Many people see me with the bow tie and inquire. A significant influence on my decision to be in public service is credited to Senator Paul Simon and the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. While on campus at Southern Illinois University I was a PSPPI Ambassador.
Famous for wearing bow ties and horn-rimmed glasses, Paul Simon was a two-term U.S. Senator from Illinois (1985-1997), and a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for the 1988 United States presidential election. After leaving public office, Paul Simon was passionate about creating a place to research and provide constructive public policy resources, encourage others to take part in conversations on the issues of our time, and support the next generation of public leaders.
In 1997, Simon decided to go back to his roots of southern Illinois and establish the then-named Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. After his passing in 2003, the Institute was renamed the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute to honor Simon’s legacy.
The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization focused on promoting better politics and smarter government and preparing students for careers in public service. The Institute does this through a number of research initiatives, bringing experts and leaders to the Institute to offer free lectures to students and the community, and providing opportunities for students to learn about public policy first hand through internships across the state.
Marty Joe Murray, Jr 