Tim Sass is Named the W.J. Usery Chair of the American Workplace

ATLANTA–The Georgia Board of Regents has approved Distinguished University Professor Tim Sass to hold the W.J. Usery Chair of the American Workplace in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies.

The endowed chair, which sits in the Department of Economics, honors the late W.J. Usery Jr., who had served as the U.S. Secretary of Labor and in several other influential roles. Until his retirement, Usery had served Georgia State University as the Distinguished Executive Fellow in Labor Policy in the Andrew Young School.

Dr. Sass is an applied micro-economist whose research focuses on the economics of education. His specific areas of interest include teacher labor supply, the measurement of teacher quality and school choice. He also serves as faculty director of the Metro Atlanta Policy Lab for Education, in the school’s Georgia Policy Labs.

In his new position, Dr. Sass will coordinate the Usery Workplace Research Group, which conducts research in various areas of workplace policy including education, training and retraining, health, and the future of work. He intends to focus on education policy.

“Education sets the stage for all future career opportunities and experiences,” said Dean Sally Wallace. “Tim’s knowledge and expertise will expand the scope of the chair’s policy focus into knowledge that will benefit humanity’s schoolroom-to-workplace experiences.”

The Usery chair also supports graduate student research in various areas of workplace policy and funds the annual W.J. Usery Distinguished Lecture Series, which brings leading economists to Georgia State University to present on important issues in the American workplace.

Dr. Sass succeeds Professor Emeritus Barry Hirsch, the inaugural W.J. Usery Chair. He held it for a dozen years.

“The Chair grew in prestige under Barry, who held it until his recent retirement,” said Wallace. “We thank him for his hard work and the recognition he brought to the chair, and look forward to its continued growth and influence under Tim.”

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By Sumar Deen

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