Melissa Trueblood, Ph.D. has joined the Nebraska Public Power District’s Economic Development team as an economist. Dr. Trueblood joins NPPD from the Ponca Economic Development Corporation, a tribal non-profit corporation responsible for providing economic development activities for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, where she served as Executive Director.
Dr. Trueblood’s responsibilities at NPPD include designing, recommending and evaluating economic development programs and other economic research activities in support of NPPD’s strategic goals. Her research activities will focus on identifying and recommending programs and activities that contribute to improving the service area economy and attracting new electric load and increased employment to NPPD’s service area.
Dr. Trueblood earned her bachelor’s degree from Millikin University. She also holds a master’s degree in political science from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Community and Regional Planning from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2016, where her research interests included American politics and public policy.
While working on her doctorate, Dr. Trueblood began working at the state of Nebraska’s Department of Economic Development, where she had most recently served as the Economic Development Research Manager. In this role, Dr. Trueblood provided research assistance to the Business Development, Community and Rural Development, and the former Tourism Development Divisions.
Dr. Trueblood lives in Lincoln with her two Brussels Griffon dogs, Darryl and Darla. Her office will be in Lincoln and she can be reached at 402-465-3537 or mltrueb@nppd.com.