Paula's Expertise

Paula serves as Policy Advisor to the Illinois Justice Project, a civic organization that implements policy initiatives and programs to improve the justice system. She previously served as president of Governors State University and director of policy for Governor James R. Thompson. She has taught public policy at Governors State University and the Irving B. Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. She chaired the Illinois Tollway and Chicago City College Boards. She serves on various boards including as trustee of Northeastern Illinois University, director of The Irving Harris Foundation, vice president of the Chicago Police Board, the Johnson Foundation, the Metropolitan Planning Council as well as emerita of the University of Chicago board. She is also commissioner of The Illinois Courts Commission and committee member of the Illinois Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors and Redeploy Illinois Oversight Board. Paula has a BA from Smith College as well as an MA and a PhD from the University of Chicago in political science.