John Shaw
Paul Simon Institute DirectorJohn T. Shaw joined the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute as director in January 2018. He established the Institute’s “Better Politics, Smarter Government” agenda with its Restoring American Statesmanship, Renewing Illinois, and Understanding Our New World programs.
Shaw was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. He received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and his master's in History from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. He began his career as a Governors Fellow in Springfield, Illinois, worked in state government, and later participated in a training program with the European Union in Brussels before moving into journalism with a position at the Wall Street Journal Europe.
Shaw worked as a reporter in Washington, DC for more than twenty-five years, covering Congress for Market News International, a global financial wire service, and the diplomatic community for the Washington Diplomat, a monthly magazine.
Shaw is the author of five books: Rising Star, Setting Sun: Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and the Presidential Transition that Changed America (2018); JFK in the Senate: Pathway to the Presidency (2013); Richard G. Lugar, Statesman of the Senate (2012); The Ambassador: Inside the Life of a Working Diplomat (2006); and Washington Diplomacy: Profiles of People of World Influence (2002).
Shaw has been a guest on the PBS NewsHour and C-SPAN, contributed to a weekly segment on Congress for KPCC public radio in Los Angeles for many years, and was a media fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He has published articles in the Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Boston Globe, The American Interest, and other publications.
He serves on the Board of Directors of Forefront, an association representing Illinois grantmakers and nonprofits, and is a member of Hall of Fame of Historic Illinoisans Committee of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. He has taught classes at SIU on the U.S. Congress and American Statesmanship.
Shaw and his wife, Mindy, live in Carbondale, Illinois.
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Liz Dozier, CEO of Chicago Beyond, joined the Institute to discuss her path-breaking work to expand opportunities and possibilities for young people through education, youth safety, and wellness programs. This episode was recorded in March 2023. -
Philip Taubman, a lecturer at Standford University, joined the Institute to discuss his book “In the Nation’s Service: The Life and Times of George Shultz” and one of his earlier books, “The Partnership: Give Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb.” This episode was recorded in April 2023. Hosted by John Shaw. Produced and edited by Jaclyn Durcholz. This podcast is produced through a partnership with WSIU Public Radio. -
Dr. Fanta Aw, Executive Director and CEO of the NAFSA: Association of International Educators, joined the Institute to discuss the transformative power of international education and the importance of international exchange programs. -
Margaret Croke, Illinois State Representative District 12, joins the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute to discuss her career in public service with John Shaw. -
John Palfrey, president of the MacArthur Foundation, joined the Institute to discuss his wide-ranging career and the foundation's important work, including its commitment to supporting independent journalism with John Shaw. -
Shannon McGregor, professor of journalism and poli-sci at UNC - Chapel Hill, discusses the impact of social media on journalism, politics and government in the U.S. -
Description: Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Executive Director of the McCain Institute, discusses with John Shaw her career, the McCain Institute's commitment to advancing character-driven leadership around the world, and the national security challenges facing the United States. -
Brian Rosenberg, author of "Whatever it is, I'm Against it: Resistance to Change in Higher Education," discusses the urgency and difficulty of reform in higher education. -
John Hamre, American international relations scholar, former senior defense official, and CEO of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses foreign policy and national security issues with Institute Director John Shaw. -
David Kindred discusses his memoir "My Home Team: A Sportswriter's Life and the Redemptive Power of Small-Town Girls Basketball" with Institute Director John Shaw.
