David R. Ellis, Ph.D.

Program Manager
Research Scientist
979-845-6165
Email David Ellis

Dr. David Ellis is a Research Scientist with over 33 years experience in economic policy analysis, socioeconomic impact assessment, government/public affairs, transportation analysis, strategic planning, demographic analysis and management.  He is also a faculty member in Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University where he teaches a graduate course on Transportation Investment Decisions.

Dr. Ellis’ recent projects include: Developing the Texas Revenue, Expenditure, and Needs Determination System (TRENDS) Model for the Texas Department of Transportation, providing analytical and economic impact assessment support to the Texas 2030 Committee, examining transportation needs and their economic impacts in Texas, assessing the economic impacts of seat belts on schools buses, as well as numerous special projects related to transportation funding and finance for various members and committees of the Texas Legislature.

He is a frequent public speaker on the topic of transportation finance and has testified numerous times before various committees of the Texas Legislature as a resource witness.

Brianne Glover, J.D., Esq.

Assistant Research Scientist
979-458-0919
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Brianne Glover is an Assistant Research Scientist with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, and is an Attorney and Counselor at Law, licensed to practice in the state of Texas. She joined TTI in 2010 and has been involved with numerous research projects that focus on transportation financing as well as the economic impacts associated with transportation improvements.

Dr. Glover’s main focus is the maintenance and future development of the Transportation Revenue Estimator and Needs Determination System (TRENDS) model. The TRENDS model is designed to provide transportation planners, policy makers and the public with a tool to forecast transportation revenues and expenses based on a user-defined level of investment at both the state and local level.

She holds a JD from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and a BS in Industrial Design and Development from Sam Houston State University.

Nicolas D. Norboge

Assistant Research Scientist
713-686-2971 Ext. 15103
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Mr. Norboge is an Assistant Research Scientist at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, where he has conducted transportation financial and operations research since 2010. His areas of emphasis include financial analysis, funding alternatives, economic analysis, and effective public participation practices.  In the past two years, Nicolas has collaborated with seven subject matter experts to write a 20-page “layperson’s” brief on how transportation is funded in Texas; wrote, as part of a team, a study to examine the economic development potential of a proposed new freight shuttle system; developed 20-page transportation funding analysis for Blue Ribbon Transportation Committee quantifying recent state initiatives for funding transportation infrastructure, and prepared a TIGER benefit-cost analysis for two Texas port improvement projects.

In addition to holding a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree with a concentration in Policy and Finance Analysis from the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, Mr. Norboge is a Certified Associate in Project Management professional and active on numerous Transportation Research Board committees and research groups.

Allison Weldon

Assistant Transportation Researcher
(979) 458-3617
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Allison Weldon is an Assistant Transportation Researcher in the Infrastructure Investment Analysis Program of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, where she has conducted studies in both high speed rail and commuter rail operations. Allison joined TTI in late 2012 and has been highly involved with developing project deliverables. She has taken on the role of a “middle-man” in a continued effort to aid progress of project tasks.
Prior to joining TTI, Allison earned a Bachelor’s degree in Health from Texas A&M University.

Michael Hardy

Graduate Student Worker
(979) 458-8790
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Michael Hardy, of Richmond, Virginia is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Public Service & Administration from the George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M. He graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2004 with a BS in Political Science and History. Prior to enrolling at the Bush School, Michael worked for six years in the Virginia Legislature; three years as the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Lieutenant Governor and three years as a Legislative Aide to a member of the House of Delegates. He currently lives in College Station with his wife Megan and two dogs, Forest and Gipper.

Elizabeth Sandefur

Graduate Assistant Research
(979) 458-0207
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Elizabeth Sandefur, of Houston, Texas is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Public Service & Administration from the George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M. She graduated from the University of Houston in 2007 with a BS in Psychology and Political Science. Prior to enrolling at the Bush School, Elizabeth worked in the property tax industry for five years in both Houston and Atlanta.

Tengxi Wang

Graduate Assistant Research
(979) 458-8792
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Tengxi Wang is currently pursuing a Ph.D degree in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University.  He earned his Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Science degree in Automation from the Beijing Institute of Technology in Beijing, China.  From 2009 to 2011, Tengxi was a Research & Development Engineer with Veros Systems in College Station, TX.  While there he performed product development regarding both software and hardware.

Chandra Caldwell

Graduate Assistant Research
(979) 458-2367
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Chandra Caldwell earned her B.A. degrees in Political Science and History from The Ohio State University in 2010. She participated in a number of public service initiatives in her undergraduate education including working with various organizations involved in environmental issues, and public policy initiatives. During her undergraduate education she received The John Glenn Fellowship which gave her the opportunity to intern in Washington, D.C. on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wherein she got to participate in foreign policy objectives and research issues pertinent to the international relations arena. Upon graduation from Ohio State, she was accepted into the International Affairs Master’s Program at Texas A&M’s George Bush School of Public Service. During her second semester, she was selected by the Department of State to complete an internship at the American Embassy in Doha, Qatar, wherein she worked with State Department Foreign Service Offers to research foreign policy initiatives important to both the United States and Qatari governments. She is currently finishing her last year of her Master’s program, and hopes upon graduation in May 2013 to obtain a job in the intelligence community working for the federal government.