Consultant surveys potential Policy Initiative work


Doug O’Brien, a senior staff attorney at the Drake University Agricultural Law Center, is working with the Leopold Center to determine the next steps for the Center’s Policy Initiative. Policy work had been managed by the Center’s half-time associate director, Mike Duffy, who left in July 2005 to return to the ISU economics department fulltime. Four policy proposals also are being considered for 2006 funding, based on submissions to the Center’s Request for Proposals (RFP) in July.

O’Brien was chosen following board and staff discussions that resulted in the decision to hire a consultant with broad-based policy experience to map out possible directions for this initiative. He has been conducting interviews with board members, stakeholders and policy experts, and doing research on policy needs and constraints for the Center. He plans to submit a report to the Center advisory board and staff in the near future, with suggestions and recommendations for the possible activities for the Policy Initiative.

In addition to his work at Drake, O’Brien is associated with the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas Law School and teaches classes at both law schools. He previously was counsel to the U. S. Senate Agriculture Committee.


Back to Winter 2005 Leopold Letter


Published by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-3711
URL: www.leopold.iastate.edu