Barbara Cherry
Professor Emeritus
Contact Information
Research and Creative Interests
- public policy
- deregulation
- network neutrality
- governance structures
- complexity theory
- international comparative analysis
- communications infrastructure
- law and economics
Biography
EDUCATION
- Ph.D., Northwestern University, Communication Studies
- J.D., Harvard Law School
- M.A., Harvard University, Economics & Law (National Science Foundation Fellowship in Economics)
- B.S., University of Michigan, Economics (Summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa)
RESEARCH FOCUS
Prof. Cherry’s research focuses on the nexus of telecommunications policy, economics and law – it reflects her interdisciplinary background of education and of policymaking experience in positions with both the telecommunications industry and government.
Foundational elements of Prof. Cherry’s research include:
- Evaluation of deregulatory policies
- Examination of governance structures
- Comparative analysis of infrastructure industries both domestically and internationally
- Framing of analyses from a complexity theory perspective
GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE
- Federal Communications Commission – Deputy Chief and Senior Counsel, Office of Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
- AT&T
- Regulatory Attorney, Legal Department
- Regional Attorney, State Government Affairs
- Director of Operational Analysis, State Government Affairs
- Ameritech
- Director of Public Policy Studies
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO INDIANA UNIVERSITY
- Michigan State University – Associate Professor, School of Journalism, and Associate Director, James H. and Mary B. Quello Center for Telecommunication Management and Law
- Northwestern University – Visiting Van Zelst Professor, Dept. of Communications Studies
KEY AFFILIATIONS IN ACADEMIA
- International Telecommunications Society – Board of Directors
- Ostrom Workshop – Affiliated Faculty Member