Alan J. Hahn, 71, professor emeritus of policy analysis and management, who taught political science and promoted education about public dispute resolution, died May 21 in Denver.

According to the Farm Foundation, Hahn "made major contributions to his fellow extension educators through his leadership in advancing public issues education methodology. Hahn's insights from the disciplines of government and public affairs have helped in addressing the complexities of modern issues, changing decision-making processes and new extension audiences."

Hahn, who was born March 3, 1940, received his bachelor's degree in sociology, master's in government and doctorate in political science, all from Indiana University in Bloomington. He worked in the area of public policy education in the Department of Consumer Economics and Housing in Cornell's College of Human Ecology from 1969 to 1976. He worked in the college's Department of Human Service Studies until he retired in 1996.

Hahn served on the Northeast Public Policy Education Committee and was a presenter at a number of national public policy conferences. He was a leader of the 1993-94 Public Issues Education Task Force of the National Public Policy Education Committee, which led to publication of the monograph "Public Issues Education: Increasing Competence in Resolving Public Issues." He also authored "The Politics of Caring: Human Services at the Local Level" (1994), among other publications.

He is survived by his wife, Laurie Schiff Hahn, and two aunts.

A celebration of his life will be held Sept. 17, 1-4 p.m., in the Borg-Warner Room at the Tompkins County Public Library. Contributions in his memory can be made to The Nature Conservancy at http://my.nature.org/donate/honor-giving.html.