Faculty

Kirby Goidel, Ph.D.
Director

Goidel is director of the Manship School’s Research Facility, which includes the Public Policy Research Lab and the Media Effects Lab.  As senior public policy fellow of the Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs, he directs the annual Louisiana Survey and provides analysis of the findings to government, organizations and the media.   Goidel works closely with diverse constituencies to develop survey instruments, analyze data, prepare reports and present research findings.  His received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Kentucky and is the author of two books and numerous journal articles.  He is a professor in the Manship School of Mass Communication and the department of political science.

Christopher Kenny, Ph.D.
Deputy Director

Kenny serves as deputy director of the Public Policy Research Lab.  He is involved in all aspects of the Lab’s operation including instrument design, data analysis and report writing.  Kenny actively recruits students to work in the lab and ensures quality training and protocol programs.  As liaison to the university community and other academic and professional institutions, Kenny plays a leadership role in promoting the lab as a multidisciplinary asset to advance a rigorous research agenda.  He received hi s Ph.D. in political science from Washington University in St. Louis.  He is a professor in the department of political science specializing in campaigns and elections, mass political behavior and the process of social influence.

Meghan Sanders, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Media Effects Lab

Meghan S. Sanders has over 9 years of experience in conducting experimental studies. As deputy director of the Media Effects Lab, she is responsible for assisting faculty, students and professional institutions in conducting projects designed to test audience responses to various media formats and content, using various technologies (i.e. physiological recordings, eye tracking, web tracking, reaction time, etc.). She received her Ph.D. and Master of Arts in Mass Communication degree from Penn State University, and her Bachelors of Arts degree from Dillard University. She is an assistant professor in the Manship School of Mass Communication where she teaches research methods and statistical analysis, public relations and mass communication theory courses.

Staff

Michael Climek
Operations Manager

Michael Climek joined the PPRL after working as a project manager in the research department at Ketchum, a New York-based leading global public relations firm. He has more than six years of experience in the market research industry and has worked for clients in a variety of fields, like Adecco, Kodak, Playstation and Wendy’s. Climek also specializes in social media conversation analysis and online surveying. Climek recently completed his MBA at Baruch College in New York with a dual major in marketing and international business.

Srinivas Thouta
Technology Manager

Thouta manages systems and technology, including applications development, operations and network infrastructure. He directs the design and development of programs and survey software to ensure the efficient operation of internal systems. Thouta has a Master’s in Computer Science and Master’s in Engineering Management from LSU. He is also a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) and Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute.

Internal Advisory Committee

Evan Berman, Professor, Public Administration Institute, E.J. Ourso College of Business

Arjen Boin, Associate Professor, Public Administration Institute and Director, Stephenson Disaster Management Institute

Katie E. Cherry, Director, LSU Life Course and Aging Center, Department of Psychology

Warren Eller, Associate Director, Stephenson Disaster Management Institute

James Garand, Emogene Pliner Distinguished Professor and Director, Graduate Studies, Department of Political Science

Kirby Goidel, Professor, Manship School and Dept. of Political Science, Director, Manship School Research Facility

Cecile Guin, Director, Office of Social Service Research and Development, School of Social Work

Stacia Haynie, Vice Provost, Academic Affairs

Russell K. Jabour, Vice Chancellor, Communications & University Relations

Cheney C. Joseph, Jr., Vice Chancellor, Paul M. Hebert Law Center

Christopher Kenny, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Deputy Director, Public Policy Research Lab

Sean Lane, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

Pam Monroe, Professor, School of Social Work

Lance Porter, Assistant Professor, Manship School of Mass Communication

Joachim Singlemann, Professor, Department of Sociology

Dek Terrell, Professor, Department of Economics and Director, Division of Economic Development

Herb Vincent, Senior Associate Director, Athletics Department

Frederick Weil, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology

Michael  Xenos, Assistant Professor, Manship School and Dept. of Political Science, Director, Media Effects Lab

Hector Zapata, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness

Charles F. Zewe, Vice President, LSU System