The Allison S. and Thomas C. Franco Program on Public Policy and Research
Translating Research Into Action
The Allison S. and Thomas C. Franco Program on Public Policy and Research advances the institute's mission by promoting rigorous, real-time engagement with pressing societal challenges.
Grounded in the principles of public scholarship, it supports faculty and student research that not only investigates issues such as education policy, governance, labor, environmental justice, and public health, but also collaborates with communities and policymakers to translate that research into action.
Born out of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the College Crisis Initiative (C2i) aims to learn how colleges and universities innovate in times of crisis, build a strong civil society, promote public health, and ensure equity and representation in higher education.
The Smith Davidson Leadership Initiative trains Johnson C. Smith University and Davidson College students to be public service leaders who fight structural inequality through research, policy, and advocacy.
A named visiting professorship in Davidson College's Political Science department and connected to the Martin Institute for Public Good, this role focuses on public policy topics and provides students the opportunity to learn from a practitioner or scholar with real‑world expertise.