Director named for Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Fort Wayne campus

The new director will begin his duties June 10 and also will become a member of IPFW’s Department of Political Science.

As director, Downs will be applying for grants to help fund the center and also will establish an annual plan for enhancing the center’s outreach. He is currently chief of staff for Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard, where he serves as a policy adviser and director of community and economic development, human resources manager and director of public information. He is currently working on a doctoral degree in sociology at the University of Notre Dame.

Michael C. Downs was considered by many to be Fort Wayne’s foremost academic authority on politics. He taught political science at IPFW from 1966 until his death last year. Shortly after his death, a group of supporters decided to form the Downs Center for Indiana Politics at IPFW as a way to carry on his work and legacy.

http://www.homepages.indiana.edu/120701/text/downs.html