Shawn Healy, PhD
About Shawn Healy, PhD
Shawn Healy, PhD, serves as the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at iCivics in Boston, Massachusetts, where he has worked since 2021. He has extensive experience in civic education and policy, having held various roles including Civic Learning Scholar at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and Professor of Public Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Work at iCivics
Shawn Healy serves as the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at iCivics, a position he has held since 2021. In this role, he oversees civic education campaigns and leads the organization's state and federal policy and advocacy efforts. He is actively involved in the CivXNow Coalition, which aims to advance civic education across the United States. His work focuses on promoting policies that enhance civic learning and engagement among students.
Education and Expertise
Shawn Healy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in Political Science, History, and Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied from 1993 to 1999. He later pursued graduate studies at the University of Illinois Chicago, achieving a Master of Arts in 2003 and a PhD in Political Science in 2014. Additionally, he completed the Stanford LEAD Professional Certificate program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2021.
Background
Shawn Healy has a diverse professional background in civic education and public policy. He served as a James Madison Fellow from Wisconsin in 2001, which reflects his commitment to civic learning. He has held various positions, including Director at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation from 2017 to 2021 and Civic Learning Scholar from 2010 to 2017. He was also a Resident Scholar at the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum from 2005 to 2009.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Shawn Healy has contributed significantly to the field of civic education. His leadership at iCivics involves overseeing initiatives that promote civic engagement and education. His previous roles at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum have further established his expertise in civic learning and advocacy. He has been recognized for his efforts to enhance civic education at both state and federal levels.
Current Academic Role
In addition to his role at iCivics, Shawn Healy is a Professor of Public Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago, a position he has held since 2016. His academic work focuses on public policy and civic education, contributing to the development of future leaders in these fields. His dual roles in academia and civic advocacy allow him to bridge theory and practice in civic learning.