The Hall Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit foundation established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues. Our weekly email newsletter is sent to organizations and individuals with an interest in the material posted on our website at www.hallnj.org.

Since our inception in 2005, the Institute has emerged as a leading voice for public policy in New Jersey. More than 900 papers on topics ranging from health care to education to property taxes have been posted on our website. The Institute produces a 30-minute public affairs television along with podcasts, blogs and social networking to share our work and seek feedback.

In 2006 and 2008, the Institute presented online virtual debates among the candidates in New Jersey's U.S. Senate race. We also sponsored NJ2008, a special section on New Jersey's role in the 2008 presidential campaign. For New Jersey's 2009 Governor's campaign, we incorporated the successful elements from our virtual debates and presidential forums and supported them with new media initiatives. The 2012 U.S. Presidential virtual debate is posted here.

In addition to our other activities, the institute has published three books:  The State of the Garden State; Reaction and Reform in New Jersey; Into The New Millennium: New Jersey and The Nation. All three are compilations of the major papers posted on our website. A fourth volume, Creating A Common Future: New Jersey and Public Policy, was published online.

Located in Trenton, the institute was established by George E. Hall, a successful business executive and a leading philanthropist who lives in Middletown, N.J.

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George E. Hall - Founder and Trustee

A successful business executive and a leading philanthropist, Mr. Hall established the Hall Institute of Public Policy to serve as a leading forum for academic research, creative ideas and constructive debate on statewide issues.

Mr. Hall is president, founder and majority shareholder of Clinton Group, Inc., a registered investment advisor.  Before founding the company in 1991, he was a Vice President at Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc., a leading primary dealer and mortgage securities broker-dealer.

In addition to managing the Clinton Group, Mr. Hall has taken an active role in philanthropic causes, contributing significant sums to health care, educational and cultural organizations.

Mr. Hall lives in Middletown, N.J., with his wife, Lori, and their children - Charlotte, Kathryn and George Jr.

Michael P. Riccards - Executive Director

Dr. Riccards oversees all operations of the organization. He came to the Hall Institute from the College Board in Washington D.C., where he was responsible for public policy analysis and liaison with government officials.

The author of 15 books, Dr. Riccards previously served as the president of three colleges - -Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts, Shepherd College in West Virginia and St. John's College in New Mexico.

In 2008, he was appointed by Governor Jon S. Corzine as the state's representative on the national Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. He later was selected by the Governor to chair the state’s Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.