Paula Wolff
Paula Wolff is a Senior Executive at Metropolis Strategies, a civic organization implementing policy initiatives and programs for regional action on issues including land use, transportation, childhood development and education. Her policy emphasis is on justice and violence, examining issues of crime, violence, incarceration, and rehabilitation.
Ms. Wolff served as President of Governors State University from 1992-2000. Governors State University (GSU), located in Chicago's south suburbs, serves over 9,000 undergraduate transfer or returning students and those seeking master's degrees. Between 1977 and 1991, Ms. Wolff served as Director of Policy and Planning for Governor James R. Thompson. In 1990-1991, she directed Governor Jim Edgar's Transition Team as she had participated in Governor James R. Thompson's in 1976-1977. Prior to her appointment as GSU President, she was a Visiting Fellow at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, where she helped establish a not-for-profit collaborative serving four pilot sites in the Chicago public schools.
Ms. Wolff has a B.A. from Smith College and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in political science.
* Board Member, Joyce Foundation
* Member, Ariel Capital Management Board
* Board Member, Metropolitan Planning Council
* Board Member, Johnson Foundation
* Board Member, Safer Foundation
* Board Member, Chicago Foundation for Women
* University of Chicago Hospitals
* Trustee, the University of Chicago
* Life Member, Visiting Committee, Harris School of Public Policy, the University of Chicago
She is married to Wayne Whalen and has five children.
