DC Policy Center names new initiative in honor of late McCourt professor

The DC Policy Center officially launched the Alice M. Rivlin Initiative for Economic Policy & Competitiveness to conduct the first in-depth assessment of the District of Columbia’s competitive position and how that position shapes the city’s future success. 

The work of the Rivlin Initiative, named for the late Dr. Alice M. Rivlin , will provide a better understanding of the factors that contribute to a diverse city’s growth and prosperity — from economic policy and business conditions to quality of life and access to opportunity and resources. In its first two years, the Rivlin Initiative will focus on the future of urban centers, and the risks and opportunities that exist for the District of Columbia in the post-pandemic world.

“We are grateful for the Rivlin family’s blessing so we can honor Alice, whose vision for the city guides ours as well,” said Yesim Sayin Taylor, executive director of the DC Policy Center. 

For more than a decade, Dr. Alice M. Rivlin was a visiting professor at the McCourt School and its predecessor the Georgetown Public Policy Institute (GPPI). She was a beloved faculty member who taught classes on national economic issues and the political economy of cities. Rivlin was also an advisor of the DC Policy Center and founding director of the Congressional Budget Office. Her notable career in public service included roles as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget and vice chair of the Federal Reserve Board. 

Continuing the legacy of a beloved former McCourt faculty member 

The Rivlin Initiative’s research will be guided by an Advisory Committee of expert researchers and thought leaders with deep regional and national knowledge of the economic dynamics in urban areas. Krista Ruffini , an economist and assistant professor at the McCourt School, will serve as one of seven advisors. 

“I am thrilled and honored to be part of the Alice M. Rivlin Initiative,” said Ruffini. “I look forward to working with the DC Policy Center on critical topics affecting the regional economy.”

In addition to Ruffini’s role as a member of the Rivlin Initiative Advisory Committee, McCourt School alumna Emilia Calma (MPP‘20) will also work in partnership with the Rivlin Initiative as director of policy and research at the DC Policy Center. As a graduate student, Calma was co-director of the McCourt School’s Policy Innovation Lab and winner of the 2019 Georgetown Public Policy Challenge .

“Emilia has taken over a very challenging job at the DC Policy Center, and everyday, she makes it look easy and effortless,” said Taylor. 

“The DC Policy Center is extremely lucky to directly benefit from the great scholarship Georgetown University brings to us and to our city. More importantly, we are grateful for the talented and skilled experts the McCourt School adds to the District’s workforce.”

Learn more about the Rivlin Initiative’s mission and vision.