Dr. Melissa Trueblood has served as the Economist for the Economic Development team of the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) for the past five years. Dr. Trueblood’s responsibilities at NPPD include developing and evaluating economic development programs and other economic research activities in support of NPPD’s strategic goals. Her research activities focus on identifying and recommending programs and activities that contribute to improving the service area economy and attracting new electric load and increased employment to NPPD’s service area. 

Prior to joining NPPD, Dr. Trueblood served as Executive Director of the Ponca Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO), a tribal non-profit corporation responsible for providing economic development activities for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. Before serving with the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, she spent 11 years with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NDED) as Research Manager working closely with the Community and Rural Development and Business Development Divisions. 

Originally from Decatur, Illinois, Dr. Trueblood earned her bachelor's degree from Millikin University (Decatur, Illinois).  She also holds a master's degree in political science from Eastern Illinois University (Charleston, Illinois), and a Master of Community and Regional Planning from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2016, where her research interests included state and local politics, political behavior, public policy, and research methods. 

Dr. Trueblood lives in Lincoln with her dog, Marlowe. Her office is in Lincoln, and she can be reached at mltrueb@nppd.com.