Faculty and Curriculum Committees

Dr. Mea Ahlberg earned her PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy from the University of Texas at Dallas, specializing in International Conflict and Security. With over 15 years of business experience, she brings a wealth of practical knowledge to her academic career, enhancing her role as an educator and distinguished member at Southern Methodist University (SMU).

At SMU, Dr. Ahlberg began her tenure as an adjunct faculty member at the Edwin L. Cox School of Business, where she taught both graduate and undergraduate students. She later expanded her role by joining the Economics Department at Dedman College. Recognizing her exceptional contributions, Dr. Ahlberg was then appointed to the role of Senior Lecturer in the Economics Department and tasked by the Provost's Office to assist in leading the department's efforts in revising Economics principles courses as part of a university-wide effort. Subsequently, she was also appointed as the Lead Faculty for Micro/Macro principles courses. In these capacities, she has made significant contributions through innovative curriculum development, introduction of new courses, facilitation of faculty onboarding, and initiation of a new departmental EconLab to further assist students majoring in Economics.

Prior to her tenure at SMU, Dr. Ahlberg was a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Organizations, Strategy, and International Management at the Jindal School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas. Her research interests are broad and interdisciplinary, covering cultures and global competitiveness, behavioral development economics, policy interventions, the economics of international negotiations, conflict management, and coalition formation. Her extensive expertise spans various academic levels and includes curriculum development and the design of innovative educational courses.
Dr. Ahlberg has received several nominations and awards, including the HOPE (Honoring Our Professors' Excellence) Award. In 2024, she was honored with the prestigious Barbara and James Mangum Teaching Award in recognition of her extraordinary student engagement and dedication to teaching.

Eva Chiang serves as the lead faculty and academic coordinator for the online Master of Public Policy program. In this role she oversees the curriculum design and delivery, as well as student onboarding and support.

In addition to her role at SMU, Dr. Chiang serves as the managing director, leadership and programming at the George W. Bush Institute, where she leads evaluation and research work and leadership programming, including the Presidential Leadership Scholars program and the Stand-To Veteran Leadership program.

Previously, Dr. Chiang taught pre-k through college-level students, trained teachers, developed curricula and designed programs. Her research interests include finding solutions to attracting, supporting and retaining great talent in organizations, as well as policy evaluation methods.

Dr. Chiang received her Ph.D. from SMU in education, and she was named a University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA) Clark Scholar. She also holds a J.D. from Texas A&M University School of Law, an M.A.T. from Texas Women’s University and a B.A. in Writing from Baylor University.

Dr. Eva Szalkai Csaky is the Executive Director of the Hunt Institute for Engineering & Humanity at SMU and the co-founder of the Inclusive Economy Consortium. Her work leverages transformational technologies, innovative financial mechanisms and social entrepreneurial approaches for climate-smart and inclusive economic development. Previously Dr. Csaky worked for 18 years for IFC, the largest global development institution focused on the private sector, and has served as an advisor to the G20, OECD, UN agencies and various US organizations. She has an MS in Finance from George Washington University and a PhD in Public Policy with a specialization in Globalization & Development from Duke University.

Molly K. Ellis, Ph.D. is a dedicated educator and researcher specializing in higher education, organizational theory and data-driven decision-making. Currently serving as the director of strategic initiatives at SMU’s Office of Faculty Success, she plays a pivotal role in leading strategic initiatives and co-directing the institution’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) to enhance its accreditation. With a Ph.D. in Education and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, she possesses a wealth of knowledge in research methods and analytics.

In addition to her contributions to academia, Molly has over seven years of graduate-level teaching experience. Her courses in research methods, statistics, leadership and survey design have equipped students with the necessary skills for conducting research in complex policy environments.

Thomas Osang is an associate professor in the Department of Economics at SMU. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, San Diego. He is a member of the American Economic Association and the Verein fuer Socialpolitik, Germany. He is a recipient of SMU’s M Award and the Altshuler Distinguished Teacher Award.

His research and teaching interests focus on topics in international trade, trade policy and economic development. He is an associate editor of Frontiers of Political Science – Political Economy section. He is the author of two books, several book chapters and numerous articles in publications such as the Southern Economic Journal, the Canadian Journal of Economics, the Journal of International Economics, the Journal of Public Economics, PS: Political Science & Politics and the American Economic Review.

Meredith Richards is an Associate Professor of Education Policy in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development at SMU. Her research examines the effect of education policies—such as school choice, school closures, school names, and school boundaries—on equity and stratification in schools. She is particularly concerned with the ways in which education policies structure segregation by race and income. In answering these questions, Dr. Richards uses diverse geospatial and quantitative methods.

Dr. Richards serves on the steering and curriculum committees for the MPP and teaches coursework in educational research methods and statistics. She is active in numerous policy organizations, including the Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management (APPAM) and the Association for Education Finance & Policy (AEFP). Before joining SMU, Dr. Richards worked as a health policy researcher for Lockheed Martin. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Policy from the University of Texas at Austin and was a Post-doctoral Fellow in Education Policy and Methods at the University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a B.A. in Cognitive Science from the University of Virginia, a M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from George Mason University.

Anne Wicks is the Don Evans Family Managing Director, Opportunity and Democracy at the Bush Institute. In this role, she develops and oversees the policy, research, and engagement work of GWBI's Opportunity and Democracy team, which focuses on strengthening our democracy, pathways to opportunity, immigration, economic growth, accountability, and literacy.

Before joining the Bush Institute, Wicks served as an associate dean at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education. Her portfolio includes communications, advancement and a variety of special projects, including the launch of Ednovate Charter Schools. Over her career she has held roles in Teach for America, the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health and Stanford University.

Wicks holds a B.A. in American Studies and an M.A. in Education from Stanford University (during which she taught 8th grade social studies), as well as a MBA from the University of Southern California. A former captain of Stanford’s women’s volleyball team, she was part of three national championship teams, two as a player and one as an assistant coach. She is the parent of a public school student.

Matthew Wilson is Kairo Endowed Director of the Center for Faith and Learning and Associate Professor of political science at SMU. He is also a senior fellow of the John Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs and of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Louisiana State University in political science and history and holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Duke University.

His research focuses on public opinion, elections, representation and the role of race and religion in politics, both in the United States and abroad. He is the author, co-author or editor of three books, including Understanding American Politics and Politics and Religion in the United States and dozens of articles and essays. His teaching has been honored with awards from the SMU Department of Residence Life and the Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility, and in 2017 he received SMU’s President’s Associates Outstanding Faculty Award. He routinely serves as a commentator on political affairs for local, national and international media outlets.