Des Moines Register columnist David Yepsen was officially introduced as the next executive director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University at a press conference in Carbondale, Ill., Wednesday afternoon.

According to the Southern Illinoisan, Yepsen will start his new job April 1.  Here’s what he had to say about his goals:

“Paul Simon’s legacy prompted me to apply,” Yepsen said.  ” I am really interested in spending the rest of my life in public service, teaching and working with students and working in the public policy arena.”

Yepsen said he plans to focus the institute on two major issues – the needs of students in higher education and ethics in government, something he said is no longer a laughing matter in Illinois.