness, compassion, and effectiveness. We are committed to studying statesmanship at all levels of government and imagining what a rebirth of such leadership could look like in contemporary American politics. The Institute is inviting historians, political analysts, and leaders from all levels of government to come to campus and discuss the challenge of statesmanship.
4. Make a difference in the life of a student Saluki by supporting any of our endowed student scholarships (see full list).
5. Support any of our Springfield based internships (see full list) that allows SIU students to gain hands on experience in Illinois government.