Darcy Olsen

Darcy Olsen
Residence Phoenix, Arizona
Education Georgetown University
New York University
Home town St. George, Utah

Darcy Olsen is an American nonprofit executive. For 15 years, she served as the chief executive officer of the Goldwater Institute.[1][2] In 2018, she founded Generation Justice, a nonprofit organization that works for children's rights.[3] She has been active in the right-to-try movement, which encourages the passage of state laws to let terminally ill patients try experimental therapies that have completed Phase 1 testing but have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In 2015, she published a book on the topic titled The Right to Try: How the Federal Government Prevents Americans from Getting the Lifesaving Treatments They Need.[4]

Early life and education

Darcy Ann Olsen was born in Bennington, Vermont. Until she was ten years old, she and her family resided in Hoosick Falls, New York. Her family then moved to Richfield, Utah. Olsen attended high school in St. George, Utah, where she was active in student groups.[5]

In 1989, Olsen received a scholarship to attend the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. While attending classes, Olsen also worked as a drug counselor and transition house manager for the Coalition for the Homeless.[6][7]

In 1993, Olsen earned a bachelor of science degree from Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. Then she enrolled in graduate school at New York University. She earned a master's degree in international education[8] in 1995 after studying foreign educational systems with an emphasis in developing countries of North Africa.

Career

After her graduation from NYU, Olsen moved back to Utah and worked as a copywriter and editor for Weber State University. A year later, she returned to Washington, D.C. in a similar role for the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

Cato Institute

Olsen's first report for Cato[9] focused on an anticipated proposal from President Bill Clinton's administration to significantly expand the federal government's role in providing child care for American families.[10]

Two years later, Olsen wrote a new report[11] about proposals in a variety of states to provide universal preschool because of claims that at-risk children need a stable instructional environment at earlier ages to be successful in school as they get older.[12] In her review of the available scientific research, Olsen wrote that government-sponsored early childhood education provides no lasting improvement in the average student's learning skills or chances for success later.[13]

Goldwater Institute

Olsen came to Phoenix in 2001 to lead the Goldwater Institute, established in 1988 with the blessing of late U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater.[14] Designated as a 501(c3) non-profit,[15] the Goldwater Institute reported a budget of $3.5 million in 2010.

In 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, the Arizona Capitol Times and its readers selected Goldwater as the "Best Capitol Watchdog" in Arizona,[1] in 2009 as "Leader of the Year" in Policy Development, and in 2011 as hosting the "Best Political Fundraiser" for its 2010 gala dinner featuring New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.[16] Washington Post and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will described the Institute as "America's most potent advocate of limited government."[17]

She has written columns for national newspapers including the Wall Street Journal and USA Today and appeared on public affairs television programs across the country including The O'Reilly Factor, The Dennis Miller Show and Inside Politics. Glenn Beck included Olsen's thoughts[18] in his 2009-10 American Revival Tour.[19]

Olsen left the Goldwater Institute in July 2017 after serving as its CEO for 15 years.[20]

Honors and awards

She was named one of Arizona's top Women in Public Policy[21] and one of the Phoenix Business Journal’s Power Players in 2006,[22] and one of Phoenix’s Forty Under 40 in 2009.[23] She also received the Roe Award, offered by the State Policy Network for outstanding achievements in advancing free-market philosophies.[24] In 2014, she received the Bradley Prize, awarded each year by the Bradley Foundation.[25]

Personal life

Olsen is a foster mother who has adopted three children through the foster care system.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 2010 Best of the Capitol awards recipients: Capitol Watchdog Group, Arizona Capitol Times
  2. ↑ "Spring 2010 Arizona FOI Award Winners", Society of Professional Journalists
  3. ↑ Pitzl, Mary Jo (February 12, 2018). "A tougher tack on parents with drug issues cuts against Arizona's family-first focus". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "The Right to Try". Kirkus Reviews. September 3, 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "People, Power, Politics and Leadership in the State of Arizona" Archived June 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "The Coalition for the Homeless"
  7. ↑ "Ms. Darcy A. Olsen, Entitlements Policy Analyst", Calvert Experts Sourcebook, Calvert Institute for Policy Research
  8. ↑ "International Education Program Information"
  9. ↑ "The Advancing Nanny State: Why the Government Should Stay Out of Child Care", Cato Institute
  10. ↑ "Hillary Rodham Clinton: Address to the White House Conference on Child Care", Britannica.com Inc.
  11. ↑ "Universal Preschool Is No Golden Ticket: Why Government Should Not Enter the Preschool Business", Cato Institute
  12. ↑ Chen, Grace. "Pros and Cons of Public Preschool: The Debate", Public School Review, 21 October 2008.
  13. ↑ Guthrie, Julian. "Plan for universal preschool: State schools chief calls bill 'moral imperative'", San Francisco Chronicle, 20 April 1999
  14. ↑ "The Institute". Goldwater Institute. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  15. ↑ Image of Goldwater Institute's 2008 Income Tax Return (Form 990), Foundation Center
  16. ↑ King, James. "Goldwater Institute Named "Leader of the Year" in Policy Development; Too Bad it Can't Run For Office", Phoenix New Times, 31 August 2009
  17. ↑ Will, George F. "Unlawful health reform?", The Washington Post, 19 November 2009
  18. ↑ "The Importance of Limited Government Power (Special for Glenn Beck's American Revival), Goldwater Institute
  19. ↑ "Glenn Beck's American Revival", glennbeck.com
  20. 1 2 "Goldwater Institute CEO Stepping Down After 16 Years". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. July 11, 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  21. ↑ "Women in Public Policy", Goldwater Institute
  22. ↑ "The Business Journal Power Players: Darcy A. Olsen", Goldwater Institute, 5 December 2006
  23. ↑ "Forty Under 40, Class of 2009", Phoenix Business Journal
  24. ↑ "The Roe Awards", State Policy Network
  25. ↑
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