Social Policy

How do culture and values influence approaches to the public good? The actions of governments at all levels can ensure or detract from the material well-being of individuals. Schar School faculty research key topics – such as housing policy, regional development, transportation, and social welfare – that influence how societies respond to the growing global challenges of social, political, economic, and demographic change. Social policy is concerned with how governments at all levels set priorities, and along with that, the roles that power, inequality, and economic systems play in the design of public policies.

Areas of research include: 

  • Poverty alleviation
  • The design of welfare programs
  • Access to housing and education
  • Race, class, & gender
  • Religion and politics
  • Tax and welfare policies
  • Urban and housing policy

Interested in interviewing one of our experts? Contact Communications Manager Buzz McClain at bmcclai2@gmu.edu or 703-993-9603.

  • Photo of Siona Robin Listokin-Smith

    Associate Professor

    Areas of Research: Federalism/State and Local Government, Microeconomics, Political Economy, Quantitative Methods, Regulatory Policy, Private Regulation, Corporate Governance, Public Finance
  • Photo of Mariely Lopez-Santana

    Associate Professor

    Areas of Research: Comparative Politics, Europe, Federalism/State and Local Government, Qualitative Methods, Social Welfare Policy, Comparative Welfare States, European Union, Governance
  • Photo of Catherine Maclean

    Associate Professor

    Areas of Research: Economics, Development, and Public Finance; Social Policy.
  • Photo of Robert J. McGrath

    Associate Professor

    Areas of Research: Federalism/State and Local Government, Health Policy, Legislatures, Presidency and Executive Branch, Quantitative Methods
  • Van Metre Hall

    Professor of Public Policy; Co-Director, Center for Science and Technology Policy

    Connie L. McNeely is a sociologist and professor of public policy in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, where she is also co-director of the Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy.
  • Photo of Mason Square

    Assistant Professor

    Areas of Research: U.S. Politics and Legal Studies, Social Policy, Regional Expertise – United States
  • Photo of Mark J. Rozell

    Dean, Schar School of Policy and Government

    Areas of Research: Elections, Federalism/State and Local Government, Public Law, U.S. Politics, Presidency, Religion and Politics, Separation of Powers (U.S.)
  • Photo 0f Stephen Ruth

    Professor

    Areas of Research: Carceral Studies--Introducing Tablets and Imbedded Instruction in Jails and Prisons, Learning Technology Interventions in Postsecondary Education, Public Policy and Abrahamic Faith Traditions, Science and Technology, Social Policy
  • Photo of Matthew Scherer

    Associate Professor

    Areas of Research: Democratization, Political Theory, United States, Religion, Secularism, Constitutionalism
  • Photo of Sita Nataraj Slavov

    Professor of Public Policy

    Areas of Research: Economic Policy, Microeconomics, Economics of Aging, Political Economy, Public Finance, Quantitative Methods