The Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise brings together the personal and professional interest of William and Jane Mosakowski in enhancing the effectiveness of government with the commitment of Clark University to draw upon the strength of its academic programs to make a difference in the communities of which it is a part in the United States and around the world. William Mosakowski is President and CEO of Public Consulting Group, a national leader in providing consulting services to state and local government to dramatically improve financial and operational performance. The Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise marries this core value of improving the effectiveness of government with an emerging model of use-inspired research that leverages cutting-edge research in addressing important social concerns. The Institute is focused on 'the public enterprise'—government in service to society—and at the same time seeks to be 'enterprising' in identifying and implementing new approaches to improving government effectiveness.
Use-inspired research is a term used to denote approaches to conducting basic research that maximize the utility of the work for user-communities. Over the last decade there have been several indicators of interest in a new approach to research along these lines and several fields have coined a variety of terms that refer to this kind of work. What holds them together is a paradigm shift away from a rigid distinction between basic and applied work. The sciences and psychology have primarily drawn on the term translational research, political scientists and economics have used policy relevant research, and education researchers and others have referred to useable knowledge. The choice of use-inspired research for the institute was guided by the fact that this has been the term used by the widest number of disciplines and also has been adopted by various national societies and foundations such as AAC&U, Spencer Foundation, Carnegie Foundation, Council on Undergraduate Research, and the National Research Council in material about a vision of research. An excellent source for a deeper understanding of use-inspired research can be found in Stokes' important book Pasteur's quadrant: Basic science and technological innovation, published in 1997 by the Brookings Institution. Stokes places the issue of use-inspired research in historical and political context while examining the evolving relationship of universities, governments, and other institutions to scientific research.
The establishment of the Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise is the result of a generous gift of Clark alums William and Jane Mosakowski. In addition to the William and Jane Mosakowski Endowed Professorship, funds will be used for the following kinds of activities:
 |
The initial flagship product of the Mosakowski Institute will be a regular series of white papers and conferences on major domestic and international issues. The white papers—the William and Jane Mosakowski Monographs—will be a central part of Clark's strategy to raise the visibility and stature of the University across the country and around the world. Once the Institute is fully established, we would expect to publish at least two of these white papers a year. The white papers will present the products of conferences and workshops, as well as results of work conducted by research teams at Clark University. |
|
The Mosakowski Institute will sponsor conferences, workshops, and seminars that bring together researchers, practioners, and funders on major policy topics and issues such as how to make use of cutting-edge research to enhance institutional effectiveness. |
|
The Mosakowski Institute will consider sponsoring Visiting Scholars whose presence would enhance the mission of the Institute. |
|
As part of the Mosakowski Institute, there will be funds to establish the William and Jane Mosakowski Undergraduate and Graduate Fellows Program. This endowed program would provide stipends for undergraduate and graduate students to develop not only skills in research and practice but also a commitment to serving the public good. |
|
Currently the Institute activities will be funded through the William and Jane Mosakowski Endowed Fund. Over time, it is expected that other gifts and grant funding from federal agencies and foundations will support research and other activities of the Mosakowski Institute. |