Simon Fass

Dr. Simon Fass is an Associate Professor of Public Policy and Political Economy at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), within the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS). He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning from the University of California (1978), an M.A. in Urban Planning (1973), a B. Arch in Architecture from the University of British Columbia (1970), and a Civil Engineering degree from McGill University (1967). His research focuses on policy effectiveness, economic development, juvenile justice interventions, and consumer credit decisions. He has conducted extensive work on occupational safety in construction, governance in Africa, and the informal economy in Haiti.

Key professional roles include serving as Program Head for the MS in Social Data Analytics & Research (2017-2018) and coordinating multiple academic initiatives at UT Dallas. He has received notable awards such as the J. William Fulbright Senior Specialist designation (2002) and the Outstanding Scholarship Award from the Comparative and International Education Society (1990). His work spans global development projects, including evaluations for USAID, the World Bank, and the UN, with a focus on education, poverty reduction, and institutional reform.

Recent grants include a $200,000 evaluation research grant from the Communities Foundation of Texas (2023-2025) to assess youth justice programs. Dr. Fass also contributes to interdisciplinary teaching, covering statistical methods, cost-benefit analysis, and the economics of religion.

• Awards: Fulbright Senior Specialist (2002), Outstanding Scholarship Award (1990), Outstanding Academic Book (1989)
• Grants: $200K evaluation grant (2023), $233K DOJ grant for drug court programs (2007-2008)
• Consulting: Projects with USAID, World Bank, OECD, and organizations in Haiti, Chad, and West Africa