Carnegie Mellon University and Volcker Alliance to Expand Government-to-University Regional Council in Pittsburgh
Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will be one of two new Volcker Alliance Regional Councils’ sites that support the efforts of their signature Government-to-University (G2U) Initiative. The second new Regional Council will be located in Los Angeles, California.
In a recent press release, the Volcker Alliance stated that “G2U is an innovative approach to addressing critical governance challenges by building structured regional networks of governments and universities. The initiative aims to catalyze a robust local marketplace that can sustainably connect governments' hiring and research needs with local university capacity.”
“We have a long history of helping governments become more evidence-based and analytical in their decision making, and collaborating with an esteemed partner like the Volcker Alliance unlocks new possibilities for creating mutually beneficial relationships between universities and governments,” said Ramayya Krishnan, dean of Heinz College.
The new Pittsburgh Regional Council will be headed by Heinz College and Metro21: Smart Cities Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. Metro21 is a university-wide research center housed at Heinz College that develops and deploys 21st century solutions to the challenges facing metropolitan regions—with solutions that extend well beyond cities. Metro21 projects address problems related to safe mobility, public health, net zero energy, clean air and water, equitable economic prosperity, and smart building and infrastructure.
“Through our existing partnerships with the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, the Allegheny County Airport Authority, and many other community, government, nonprofit, and private organizations, we have established a collaborative real-world testbed for solutions that have positive and lasting effects on the Pittsburgh metro area and all the people who live here,” said Karen Lightman, executive director of Metro21. “Deepening our partnership with the Volcker Alliance will allow us to further extend our impact throughout the region, including in surrounding suburban, exurban, and rural areas.”
The G2U Regional Councils will connect local, state, and federal government leaders in a region with key faculty and administrators from nearby colleges and universities. They will identify and pursue opportunities to better strengthen the pipeline of talent from local universities into government and explore approaches to systematizing research exchanges focused on solving pressing government problems. With support from the Volcker Alliance, the Councils will provide a regional platform to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones among government practitioners and university leaders.
“The relationship between Metro21 and the Pittsburgh region is a model of how universities and cities can work together to test bold new ideas,” said Krishnan. “We’re excited to broaden the impact of Metro21 through the Pittsburgh G2U Regional Council.”
Heinz College partnered with the Volcker Alliance to launch the G2U Initiative in 2018.
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About Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy
The Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy is home to two internationally recognized graduate-level institutions at Carnegie Mellon University: the School of Information Systems and Management and the School of Public Policy and Management. This unique colocation combined with its expertise in analytics set Heinz College apart in the areas of cybersecurity, health care, the future of work, smart cities, and arts & entertainment. In 2016, INFORMS named Heinz College the number one academic program for Analytics Education. For more information, please visit http://www.heinz.cmu.edu.
About Metro21: Smart Cities Institute
Metro21: Smart Cities Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute at Carnegie Mellon University that is using the power of public-private partnerships to research, research, develop, and deploy 21st century solutions to the challenges facing metro areas. Metro21 is focused on bridging the gap between academia and real-world problems by partnering with government officials, community leaders, non-profits, and industry. Through these strategic partnerships, Metro21 provides researchers the opportunity to address challenges in transportation, air pollution and climate change, public safety and infrastructure, and more. Through Memorandums of Understanding with the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and the Allegheny Airport Authority, over 30 research faculty, and 20 active projects, we leverage smart city technologies like adaptive traffic signals, machine learning algorithms, and predictive analytics to inform and empower citizens and provide measurable benefits for communities.
About the Volcker Alliance
The Volcker Alliance advances effective management of government to achieve results that matter to citizens. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization is inspired by the legendary public service of our founder, Paul A. Volcker, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, and his vision of a public sector workforce with the experience, preparation, and commitment to ensure that government is accountable and delivers with excellence. Visit volckeralliance.org to learn more. Follow us on social media @VolckerAlliance and subscribe to the Volcker Alliance newsletter for the latest news and developments. The Volcker Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization.