Costrell Named Fellow at George W. Bush Institute

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Robert Costrell

University of Arkansas professor Robert Costrell has been named a fellow in education reform at the George W. Bush Institute, the institute announced Oct. 20.

The institute is part of the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Costrell holds the Twenty-First Chair in Education Accountability in the College of Education and Health Professions. He joined the faculty in 2006 after serving in major policy roles for three governors of Massachusetts, as director of research and development, chief economist for the Commonwealth and education adviser to Gov. Mitt Romney. Costrell also taught economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, beginning as a lecturer in 1978. He held the rank of professor when he left in 2006.

Costrell, who earned his doctorate in economics from Harvard University, in recent years has conducted extensive research into public pension systems and published results in numerous journals. The institute described him as being "among the nation's foremost specialists in the economics of education, education finance, educator compensation systems and pension system dynamics."

Costrell's work with the institute will contribute to enhancing educational productivity through financial accountability. The goal is to help states develop appropriate and effective incentives to encourage financial soundness, increase student achievement, and structure better human resource systems. Pension reform will be a key element of this broader initiative.