The Paul Simon Public Policy institute has released its scheduleof speakers for the fall semester and topics will include theIllinois economy and higher education policies with an emphasis onwomen in politics. “The numbers of women serving in public office is still lower thanit should be,” Director David Yepsen said in a news release. “Evenwith all the gains that have been made, there are still impedimentsto women getting elected.” There will also be six of the “Pizza and Politics” events, wherestudents can eat pizza and hear from public policy officials. Theschedule is: l 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13, Student Center Ball-room D: ChristineTodd Whitman, former governor of New Jersey and formeradministrator of the En-vironmental Protection Ag-ency. Herappearance is part of the Morton-Kenney Public Affairs LectureSeries, sponsored by the Institute and the Depart-ment of PoliticalScience. l 11:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19, Institute lobby: John P. Andrews,director of counterintelligence for the U.S. Department ofHome-land Security. Andrews will discuss his experiences in theintelligence community as part of the Institute’s “Pizza andPolitics” program. l 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, Institute lobby: Sheila Simon, Illinoislieutenant governor, and former assistant clinical professor at theSIU School of Law. Simon will be part of a “Pizza and Politics”session focused on challenges facing women in politics. l 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, Institute lobby: Stephen Katsinas,visiting professor, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. Katsinas isalso director of the Education Policy Cen-ter and professor ofhigher education at the University of Alabama. He will cover accessto and funding of higher education in Illinois as part of theInstitute’s “Pizza and Politics” session. l 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, Institute lobby: Terri Bryant,Illinois Republican coalition leader and vice chair, Jackson CountyRepublican Central Comm-ittee. Bryant will present “Why WomenShould Think about Running for Office,” as part of the Wo-men inPolitics series during a “Pizza and Politics” session. l 11:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, Institute lobby: Dana Jay, formerWSIL-TV news anchor and political reporter. Jay will present as part of the Institute’s Women in Politics series, providinginsider’s tips on dealing with the media. It is one of the Institute’s “Pizza andPolitics” sessions. l 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Student Center Ballroom B: Stephen Katsinaswill present “Delyte W. Morris – An Educational Visionary.” l 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, Student Center Ballroom B: DanLong, executive director, Illinois Commission on Govern-mentForecasting and Accountability. Long will address Illinois’short- term and long-term fiscal outlook. His appearance is part of theJohn White Lecture Series. White, who passed away in July, was amember of the Institute’s board of counselors, a major benefactorto the Institute and a close friend to Institute founder, the lateU.S. Sen. Paul Simon. RSVP required to participate in the lunchportion of the event. l 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, Student Center Ballroom D:Civics Education Confer-ence, featuring Gery Chico, chairman,Illinois State Board of Education; Shawn Healy, resident scholarand director of professional development, Robert R. McCormickFoundation Civics Program; and Jill Bass, director of curriculumand teacher development, Mikva Challenge Program. RSVPrequired. l 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, Student Center Ballroom B: StephenKatsinas will present his in-depth research on “The Future of RuralCommunity Coll-eges.” RSVP required to participate in the lunchportion of the event. l 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, Institute lobby: “What the Survey Says: ABriefing on the 2011 Statewide Polling.” Institute polling directorCharlie Leonard, visiting professor John Jackson and Institutedirector David Yepsen will provide in-depth an analysis of theInstitute’s fourth annual statewide poll of Illinois registeredvoters. l 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, Institute lobby: David Yepsen,Institute director. Yepsen will provide a briefing about theupcoming Iowa Caucuses as part of the Institute’s “Pizza andPolitics” program. – University Communications provided the information for thisstory.