Congratulations to Katherine Michelmore, associate professor of public policy at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School, on her selection as the 2024 recipient of the David N. Kershaw Award and Prize. Dr. Michelmore was chosen for her leading scholarship on the social safety net, education policy, and labor economics. She will give the annual Kershaw lecture and be honored at the 2024 APPAM Fall Research Conference in National Harbor, Maryland this November.
The David N. Kershaw Award and Prize is among the largest awards offered in recognition of outstanding work in public policy research and social science. Dr. Michelmore received the award for her research on the Earned Income Tax Credit, which has been instrumental in helping policymakers understand its impact, and her evaluations of interventions new approaches to help low-income students access higher education.
“Dr. Michelmore’s ability to not only conduct research of the highest quality but apply this evidence sets a strong example for how data and evidence can and should shape the important policy discussions of our time,” said Paul Decker, president and chief executive officer of Mathematica. “Her work is already helping policymakers understand the impacts of social policies on lower income households and identify novel approaches to improve access to high-quality education.”
Michelmore’s research has found children from families that receive the Earned Income Tax Credit go on to experience higher educational attainment, lower teen fertility rates, and less poverty in adulthood. Her work on the Child Tax Credit has been critical in helping policymakers better understand its impact on various populations and consider the costs of potential expansions. And her evaluations of new approaches to promote access to higher education have produced several key insights into what types of interventions work best to increase enrollment of low-income students at selective institutions.
"I am delighted to see APPAM recognize Katherine Michelmore for her exceptional scholarship on the U.S. social safety net and education policy,” said Celeste Watkins-Hayes, dean of the Ford School. “Her influential research and engagement with policymakers address the challenges of economic disadvantage and explore how public policy can create opportunities for better outcomes. Katherine's dedication to these critical issues reflects the high standards of excellence we uphold at the Ford School. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and this well-deserved honor."
As the 24th winner of the David N. Kershaw Award and Prize, Dr. Michelmore joins a distinguished group of professionals under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions to the field of public policy. David Kershaw, for whom the award is named, was the first president of Mathematica. In the spring of 1979, he helped guide the establishment of APPAM—and Mathematica’s principal role within it—before his death from cancer later that year at the age of 37. The award in his memory was created in 1983 and has since been jointly administered by Mathematica and APPAM.
Dr. Michelmore is also a research associate at NBER and serves on a National Academy of Science committee studying recent tax credit expansions. Previously, she was assistant professor of public administration and international affairs at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Michelmore completed her Ph.D. in policy analysis and management at Cornell University. She holds a B.A. in economics and psychology from Wesleyan University.