Professor given esteemed title

Maureen Pirog, professor of public policy, was appointed as the Rudy Professor of Public and Environmental Affairs, effective July 1. \nRudy Professorships are awarded to retain outstanding IU faculty members. \nPirog's research has had a significant impact on national and state legislation. Her findings about the earnings capabilities of adolescent fathers in early adulthood and state-legislated child support guidelines were included in the Clinton welfare reform proposals in 1995. She recently published a groundbreaking study on adolescent fathers which was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.\nPirog, who is also the co-director of the IU Institute for Family and Social Responsibility (IFSR), did not seem astonished when her appointment was announced. \n"I have known about my appointment since February, but it was really a big surprise then," she said. Pirog had received an excellent offer from a competing school, but IU's counter offer made her decision to stay in School of Public and Environmental Affairs easier.\nAstrid E. Merget, dean of SPEA, explains why SPEA chose Pirog. \n"Her seniority and excellent research merited recognition," said Merget. "The offer from a competing school also played a role in shaping the decision."\nPirog's colleague, Katharine Byers, associate professor of social work and co-director of IFSR, was delighted when she learned about Pirog's appointment. \n"I was very excited for her. It was a well-deserved honor for being such a prolific researcher and grant writer and for her work in welfare reform," Byers said.\nByers has been acquainted with Pirog at a personal and professional level since 1996 when they co- founded IFSR. Byers said they work together to provide policy makers with unbiased research which helps them make well-informed decisions about welfare reform. \nAlthough Byers and Pirog work with different aspects of policy, Byers has learned constantly from Pirog. \n"She inadvertently mentored me," she said. "I really admire her ability to strategize and conceptualize research questions." \nEdward Vargas, Pirog's protégé since fall 2000, shared her reaction when he heard about her appointment. \n"I was really excited but not at all surprised, because I think she deserves more recognition for her work," he said. "She has such a great work ethic -- she is always the last person to leave the SPEA building every day." \nVargas, who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in policy analysis, recalls Pirog's role in shaping his career. \n"She has been one of the greatest influences in my professional and personal life," he said. "She was responsible for my decision to pursue a Ph.D. program right after my undergraduate degree."\nVargas shared the specific lessons Pirog taught him.\n"Pirog taught me how to balance my academic life with other interests. She has the incredible ability to balance her academic interests with a passion for dancing," he said.\nPirog enjoys immense popularity in SPEA for her ability to relate to students. Vargas said she has a strong commitment to students. \n"She genuinely cares about her students," he said. "She is always willing to listen, and she makes every possible effort to help you out."\nMerget agreed about Pirog's relationship with her students. \n"She is devoted to helping students shape their careers as professionals and academicians," she said.\nPirog has been teaching at SPEA for 20 years. Merget said what has enabled SPEA to retain a nationally renowned figure like Pirog has been the school's great appreciation for multidisciplinary research. \n"SPEA recognized Pirog for her excellence. We have provided the support system and resources for her endeavors, like the proposal for her present position as the editor in chief of the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management," she said.\nPirog has also enjoyed teaching and researching at IU. \n"I have received constant support from Dean Merget and my students," said Pirog. "SPEA has provided me with the space to work independently with a large group of students."\nBut Pirog's greatest satisfaction lies in the impact of her work. \n"I feel truly content when my work makes a difference. It is very rewarding to know that a lot of kids across the nation are better off as a result of my research," she said. \n-- Contact staff writer Sheeba Madan smadan@indiana.edu .