Our People
Our Faculty
Dr. Patrick Jones
Dr. Patrick Jones is the executive director of the Institute; he has served in this role since the Institute’s inception in 2002. In addition, he currently serves on the council of the Washington State Data Center (advisory to U.S. Census), the board of Spokane’s Health Sciences & Service Authority, as well as the steering committee for Priority Spokane, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-honored organization. Over the course of his career, he has often served-on and chaired local, state, and national boards and panels. For his impact on the local community, Jones was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the City of Spokane in 2016. He holds a doctorate in Applied & Agricultural Economics from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Contact Dr. Patrick Jones at dpjones@ewu.edu
Dr. Kelley Cullen
Dr. Kelley Cullen is the Institute’s policy analyst and economist, who also teaches courses in economics and statistics in EWU’s School of Business. She received her PhD in Economics with concentrations in health, labor, and econometrics from Washington State University. Dr. Cullen enjoys presenting on these topics, along with sports economics through the National Economic Education Delegation (NEED).
Contact Dr. Kelley Cullen at kcullen@ewu.edu
Our Student Interns
Cameron Burns
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Major: Computer Science
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2027
Post-graduation plans: Start a career designing computer systems.
After a few months of working on the Trends project, my favorite thing so far:
My favorite part of work is how the data we use reflects real people and communities. It’s satisfying knowing the work we do goes to people who use it to make a difference.
Mason Moore
Hometown: Wenatchee, WA
Major: Information Systems & Business Analytics, Finance
Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2025
Post-graduations plans: Attend graduate school and get a good job!
After a few months of working on the Trends project, my favorite thing so far:
I really enjoy the process of troubleshooting and working through the puzzles that come with data analysis, no two indicators are ever the same, and that keeps things interesting and engaging. I’ve also really appreciated the opportunity to work with such a thoughtful and collaborative team. The people I get to work with make the experience even more rewarding.
Matthew Sandell
Hometown: Bremerton, WA
Major: Double-majoring in Economics and Data Analytics
Post-graduation plans: Get a job involved with economic development and/or public policy, either local or international.
After a few months of working on the Trends project, my favorite thing so far:
There are so many different puzzles to solve. My favorite part of the Trends project is rebuilding or creating new datasets. Often, we have to make judgement calls on what data is important and how to present that data. Fundamentally, we’re here to tell a story, and I love finding the most efficient way to achieve that through thoughtful and creative data organization
Malina Weigel
Hometown: Okanogan, WA
Major: Economics Major w/ a minor in business administration
Expected Graduation Date: June 2026
Post-graduation plans: I’m hoping to go to graduate school for Economics or Data Science!
After a few months of working on the Trends project, my favorite thing so far:
In the time I’ve been working here my favorite thing is definitely being challenged to learn new topics I haven’t had experience with before.
