Scrivner Institute Community Profiles: Dr. Stefan Chavez-Norgaard

Stefan Chavez-Norgaard, Teaching Assistant Professor 

 1. What inspired you to join the Scrivner Institute and MPP program at Korbel?

When I saw the job posting in December 2023 for a new teaching-line faculty position, I was imme1diately intrigued. I myself have a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree (Harvard Kennedy School, Class of 2019) and have found over the years that the degree’s emphasis on systematic and evidence-based approaches to research, reasoning, and implementation have served me well. Since arriving on campus, I have been energized by the Scrivner Institute’s momentum and am continually impressed by my student and faculty colleagues, who are hard-working, brilliant, possess integrity, and are committed to the public good.

2. What are your research interests and areas of expertise?

I study issues of urban planning; housing, land-use, and transportation policy; state and local politics and policy; and policy implementation. I conduct research on these topics in both international and domestic contexts: my PhD dissertation examined issues of post-apartheid planning for multi-racial and multi-ethnic democracy in South Africa, and much of my current work considers local urban policies related to housing and land use in the contemporary Colorado context.

3. What courses do you teach?

This past year, I taught courses in Urban Policy, Ethics in Public Policy, Policy Writing, and Public Policy Analysis. I also taught a “Policy Lab” course on Housing Policy.

4. What is an assignment/activity that you look forward to in your courses?

I have enjoyed developing client-driven courses in partnership with engaged, relevant, professional policy practitioners. Students work in teams and interface with these clients to produce timely products that can inform ongoing policy decisions and rollouts. This year, I have curated active course partnerships with the U.S. Department of State (through its “Diplomacy Lab” initiative), the Colorado State Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and the City and County of Denver’s Affordable Housing Review Team (AHRT) and its Community Planning and Development (CPD) and Housing Stability Teams (HOST). Next year, I’m looking forward to developing an additional partnership for students with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

5. What do you believe is a unique contribution you bring to the MPP program/Scrivner Institute?

I am born and raised in Colorado, and have long been passionate about issues of Colorado politics and policy. I have also spent considerable time on the east coast of the United States and have lived and worked internationally. I believe I bring a policy perspective that is at once locally grounded and in tune with national and global policy conversations. I hope to strengthen the Scrivner Institute’s topical expertise on issues of urban policy, state and local politics and policy, and implementation, and further skills-based courses in writing and public policy analysis. My client-driven courses aim to ground the MPP program and Scrivner Institute in professionally relevant experiential learning.

6. Could you share more about a project or projects you are currently working on?

I am currently working with colleagues across the university on issues of affordable housing in Colorado, with an aim to study precise drivers and causes of Denver’s affordability crisis. This collaborative work has involved engagements with faculty at CU Boulder, CU Denver, and Metro State, among other institutions across the U.S., and involves leveraging a novel policy simulator model to gauge the effect of policy changes on affordable-housing development potential. Envisioned outcomes include academic journal articles, a public-facing policy white paper, and newspaper articles.

7. What is a favorite memory from your time as a faculty member so far?

In March 2025, I convened a symposium event at the end of my Ethics in Public Policy class where students invited individuals whom they considered to be ethical public leaders to campus. At the event, students shared their final philosophical papers and/or public-leader interviews with attendees and bonded over food and drink. It was a tremendous culmination to a quarter of engagements with questions of ethical decision-making in this contemporary moment.

8. What do you like most about living and working in Denver? Do you have a favorite place or activity in town you want to share with our community?

I love living in Denver! My wife and I live right next to Harvard Gulch Park and a favorite activity is simply a daily walk around the park, or perhaps a walk or bike ride into work on the DU campus. If anyone is looking for some incredible ice cream in the area, do check out Right Cream!

9. Any additional fun facts about yourself?

My wife and I are expecting our first baby this June! I am thrilled about the prospect of us setting down roots in Denver and continuing to learn, grow, and contribute to the DU, Korbel, and Scrivner Institute communities.