Ep. 44: Dr. Donna Ginther is the Roy A. Roberts & Regents Distinguished Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute for Policy & Social Research at the University of Kansas and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Prior to joining the University of Kansas faculty, she was a research economist and associate policy adviser in the regional group of the Research Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta from 2000 to 2002 and taught at Washington University from 1997 to 2000 and Southern Methodist University from 1995 to 1997.

Her major fields of study are scientific labor markets, gender differences in employment outcomes, wage inequality, science policy, and investments in children.

A native of Wisconsin, Dr. Ginther received her doctorate in economics in 1995, master's degree in economics in 1991, and bachelor of arts in economics in 1987, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Listen now, and learn how Donna is an innovative leader in Kansas.

For more about the Health Fund: https://healthfund.org/

Ep. 43: The Rev. Dr. Beth Ludlum serves as vice president for strategic initiatives and executive director of The Hub for (Re)Imagining Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.

At Wesley Theological Seminary, she has completed both a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry degree, the latter focused on the applications of human-centered design thinking for congregational flourishing. At Wesley, she creates new initiatives, partnerships and experiments to help students and the church live into God’s dream for the world; has launched and manages several programs focused on innovation with emerging generations and congregational thriving; and oversees strategic planning and marketing.

Her career path has included teaching English at a university in China, working for U.S. Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, directing programs at a national nonprofit, working in admissions at Wesley, and serving global United Methodist collegiate ministries. She is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. She is passionate about empowering young adults in leadership and revitalizing ministry.

Listen now, and learn how Beth is an innovative leader in Kansas.

For more about the Health Fund: https://healthfund.org/

Ep. 42: Kari Bruffett serves as president and CEO at Kansas Health Institute. With extensive experience in national and state health policy, she has advanced efforts at KHI to support effective policymaking through new and enhanced services while continuing to ensure high-quality, objective research, education and engagement.

She previously served as KHI’s vice president for policy and led the organization’s policy activities, business operations and strategic planning. Prior to KHI, Kari held executive leadership roles in the health and human services sector of state government. She served as secretary of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and as the director of the Division of Health Care Finance at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. She also served eight years in government affairs at The University of Kansas Hospital and four years in Washington, D.C., as a congressional staffer.

Kari currently serves on the board of directors for the National Network of Public Health Institutes and for Midland Care and is a member of the Strategic Advisory Board for the Healthcare Institute for Innovations in Quality.

Listen now, and learn how Kari is an innovative leader in Kansas.

For more about the Health Fund: https://healthfund.org/