About the Center

The University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research (UKCPR) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit academic research center established in 2002. Housed in the Gatton College of Business and Economics, the Center’s research informs evidence-based policy on the causes, consequences, and correlates of poverty, inequality, and food insecurity in the United States.

UKCPR has been the recipient of numerous grants and contracts from federal agencies and foundations that have supported our research and sponsored major conferences on low-income populations. In addition, the Center has sponsored several grant-making and mentoring programs, most recently in the area of food insecurity and food assistance programs in the U.S. 

Led by Founding Director Dr. James P. Ziliak, UKCPR staff and faculty affiliates reflect the cross-disciplinary emphasis of the research agenda, with representatives from economics, public policy, political science, public health, sociology, and social work. We invite you to explore the pages on our site to learn more about our activities.