2023-2024 Contributors
Dr. Samuel R. Staley is Director of the DeVoe L. Moore Institute and full-time faculty of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. He teaches in the departments of economics and urban planning, with academic specialties in regulation, economic development, housing and land, growth management, transportation, and urban policy. He also is a research fellow at the Reason Foundation and a senior fellow at both the Indiana Policy Review Foundation and the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions. Staley received his B.A. in Economics and Public Policy from Colby College, M.S. in Social and Applied Economics from Wright State University, and Ph.D. in Public Administration, with concentrations in urban planning and public finance from Ohio State University.
Dr. Crystal Taylor is Director of Research at the DMI, started in 2019 as the Director of Public Policy. Dr. Taylor brings practical and classroom experience into her role at the center. An award-winning instructor, she has taught a wide range of courses on megacities, urban development, land-use planning, sustainable development, infrastructure planning, and collective decisions. Her academic research has appeared in professional journals such as Cities and Health, the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, the Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, and the Journal of Environmental Health. Dr. Taylor earned her PhD in urban planning from Florida State University, MS in geography from the University of Alabama, and BS in management from Missouri State University.
Katherine Kelsey has been Editorial and Public Affairs manager since Spring 2023, graduating in Spring 2024 after majoring in English: Creative Writing at Florida State University. Katie acted as the Editorial and Public Affairs Manager, organizing the operations of the Editorial and Public Affairs Team. This team focuses on readying our researchers and their various outputs. Interns on the Editorial and Public Affairs Team were assigned researchers to edit outputs for by Katie, and each intern worked with them throughout the semester. She ensured all of the outputs from the DMI were thoroughly edited and managed the Institute’s social media presence.
Ethan Forberg is Data Analytics Manager at the DMI, majoring in Management Information Systems. This year, the DAG team, lead by Forberg, made many enhancements to the Florida OpenGov website. They gathered and cleaned millions of rows of data from the Department of Education so users of the website could access and interpret it more easily, as well as made the website as a whole more aesthetically pleasing and use-friendly. They also expanded the versatility of the site, allowing more interaction between the user and the data in order to make the program more customizable and suitable to individuals needs. Forberg has stated he is very proud of the work him and his team have done.
Shane Dabney is the Housing Affordability Initiative Manager, leading a team of four researchers that focuses on providing housing information to the Tallahassee community. Dabney is himself a PhD student pursuing a degree in Philosophy. The team works closely with our partner the Florida Policy Project to identify best practices and make policy recommendations. The team has put forth many outputs, including blogs, op-eds, and posters, on Accessory Dwelling Units, the Live Local Act, and more. Currently, they have been researching the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, and they have even created a housing affordability glossary. Dabney has expressed how proud he is of his team and their research.
Vittorio Nastasi is Public Policy Research Manager for and graduate assistant at the DMI, as well as the Director of Criminal Justice Policy at Reason Foundation. At Reason Foundation, Nastasi works on criminal justice reform, healthcare regulation, occupational licensing, and environmental policy issues. His work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, Orange County Register, Palm Beach Post, and Tallahassee Democrat, among others. Nastasi graduated from Florida State University with Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Political Science. He is currently a doctoral student in the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy.
Eric Lovine is an Editorial & Public Affairs Intern that worked on the DMI blog this past year. The most significant change Lovine made was creating a homepage for the blog, making the site a lot easier to navigate and find particular blogs. This new homepage briefly introduces the DMI to the reader and shows them the most recent blogs. He is glad to have been able to help the DMI and to have met so many bright and talented individuals. He is a senior, majoring in marketing and psychology.
2022-2023 Contributors
Dr. Samuel R. Staley is Director of the DeVoe L. Moore Institute and full-time faculty of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. He teaches in the departments of economics and urban planning, with academic specialties in regulation, economic development, housing and land, growth management, transportation, and urban policy. He also is a research fellow at the Reason Foundation and a senior fellow at both the Indiana Policy Review Foundation and the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions. Staley received his B.A. in Economics and Public Policy from Colby College, M.S. in Social and Applied Economics from Wright State University, and Ph.D. in Public Administration, with concentrations in urban planning and public finance from Ohio State University.
Dr. Crystal Taylor is Director of Research at the DMI, started in 2019 as the Director of Public Policy. Dr. Taylor brings practical and classroom experience into her role at the center. An award-winning instructor, she has taught a wide range of courses on megacities, urban development, land-use planning, sustainable development, infrastructure planning, and collective decisions. Her academic research has appeared in professional journals such as Cities and Health, the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, the Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, and the Journal of Environmental Health. Dr. Taylor earned her PhD in urban planning from Florida State University, MS in geography from the University of Alabama, and BS in management from Missouri State University.
Katherine Kelsey has been Editorial and Public Affairs manager since Spring 2023 and is studying English: Creative Writing at Florida State University. Katie acted as the Editorial and Public Affairs Manager, organizing the operations of the Editorial and Public Affairs Team. This team focuses on readying our researchers and their various outputs. Interns on the Editorial and Public Affairs Team were assigned researchers to edit outputs for by Katie, and each intern worked with them throughout the semester. She ensured all of the outputs from the DMI were thoroughly edited and managed the Institute’s social media presence.
Ethan Forberg is Data Analytics Manager at the DMI, majoring in Management Information Systems. The DAG team, lead by Forberg, made many enhancements to the Florida OpenGov website. They gathered and cleaned millions of rows of data from the Department of Education so users of the website could access and interpret it more easily, as well as made the website as a whole more aesthetically pleasing and use-friendly. They also expanded the versatility of the site, allowing more interaction between the user and the data in order to make the program more customizable and suitable to individuals needs. Forberg has stated he is very proud of the work him and his team have done.
Shane Dabney is the Housing Affordability Initiative Manager, leading a team of four researchers that focuses on providing housing information to the Tallahassee community. Dabney is himself a PhD student pursuing a degree in Philosophy. The team works closely with our partner the Florida Policy Project to identify best practices and make policy recommendations. The team has put forth many outputs, including blogs, op-eds, and posters, on Accessory Dwelling Units, the Live Local Act, and more. Dabney has expressed how proud he is of his team and their research.
Vittorio Nastasi is Public Policy Research Manager for and graduate assistant at the DMI, as well as the Director of Criminal Justice Policy at Reason Foundation. At Reason Foundation, Nastasi works on criminal justice reform, healthcare regulation, occupational licensing, and environmental policy issues. His work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, Orange County Register, Palm Beach Post, and Tallahassee Democrat, among others. Nastasi graudated form Florida State University with Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Political Science. He is currently a doctoral student in the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy.
2021-2022 Contributors
Dr. Samuel R. Staley – Director of the DeVoe L. Moore Institute and full-time faculty of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. He teaches in the departments of economics and urban planning, with academic specialties in regulation, economic development, housing and land, growth management, transportation, and urban policy. He also is a research fellow at the Reason Foundation and a senior fellow at both the Indiana Policy Review Foundation and the Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions. Staley received his B.A. in Economics and Public Policy from Colby College, M.S. in Social and Applied Economics from Wright State University, and Ph.D. in Public Administration, with concentrations in urban planning and public finance from Ohio State University.
Shawntia (Tia) Nicholson – Tia joined the DeVoe L. Moore Institute as the Editorial and Public Affairs Manager in the Fall of 2021. She is responsible for editing research reports, managing social media accounts, writing newsletters, and coordinating events and publication releases. She is currently pursuing her BA with a double major in Media and Communications Studies and English: Editing, Writing, and Media at Florida State University. Tia also works as the Content Director for the FSU Askew Student Life Cinema. In her free time, she enjoys reading, biking, hiking, and baking!
Corrine Bresky – Corrine is a recent graduate from Florida State University with a bachelor of science in Economics and Psychology. In the 2021-2022 academic year, she lead the Data Analytics Group (DAG) at the DeVoe L. Moore Institute. In her role as DAG manager, Corrine worked with a multi-person team and the center’s partner DataMadeUseful, LLC to update, maintain, and interpret data available through the transparency website FloridaOpenGov.org. Corrine’s hobbies include playing tennis, reading, and editing creative videos. Corrine hopes to combine the insights she has gained from the fields of economics and psychology with empirical tools to conduct meaningful research for effective solutions of social issues.
Ava Jowers – Ava is a second-year student at Florida State University. She is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science with a double major in Finance and Real Estate. She joined the DMI in October 2021 and began working on the CollegeTown team. Her research focuses on CollegeTown amenities and property values. Ava’s research interests include real estate market trends and urban development. Outside of the DMI, Ava is a member of FSU Best Buddies and Women in Business. In her free time, she enjoys reading and trying new recipes!
Andje Louis – Andje is a Political Science and International Affairs double major with a minor in Business Analytics. She has been a member of the DMI’s Data Analytics Group since January 2022. Andje’s research focuses on digital learning platform accessibility, particularly in the COVID-19 period. Her study focuses on low-income and minority populations, and the potential barriers that may limit their access. Outside of the DMI, Andje is involved with the University Libraries. She works as a data analyst for the Assessment Department and is now analyzing the findings of the LibQUAL survey. Andje’s interests include reading, exercising, and exploring new locations to visit.
Samantha Murray – Samantha is a graduate student working towards her Master’s in Applied Geographic Information Sciences. She joined the DMI in August of 2021 to analyze factors that influenced the revitalization of the Tallahassee CollegeTown region. Currently, her research with the DMI addresses transportation throughout the region and increasing walkability. With a focus on making cities more sustainable, she is able to apply her environmental science background from her undergraduate career to a setting where she lives and works alongside others. When she is not working with the DMI she enjoys spending her time cooking, playing the piano, or expanding her photography skills.
2020-2021 Contributors
Amber Hedquist – English Major, Communication Minor; Amber is the Public Affairs and Editorial Manager for the center. She is responsible for editing research reports, writing for the DMI blog, and coordinating events and publication release. Her professional aspirations are to earn her PhD in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Spatial Theory. In her free time, Amber enjoys running, cooking, and cheering for the Washington Nationals.
Shayna Cohen – Economics and Actuarial Science Major, Mathematics and English Minor; Shayna is a Public Policy intern researching the implications of Income Share Agreements on college affordability and student debt. She utilizes her skills in actuarial science as an intern at both the DMI and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Shayna’s skill set broadens to include activities such as juggling and skateboarding in her free time. The future is promising for Shayna as an FSU alumna; she may even stay in the ‘Nole family and apply to the applied economics master’s program!
Jordan Wilson – Political Science Major, History Minor; Jordan is a Public Policy intern investigating opportunity zones and policies related to the minimum wage. Hailing from St. Petersburg, Jordan enjoys going to the beach, reading, and supporting his Seminole sports teams. As an FSU alumnus, he will pursue a career as a professor.
Kevin Gomez is the Business Manager at the DeVoe L. Moore Institute. Prior to joining the center, he was program manager at the Institute for Economic Inquiry at Creighton University. While at Creighton University, he taught undergraduate courses in economics and led reading colloquia on immigration, politics, and culture. He earned his master’s in economics from George Mason University in 2018 where he was also Mercatus Center MA Fellow. Kevin graduated from Florida State University with a BS in Economics and Statistics in 2016, where he previously worked as the Outreach Director for the DMI. A native Floridian, Kevin also earned an associate’s degree from Valencia College in 2013. His research interests include public choice, governance, and institutions.
2018-2019 Contributors
Abby Swatts – English- Editing, Writing, & Media; Economics- is the Editorial Manager for the DeVoe L. MooreI nstitute. She is a senior at Florida State University anticipating graduation in Spring 2019. She oversees the Institute’s writing coaches with the responsibility of editing the blog posts submitted by the researchers. Minoring in economics, Abby is able to better understand the content of articles while providing insight to style and writing ability.
Austin Eovito – Masters Student in Computational Science- is the Data and Analytics Manager for the DeVoe L. Moore Institute. Austin is responsible for leading 11 research assistants and meeting regularly to support their efforts along the way. Through his interest in governmental corruption and white collar crime, Austin utilizes several coding programs such as Python, C++, Matlab, etc. to work with data mining and information excavation.
Megan Boebinger – English- Editing, Writing, & Media; Education- is the Public Affairs Manager for the DeVoe L. Moore Institute. Megan is a graduating senior at Florida State University that devotes her time outside of the English department to the DMI mission of communicating public policy understanding by contributing her expertise in social media, publications, and photography. Currently working in the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, Megan is also interested in pursuing the field of education.
Courtland Culver – Economics; Political Science and General Business- is the Outreach & Events Coordinator for the DeVoe L. Moore Institute. A senior at Florida State University, Courtland fosters connections with political and economic groups on campus and plans events for the Institute. Currently serving as the membership chair of the College Republicans, being a Campus Representative for the James Madison Institute, Campus Ambassador for the Foundation for Economic Education, and President of Christians United For Israel.
Catherine Annis – MPA – Completed her MPA at the Askew School of Public Administration. She is passionate about making all levels of government more streamlined and efficient to better serve their communities. She has interned with the James Madison Institute, the State Legislature, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Catherine believes that turning research into action is the key to solving society’s most complex problems and creating the world of tomorrow.
N’Namdi Green – Economics and International Affairs – is a policy analyst intern. His research for the DeVoe L. Moore Institute has focused on Major faith based organizations and the role they play in economic development. Specifically, the role of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of Tallahassee in the Frenchtown redevelopment initiative. His personal research interests include United States international trade with foreign countries and economic development.
Patrick Martin – Economics and Political Science – is a policy analyst intern. His research has focused on Florida tax incentive policy for the film and movie industry, and how an industry-funded report and state-funded report can have wildly different conclusions about that same program. His most recent work focuses on the Opioid epidemic in Florida and nationally. He proudly represents Florida State as a University Ambassador, Alpha Kappa Psi professional fraternity, and with the Koch Internship Program interning with James Madison Institute.
Jordan Greer – Economics – is a policy analyst intern. His research focuses on the economic history of Frenchtown in Tallahassee in order to better contextualize the effectiveness of community redevelopment initiatives. Some of his accomplishments include receiving the UNCF-Koch scholarship, being named as a YP4 Fellow, and being a Seminole Torch Bearer. He currently serves as the Vice President of the FSU chapter of the NAACP, and as a student senator on FSU’s 69th Student Senate.
Maia Hass – International Affairs and Marketing is a policy analyst intern. Her research primarily focuses on the sharing economy and the economic performance of various companies – like Uber and AirBnB. She also works on research projects related to the Florida tourism industry. Although she works in public policy she hopes to transition to the data analytics team in the upcoming year to continue studying Florida tourism from a more intensive statistical perspective.
Kristen Carpenter – International Affairs – is a policy analyst intern. Her research focuses on women empowerment in the Middle East through social entrepreneurship. She is a senior at Florida State University studying International Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies.
William Reynolds – Finance and Political Science – is a data analyst research supervisor at the DeVoe L. Moore Institute and an undergraduate student at FSU. His work focuses on healthcare markets and the effects of regulatory policy. In his free time, he plays drums and guitar and he participates in intramural sports. He’s a member of the Phi Sigma Theta national honor society.
Nicholas Spaunburgh – Economics – is a data analyst intern. He is currently minoring in statistics and pursuing a SAS certificate at Florida State University. His research focus is using statistical software and quantitative analysis to evaluate public policy decisions. Nick is heavily involved in Model United Nations and competes on an academic team.
Leesa Newbon – Interdisciplinary Social Sciences – is a social entrepreneurship research assistant. Newbon’s research at the DMI focuses around government transparency and effectiveness measurement tools. She plans to utilize her education to start a nonprofit organization that focuses on eliminating illiteracy in low income communities. Leesa’s passion for social justice and knowledge drives her research and involvement on campus.
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