News // Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities // University of Notre Dame

LEO welcomes Heather Reynolds as inaugural managing director.

Published: November 10, 2018

Heather Reynolds, currently CEO and President of Catholic Charities of Fort Worth (CCFW) will join LEO as the first managing director. LEO recently developed a 5 year strategic plan and Ms. Reynolds will lead LEO through a period of growth...

LEO Hosts Webinar on "Nudging Towards a College Scholarship," Insights from an Enrollment Intervention

Published: November 02, 2018

Author: Andrea Ringer

On November 1, Dr. Sarah Kroeger, LEO Assistant Research Professor, and Karla Lee, Director of Middle Schools with the South Bend Community School Corporation, shared findings from a nudge intervention to encourage enrollment in the 21st Century Scholars Program, a...

LEO Quarterly Report

Published: November 01, 2018

Author: Rachel Fulcher-Dawson

Fall 2018: LEO Quarterly Report …

Texas Higher Education Coordination Board Conference

Published: September 28, 2018

Author: Elisabeth Barrett

In September 2018, LEO co-founder Jim Sullivan spoke about the importance of using rigorous methods to structure and evaluate the effect of Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) programs on college students. The Texas Higher Education Coordination Board hosted a conference for colleges and...

Catholic Charities 2018 Annual Gathering

Published: September 28, 2018

Author: Elisabeth Barrett

This month, LEO research associates, Andrea Ringer and Grace Ortuzar, attended the Catholic Charities 2018 Annual Gathering in Buffalo, NY. Andrea presented with Natalie Lecy from Catholic Social Services Rapid City, South Dakota on how agencies can prepare to generate...

David Phillips Speaks to NPR about LEO's Homelessness Prevention Work

Published: August 30, 2018

Author: Rachel Fulcher-Dawson

LEO Research Associate Professor David Phillips recently spoke with NPR in Seattle about homelessness prevention and its potential for positive impact and cost effectiveness. Read or Listen here.…

LEO Co-Founder James Sullivan's Wall Street Journal Op Ed on Poverty in America

Published: August 28, 2018

Author: Rachel Fulcher-Dawson

James X. Sullivan, University of Notre Dame professor of economics and co-founder of LEO, featured a piece in the Wall Street Journal highlighting America's progress in addressing and confronting poverty on a national level. In the article, he and...

David Phillips Speaks to NPR about LEO's Homelessness Prevention Work

Published: August 28, 2018

Author: Rachel Fulcher-Dawson

LEO Research Associate Professor David Phillips recently spoke about homelessness prevention and its potential for positive impact and cost effectiveness. Phillips highlighted LEO's current project in King County evaluating the Youth Homelessness Prevention Initiative. Read and Listen here.

Wendy P. Barreno serves on “Evaluation and Measuring Success” Panel

Published: July 30, 2018

Author: Elisabeth Barrett

LEO Associate Director Wendy P. Barreno served on a panel on “Evaluation and Measuring Success” at “Expanding Access to Education for People in Prison: The Third Annual Convening of the Second Chance Pell Partners,” a conference hosted by...

Wendy Barreno Facilitates Session at Corporation for Supportive Housing Event

Published: July 24, 2018

Author: Elisabeth Barrett

In July, LEO's Associate Director of Project Development, Wendy Barrano presented to the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) as a panel member. The CSH is a "touchstone for new ideas and best practices. We are a collaborative and pragmatic...

Professor James Sullivan appointed to Commission on Social Impact Partnerships

Published: July 19, 2018

Author: Annalise Burnett

James X. Sullivan, University of Notre Dame professor of economics and co-founder of the University’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), has been appointed to serve as a member of the U.S. Commission on Social Impact...

Stay the Course Replication Site Selected

Published: June 27, 2018

Author: Elisabeth Barrett

Due to the success of the original pilot project for Stay the Course, CCFW is working with Catholic Charities of Fort Wayne- South Bend to replicate the Stay the Course project for IVY Tech students in Ft. Wayne, IN. LEO...

Jim Sullivan Presents to Jesuit Social Research Institute

Published: June 27, 2018

Author: Elisabeth Barrett

In May, LEO co-founder, Jim Sullivan, discussed the systemic factors that contribute to inequity and innovative approaches for building evidence-informed responses on a panel held by Loyola University New Orleans’ Jesuit Social Research Institute (JSRI).

Rachel Fulcher Dawson Gives a Talk on MPH

Published: June 27, 2018

Author: Elisabeth Barrett

In May, LEO Associate Director Rachel Fulcher Dawson presented to the Research Advisory Group for the State of Indiana's Management Performance Hub (MPH).

Undergraduate Spotlight: Tessa Bonomo

Published: May 31, 2018

Author: Elisabeth Barrett

Research Assistant, Tessa, Class of 2019, is a returning LEO intern currently working on analyzing health and educational programs run by Goodwill in Indiana, the programs being Nurse-Family Partnership and The Excel Center.

David Phillips Presents to the Lab @ DC

Published: May 31, 2018

Author: Elisabeth Barrett

LEO research faculty, David Phillips presented at the Lab @ DC on housing vouchers. David gave a talk to the Lab @ DC which is a group of social scientists that work in the mayor's office in DC. The talk...

Health and Housing Data Talk

Published: May 31, 2018

Author: Elisabeth Barrett

Recently, LEO project manager, Shawna Kolka, participated in the CSH Health and Housing Symposium (Part 3) in Los Angeles. She spoke as part of the panel on data sharing, with her audience consisting primarily of health and housing organizations involved...

Undergraduate Spotlight: Ben Hallberg

Published: April 26, 2018

Author: Brendan Perry

LEO Research Assistant Ben Hallberg discusses his experience at LEO and how it has prepared him for his future career as an actuary.

LEO Hosts Webinar on "Best Practices for Evaluation," Insights from the Stay the Course Study

Published: April 18, 2018

Author: Brendan Perry

On April 17, Dr. Jim Sullivan, LEO co-founder, and Corinne Weaver, Director of Research and Evaluation at Catholic Charities Fort Worth, shared key insights from the process of partnering with LEO to conduct an impact evaluation,...

Undergraduate Spotlight: Tim Seida

Published: February 27, 2018

Author: Brendan Perry

LEO Research Assistant Tim Seida discusses his experience at LEO, his upcoming job at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and his educational aspirations.