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Shelley Hart joined the Institute of State and Regional Affairs on January 11, 2023. In this role, she will assist with pre-award activities (proposal preparation, tracking, and coordination of meetings and materials), serve as a liaison to the Office of Research and Outreach, and perform other...

This report highlights trends for the nation, state, and counties using the Diversity Index. The Diversity Index (DI) shows the probability that two individuals chosen at random in a given area will be from different race or ethnic groups.

The Institute of State and Regional Affairs is excited to announce that Jennifer Shultz has been named the new director of the Pennsylvania State Data Center (PaSDC). Jenn brings over 25 years of experience in population and economic data having previously served as the PaSDC's Assistant Director...

Sue Copella retired from ISRA on September 30, 2022 after serving as the Director of the Pennsylvania State Date Center from 1992 to 2022. In her time with the Pennsylvania State Data Center, Sue was the state liaison for the National State Data Center Program, Federal State Cooperative for...

Kristina Diefenderfer joined the Institute of State and Regional Affairs on May 16. She will contribute to a variety of data collection efforts, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and site visits; complete data analysis; prepare reports; and perform a variety of other research support...

Researchers from the Center for Survey Research, the Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, and the Public Good Projects discussed using in-depth interviews as part of a collective impact framework to reduce opioid use...

Ellory Dabbs joined the Institute of State and Regional Affairs on May 11, 2022. In this role, she will collect data through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and site visits; complete data analysis; prepare reports; and perform a variety of other research support tasks. Ellory is wrapping up her...

Britney Spotts, an intern at the Center for Survey Research, was selected to serve as a student marshal for the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education at the spring 2022 commencement ceremony on May 7, 2022. 

The study was in partnership with the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg.

Sue has over 30 years of experience in managing various demographic projects. She manages demographic studies from conception, execution and completion. This includes performing a variety of activities including computer programming, data base management and collection, graphics and mapping...

A new grant aimed to improve access and quality of outdoor recreation is helping to answer the demand for enjoyable outdoor experiences.

Several states have changed their procedures for allocating inmate data for redistricting purposes. In these states, when possible, they reallocate data on inmates in the redistricting data file from where they are incarcerated to their residence prior to incarceration.