The Social & Behavioral Science Institute (SBSI) and the Institute for Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) have selected four new faculty fellows for the second Partnerships for Evidence-based Public Policy (PEPP) cohort. The year-long fellowship connects mid-career faculty from across the University of Illinois System with Illinois government partners to conduct research that informs evidence-based public policy.
Beginning in August 2026, PEPP fellows will undertake projects focused on prenatal and postpartum care, violence prevention, LGBTQ+ mental health, and rural broadband policy. Fellows will participate in monthly meetings and professional development programming led by SBSI and IGPA to strengthen the connection between research and policymaking. Each fellow will receive a stipend to support research that advances evidence-based public policy in Illinois.
PEPP is built on genuine partnership. Over a full year, fellows and state agencies work together to shape questions and produce evidence agencies can use. This year’s projects, from maternal health to broadband access, reflect a shared commitment to serving Illinois—while helping our faculty build policy-relevant research programs that can benefit the state well beyond the fellowship year.
Eva Pomerantz
SBSI DirectorThe 2026–2027 cohort includes the Kellner Fellow, Wendy Bostwick, associate professor of population health nursing science at the University of Illinois Chicago. The Kellner Fellowship is supported by the Kellner Center for Neurogenomics, Behavior, and Society, established by Bill and Julie Kellner to advance mental health through interdisciplinary research spanning neuroscience, genomics, and the social and behavioral sciences.
Meet the PEPP Fellows and Their Projects
Wendy Bostwick
Kellner Fellow | Assoc. Professor | Population Health Nursing Science, UIC
Partner: Illinois Department of Human Services
Project Summary: Amid federal policy rollbacks, Illinois must address gaps in culturally competent, affirming mental health care for LGBTQ+ populations. This project assesses the feasibility of an LGBTQ-specific credential by surveying providers statewide on training gaps, client and system needs, and views on policy and incentive mechanisms (e.g., licensing, mandates, reimburse-ment). Analyses by profession and geography will inform IDHS and partners to guide implementation and policy action.
Rebecca Campbell
Assistant Professor | Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UIC
Partner: Illinois Department of Public Health’s Office of Women’s Health & Family Services
Project Summary: This project will generate evidence to inform IDPH’s overhaul of Level 0 hospital policy for pregnant and postpartum patients, with a focus on mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) care. As MH/SUD are leading causes of maternal mortality in Illinois and deaths often follow multiple Emergency Dept. (ED) visits, the project will identify care gaps, policy recommendations, implementation strategies, and partners to improve ED interventions, drawing on existing initiatives to support quality improvement and maternal outcomes.
Rachel Garthe
Associate Professor | School of Social Work, U. of I.
Partner: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
Project Summary: This project examines how violence prevention funding has been distributed across Illinois and its impact on youth violence and public safety. By assessing trends over time, it aims to identify what has worked, inform more effective resource allocation, and strengthen the case for sustained investment in evidence-based violence prevention efforts statewide.
Colin Rhinesmith
Associate Professor | School of Information Sciences, U. of I.
Partner: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Broadband
Project Summary: This project examines the outcomes of Illinois’ broadband investments, focusing on how expanded access has benefited residents—especially in rural communities. It aims to understand impacts on education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, validate past investments, and provide evidence to support continued and future broadband funding decisions across the state.
Together, these projects illustrate PEPP’s mission to strengthen partnerships between researchers and government agencies while generating evidence that informs policy decisions across Illinois.
Connecting Research & Public Policy
Learn how PEPP brings University of Illinois researchers and state government partners together to develop research that addresses real-world policy needs across Illinois.
Explore the PEPP Program