Greg Thorson Ph.D.
Full Professor, Ken and Lynn Hall Endowed Chair of Public Policy
Political Science
Education
- Ph.D., Political Science, University of California at Riverside, 1995
- M.A., Political Science, University of California at Riverside, 1993
- B.A., Political Science, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN, 1988
Areas of Expertise
- Public Policy
- Education Policy
- Healthcare Policy
- Economic Inequality
- Quantitative Methods
Professional Background
Professor Thorson came to the University of Redlands in July of 2008 with a distinguished record of research in public policy. Much of his research has focused on education policy, health care policy and the policy process. Professor Thorson's research has been published in some of the most prestigious journals in his field, including the Journal of Politics, Political Research Quarterly, Congress and the Presidency, Educational Leadership, World Affairs, the Journal of Poverty & Public Policy, and The International Journal of Forecasting. Professor Thorson played a leadership role both in creating the undergraduate major in Public Policy as well as the university’s Master of Public Policy and Administration program.
Courses Offered
- PLCY 100: Introduction to Public Policy
- POLI 111: Introduction to American Government
- POLI 215: Education Politics and Policy
- POLI 216: Health Care Policy
- POLI 257: Policymaking in Washington D.C.
- MPPA 601: Public Policy Analysis
- MPPA 606: Advanced Regression Techniques
- MPPA 607: Causal Inference
- MPPA 650: Research to Practice
Publications
Thorson, Gregory. R. Fall 2022-Present. The Policy Scientist. Blog featuring the most recent research published in the field of public policy. http://www.thepolicyscientist.com
Svenson, Art, Samantha Acuna, Jeffrey Wagner, and Gregory R. Thorson. 2026. Constitutional Law: Institutional Powers and Federalism. (Forthcoming)
Thorson, Gregory R. and Sera M. Gearhart. 2019. “Do Enhanced Funding Policies Targeting Students in Poverty Close Achievement Gaps? Evidence from the American States, 1990-2015.” Journal of Poverty & Public Policy. 11:205-221. https://doi.org/10.1002/pop4.253
Thorson, Gregory R. and Sera M. Gearhart. 2018. “The Adverse Effects of Economic Inequality on Educational Outcomes: An Examination of PISA Scores, 2000-2015. World Affairs. September 2018: 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/0043820018799425
Thorson, Gregory R. 2015. “Should You Choose a Career in Public Policy?” In Kishor Vaidya’s Public Policy for the Curious: Why Study Public Policy. Curious Academic Publishing.
Thorson, Gregory R. and Matthew H. Gutierrez. 2012. “Should We Wait for Superman? Evaluating the Performance of Charter Schools in the Greater Los Angeles Area.” Final Grant Report Published by the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation.
Thorson, Gregory R and Matthew H Gutierrez. 2012. “Using Clickers to Enhance the Classroom Experience.” The Western. Volume 4, Issue 1. pp 5-13. Sacramento, CA: Western Political Science Association.
Thorson, Gregory R, Joel Dueth, Jacob Anderson, Katherine Clark, Brad Coulombe, Joel Deuth, Dan Moore, Evan Mowry, Hilary Opatz, and Christopher Yard. 2008. "Towards a Better Understanding of Rural Homelessness: An Examination of Housing Crisis in a Small, Rural Minnesota Community." Morris, MN: Center for Small Towns.
Thorson, Gregory R., Tasina Nitzschke, and Nicholas J. Maxwell. 2007. "Testing the Three Theories of Legislative Organization: An Examination of Rule Assignments during the Postreform Period." Congress and the Presidency. Number 2. 34: 23-34.
Thorson, Gregory R. and Jessica Anderson. 2006. "The Minnesota Miracle Abandoned? Changes in Minnesota School Funding, 2001-2007". Rural Minnesota Journal. Mankato, Minnesota: Center for Rural Policy and Development. September 2006: 27-44.
Thorson, Gregory R., Neil Lindsheid, and Tara Schmidt. 2005. "The Search for Affordable Health Care in Rural Minnesota: Prospects and Problems for Market Based Solutions." Published jointly by the Center for Small Towns and the West Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership.
Thorson, Gregory R. and Zoe Wong. 2004. "Resource Distribution and Rural Minnesota Schools." Published in Consortium Connections, a publication of the Children, Youth, and Family Consortium. Volume: 13, Number 1.
Thorson, Gregory R. and Tara Schmidt. "A Health Care System in Critical Condition: Evidence of the Declining Affordability of Health Care Insurance and the Erosion of Health Care Infrastructure in West Central Minnesota." Published By the Center for Small Towns, November 2003.
Thorson, Gregory R. and Nicholas J. Maxwell. "Small Schools Under Siege: Evidence of Resource Inequality in Minnesota Schools". Published by the Center for Rural Policy, August 2002.
Thorson, Gregory R. and Tasina Nitzschke. 2000. "Politics and Policy in The 103rd and 104th Congresses: Evaluating the Effects of Divided Government in The Postreform Era." Congress and the Presidency. 27: 1-24.
Edmondson, Jacqueline., Gregory R. Thorson, and David Fluegel. 2000. "Searching for Solutions: The Community Vision Process in Herman, MN." Educational Leadership, a publication of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. 57: 51-53.
Thorson, Gregory R. and Jacqueline Edmondson. 2000. "Making Difficult Times Worse: The Impact of Per Pupil Funding Formulas on Rural Minnesota Schools." Published by the Center for Rural Policy and Development, Minnesota State University, Mankato as well as by the U.S. Department of Education's Educational Information Resource Center (ERIC).
Stambough, Stephen J. and Gregory R. Thorson. 1999. " Towards Stability in Presidential Forecasting: The Development of a Multiple Indicator Model". The International Journal of Forecasting. 15:143-152.
Thorson, Gregory R. 1998. "Divided Government and the Passage of Partisan Legislation, 1947-1990." Political Research Quarterly. 51.3: 751-764.
Thorson, Gregory R. and Stephen J. Stambough. 1995. "Anti-Incumbency and the 1992 Elections: The Changing Face of Presidential Coattails." Journal of Politics. 57. 1: 210-220.
Contact
Find me on campus
Hall of Letters, 306