Kansas State University

MANHATTAN -- Two individuals known for influencing public policy will be the speakers for the fall 2013 Lou Douglas Lecture Series at Kansas State University. The lecture series is sponsored by UFM Community Learning Center.

Sandy Praeger, Kansas insurance commissioner, will present "A Kansas Guide to Health Insurance Changes" on Tuesday, Sept. 10, and Edward Wolff, New York University economist, will present "Rising Inequality: The Decline of the American Middle Class" on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Both lectures will start at 7 p.m. in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union and an extended question-and-answer period will follow each lecture.

Praeger was elected as Kansas' 24th insurance commissioner in 2002 and re-elected in 2006 and 2010. Her responsibilities include regulating all insurance sold in the state and overseeing insurance companies and licensed agents in the state. Prior to becoming commissioner, she served three terms in the Kansas Senate and one term in the Kansas House of Representatives. She has worked on patient protection laws, external review of health plans and insurance, and the Kansas expansion of children's health insurance.

She received the Dr. Nathan B. Davis Award from the American Medical Association twice for her significant contribution to public health through elected and career government service. The Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved recognized her also for her leadership on health care access issues. Praeger has volunteered for United Way of Douglas County, Health Care Access, Haskell Indian Nations University Foundation and Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA.

Wolff has taught economics at New York University since 1974. He currently serves as a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and is an associate editor or editor of numerous economic research publications. He has acted as a consultant with the Economic Policy Institute, the World Bank, the United Nations, the WIDER Institute and Mathematica Policy Research.

His research focus is productivity growth, and income and wealth distribution. He is the author of many published articles as well as a frequent guest on radio and television. Some of Wolff's most recent books and edited volumes include "The Transformation of the American Pension System: Was It Beneficial for Workers?"; "Productivity Growth: Industries, Spillovers and Economic Performance"; and "International Perspectives on Household Wealth."

The Lou Douglas Lecture Series is dedicated to Douglas, who was a distinguished professor of political science at Kansas State University from 1949 until 1977. Widely known for his power to inspire students, faculty, staff and citizens to instigate change, Douglas was one of the founders of UFM Community Learning Center. After his death in 1979, UFM began the lecture series to honor him. More information is available at http://www.tryufm.org.