SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
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We are a powerhouse of social innovators, thinkers, and scholars ready to take on today’s challenges in the public and nonprofit fields. The School of Public Administration is made up of nationally-ranked and accredited graduate degrees that are a force to be reckoned with.
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Chad Abresch Doctoral Candidate Email: cabresch@unomaha.edu Bio Chad J. Abresch is the Executive Director of CityMatCH, a national organization representing maternal and child health leaders in local governmental public health agencies. As Executive Director, Chad has focused the organization on three priorities: promoting health equity, effectively using science for public health practice, and cultivating great leaders for the public’s health. Through his years in the health field, Chad has come to understand that policy and environment often supersede genetics and medical care—a community’s health is subordinate to the contexts in which life is daily lived. During his time in the program, Chad hopes has explored how federal, state and local government impact disenfranchised communities, and identified promising public policy strategies for promoting shared prosperity. Education Master of Education, Health University of Nebraska-Lincoln BA, Psychology University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Bit An Doctoral Student Specializations: Public Budgeting & Finance, Urban Studies Email: ban@unomaha.edu Bio Bit An is a third year doctoral student in the School of Public Administration. His research interests include public finance and budgeting, community district organization, public and nonprofit financial management, and the relationship between financial decision-making and fiscal institutions. His current research interests span both the government and nonprofit sectors. He currently studies how fiscal institutions influence decision made by nonprofit organizations and governments. Bit wants to contribute to strengthening public finance and budgeting policy through his research. Education MPA Arizona State University MPA University of Seoul BA, Public Administration Hansung University Research Interests Public Budgeting & Finance Urban Policy Public & Nonprofit Financial Management Fiscal Institutions and Fiscal Decision-Making
Del Bharath Doctoral Candidate Specializations: Public Policy & Urban Management Email: dbharath@unomaha.edu Bio Del Bharath is a doctoral candidate in the School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO). She completed her Bachelors in English and Psychology at Florida Atlantic University before moving to Nebraska to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA. This fostered an interest in public administration, specifically in increasing effectiveness and efficiency in the nonprofit sector. She pursued her MPA at UNO and received her degree with a concentration in nonprofit management in May 2014. Her research attempts to link public administration theory with practice by examining the questions asked by practitioners in the field. Education MPA, Nonprofit Concentration (2014) University of Nebraska at Omaha BA, English (2005) Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, Florida) BA, Psychology (2005) Florida Atlantic University Professional Background Research Assistant – University of Nebraska at Omaha (August 2014 – May 2016) Assessments of Omaha Community Foundation Nonprofit Capacity Building Program
Research Interests Nonprofit management, board governance, civic engagement, volunteerism, national service programs, urban studies, gentrification, and community redevelopment CV Link https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Del_Bharath
Abhishek Bhati Doctoral Candidate Email: abhati@unomaha.edu website: https://abhati0716.github.io/ Bio Abhishek Bhati is a doctoral candidate in the School of Public Administration in the area of Nonprofit Studies and Public Administration. In particular, he is interested in understanding different fundraising strategies, such as social media usage by nonprofit organizations, for retaining and attracting new donors, and their effects on the perception of beneficiaries and the poor. Abhishek has been awarded a Penn Social Impact Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, an Emerging Scholar Award through the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organization and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA), and a Graduate Research and Creative Activity Award (GRACA) through the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Education M.A., Social Entrepreneurship Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai B.A., Business Economics University of Delhi Journal Articles Bhati, Abhishek, and Eikenberry, Angela M. (2016). Faces of the Needy: The Portrayal of Destitute Children in the Fundraising Campaigns of NGOs in India.� International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing 21(1): 31-42. Bhati, Abhishek, and Manimala, Mathew J. (2011). Talent Acquisition and Retention in Social Enterprises.� Journal of Security and Sustainability Issues 1(1): 39-53.
Book Chapter Bhati, Abhishek. (In press). A Critical Fundraising Perspective: Understanding the Beneficiary Experience. In Reframing Nonprofit Management: Democracy, Inclusion, and Social Change edited by Angela M. Eikenberry, Billie Sandberg, and Roseanne Mirabella, Melvin and Leigh Publishers. CV Link https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Abhishek_Bhati4
Scott Bovick Doctoral Candidate Email: sbovick@unomaha.edu Bio Scott Bovick currently works as the Deputy County Administrator for Sarpy County, Nebraska and previously served as the City Administrator in Nebraska City, Nebraska. He has been active in the Nebraska Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA), serving on the Chapter Council for several years, including two terms as Chapter President. Scott had the opportunity to teach a Master’s level course at UNO in 2009, which sparked his interest in pursuing a doctoral degree. His main research focus is urban administration and public finance and budgeting. He believes a doctorate degree will help him become a well-rounded public administration scholar and practitioner. Education MPA University of Kansas-Lawrence
Professional Background Deputy County Administrator Sarpy County, Nebraska, 2009 – present
BA, Political Science William Jewell College (Liberty, Missouri)
City Administrator City of Nebraska City, Nebraska, 2004-2009
BA, History William Jewell College
Assistant City Administrator City of Blair, Nebraska, 2002-2004 Research Interests Local government and urban administration Collaborative governance Public service motivation Public finance and budgeting
Kristin B. Broyhill Doctoral Student Specializations: Public Policy, PA Theory Email: kbroyhill@unomaha.edu Bio Kristin B. Broyhill is a native Nebraskan and competed her BA and MA degrees at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Before returning to Nebraska for graduate school, she earned her International Peacekeeping Certificate at the Austrian Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution and her Texas Teaching Certificate with the Texas Teaching Fellows. In addition to teaching middle school ESL, social science, and language arts; she has worked in the nonprofit sector with organizations such as the U.S. Committee for the UN Development Program in Washington, DC and the Kalahari Peoples Fund in Austin, TX. During her studies and nonprofit work, she participated in fieldwork researching government relations and economic development in Mexico, South Africa, and Namibia. Since graduating with her Master’s degree, Kristin has remained in higher education, serving as UNO’s Department of Political Science’s academic program coordinator and teaching political science courses. Education Bachelor of Arts, International Studies University of Nebraska-Lincoln Master of Arts, Political Science University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Publications and Conference Papers Miller, Jennifer, McMahon, Patrice, and Broyhill, Kristin, The ICTY as a Realist Institution: International Courts, Accountability Networks, and Transitional Justice (2011). APSA 2011 Annual Meeting Paper. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1900500
Research Interests Civil Society Public-Private-Third Sector Partnerships Democratic Transition and Institution Building
Broyhill, Kristin, and Adrianne Daggett. What These People Want? Indigenous self-determination through the lens of John Marshall. 2nd Annual CIC-AISC Faculty Research Symposium. 2009. Michigan State University.
Lucas Casey Doctoral Student Email: ljcasey@gmav.unomaha.edu Bio Lucas Casey has a diverse professional background which includes positions on city staff with two growing suburban communities, time as the executive assistant to the president at a small private university, and a stint as a local TV news anchor at the ABC-affiliate in Des Moines. He currently is the business development manager and local government consultant for Iowa at Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. A constant through his varied experiences is Casey’s interest in and involvement with local government systems and processes. During his time in the doctoral program, Casey intends to explore the long-term viability of small- to mediumsized cities and how it relates to existing and/or potential capacity (e.g. financial, infrastructure, and social capacity). His interest in local government also has led to numerous opportunities for community involvement, including current service on the Greaer Des Moines Partnership Government Policy Council and the West Des Moines Quality of Life Council. Casey also previously served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Casey is a lifelong Iowan. He was born and raised in Manson, Iowa, and currently lives in West Des Moines, Iowa, with his wife and three children. Education BA, Public Administration: Economics and Finance University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa) MPA, Public Policy Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa)
Melanie Chapman Doctoral Student Email: mmchapman@unomaha.edu Bio Melanie Chapman is a second-year doctoral student in the School of Public Administration with a varied academic background in Physical Education and Recreation, Health Education, Sociology, Human Ecology, and Philosophy. Melanie’s research interests include public policy and policy communities related to physical activity and obesity, as well as broader policy issues in community health including coalitions and partnerships, community building, advocacy, policy development, and environmental change. These research interests grew out of Melanie’s previous work that critically examined the discursive constructions and embodied experiences of women’s physical activity, health, and leisure practices. Melanie completed her MPA at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and BA at Laurentian University/Université Laurentienne (Sudbury, Ontario, Canada). She has a background in evaluation research and teaching and was previously a Research Assistant in the Department of Medicine and Dentistry and lecturer in the Physical Education & Recreation Department at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). Melanie is currently a Graduate Research Assistant, working with Dr. Jodi Benenson in the area of civic engagement, civic health, and public policy. In her free time, Melanie competes in triathlons, running, and cycling events, enjoys a good hike, and is a certified triathlon coach. Melanie recently qualified to compete in the 2018 World 70.3 Championships in South Africa next September. She lives in Omaha with her husband Jeffrey and GSP rescue dog Bella; her daughter Ceilidh began her first-year studies in Forensic Science at Laurentian University.
Byungwoo Cho Doctoral Candidate Specializations: Public Budgeting & Finance, Urban Management Email: bcho@unomaha.edu Bio Byungwoo (Shine) Cho came to UNO School of Public Administration with the goal to make local governments more accountable, effective, and efficient. Since then, he has developed his academic capability in Public Budgeting and Financial Management and Urban Management. He has investigated topics including, but not limited to: priority-driven budget reform as an organization change, revealing the meaning of sustainability through the values of public budgeting, and civic hacking for local government budgeting data visualization. He is currently writing a dissertation about how participating in the budgeting process influences individual participants’ perspectives on government and willingness to pay taxes. He has received a Graduate Research and Creative Activity grant ($5,000) two times and multiple other research and travel grants at UNO. He was selected as a 2013 ASPA Founders’ Forum Fellow and has served the Waldo Society, a doctoral student group in the SPA, for two years. In the near future, he hopes to get a job in academia and contribute to strengthening public service through his research, teaching, and engagement in public service. Education MPA, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Georgia State University, 2012 MA, Public Administration Yonsei University, 2010 BA, Public Administration Yonsei University, 2007
Research Interests Budgeting and Financial Management: Citizen Participation (participatory budgeting, civic hacking), organizational factors in budgeting (where to put the budgeting function, budget reform as an organizational change), and innovative budgeting formats (prioritydriven budgeting, performance budgeting) Urban Management: Large city governments whose population is about or greater than 100,000), emerging urban policy issues including sustainable development goals, civic hacking, leadership and corruption, gentrification, and so on.
Minshuai Ding Doctoral Student Email: mding@unomaha.edu Bio Minshuai Ding, came from mainland China, and is a second-year doctoral student in the School of Public Administration. He is interested in the field of urban management, with a focus on public finance. Minshuai has experience as a nonprofit practitioner, including four years as researcher and editor for the Transition Institute in Beijing, China, and volunteering for the Long Island Chinese American Association in New York State. Outside of school, he is a life-long reader of belles-lettres, and a writer. Education MPA, Public Budgeting and Finance Concentration
 Rutgers University-Newark, NJ BA, Literature & Chinese Language Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing, China Research Interests Urban Governance Public Finance Nonprofit Management Public Administration Theory
BJ Fletcher Doctoral Student Research Area: Public policy, Food Policy, and Urban Studies Email: bjfletcher@unomaha.edu Bio B.J. Fletcher comes from the state of Missouri. Prior to joining UNO, he worked for the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration (DIFP) in the Division of Insurance. While with the Division of Insurance, he provided program evaluation and policy analysis and provided assistance cases of insurance investigation. In addition to his work with DIFP, he has also provided assistance to the USDA’s Department of Rural Development on the evaluation of an economic development plan for a community in Missouri. During the completion of his Masters of Public Affairs, he focused on Public Policy in particular on evaluation and analysis. His coursework in evaluation and analysis led him to become interested in Food Policy, in particular, in food security and poverty. His work on food security issues led him to be selected to participate in a food security and hunger program at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Program in Rome, to examine the causes, consequences, and remedies of world hunger. During his time in the SPA doctoral program, B.J. hopes to further explore Food Policy and food security issues. Education Masters of Public Affairs, Public Policy University of Missouri- Columbia MS, Personal Financial Planning University of Missouri-Columbia BA, Business Administration – Finance Westminster College, Fulton Missouri
Lora Mae Frecks Doctoral Candidate Email: lmfrecks@unomaha.edu Bio Lora Frecks is a doctoral candidate. Before returning to school she managed the intellectual property portfolio of a public medical research university. Continuing her work with innovators and inventions, she volunteers with other civic hackers in Nebraska and serves as the treasurer for the American Society of Public Administration’s (ASPA) Section for Science & Technology in Government (SSTIG). Her research focuses on community members’ coproduction of services and resources with governments and nonprofits. She can be found online at frecks.info. Education MPA University of Nebraska at Omaha BA, Biology Chadron State College Professional Background Intellectual Property Manager University of Nebraska Medical Center, Intellectual Property Office/UNeMed Corporation, 2001-2010
Research Interests Citizen Participation e-Government Information Policy Innovation Policy Peer-Reviewed Publications Publication Frecks, Lora Mae, 2011. “Patent Donations” in the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) Technology Transfer Practice (TTP) Manual: Volume IV. July 2011.
Xian Gao Doctoral Student Email: xiangao@unomaha.edu Bio Xian Gao is a fourth year doctoral student at the School of Public Administration. Her research interests focus on digital government and collaborative governance. She has served as a graduate research assistant for the Global Digital Governance Lab and has served as an officer in the Waldo Society, a doctoral student group in the SPA. Since 2017, Xian has also been active in serving the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) District IV as a website manager. She received funding from a UNO Graduate Research and Creative Activity grant to work on a research project regarding the interplay between collaboration management, use of technology, and organizational performance. After graduation, she hopes to continue contributing to the field of information and technology management and public policy. Education MA, Political Theory China University of Mining and Technology (Xuzhou, China) BA, Public Administration China University of Mining and Technology Professional Experience Graduate Assistant, Global Digital Governance Lab, School of Public Administration, CPACS, UNO, August 2014-December 2016
Teaching Experience Introduction to Public Administration (Undergraduate) Research Interests Digital government Collaborative governance Social media E-participation Performance management
Joel Gehringer Doctoral Student Email: jfgehringer@unomaha.edu Bio Joel Gehringer is a first-year doctoral student in the School of Public Administration. He is excited to become part of this nationally-recognized program. Joel is currently Director of Annual Campaigns at the University of Nebraska Foundation and oversees the annual funds of three University of Nebraska campuses – UNK, UNMC and UNO. In his sixth year in this position, Joel strives to increase philanthropic support of public higher education in Nebraska. Joel recently worked to establish the UNO Fund, which encourages unrestricted giving to scholarships, research, academics, and other immediate student assistance needs at UNO. Joel is interested in studying how nonprofit leadership, local nonprofit networks, public-private partnerships, nonprofit policy, and philanthropy can affect democratic outcomes, encourage civic participation, foster public service motivation, increase access to education, and reduce inequality. Joel was born and raised in Omaha and lives in the city with his wife Taylor (ABD in industrial/organizational psychology at UNO) and two rambunctious, comical dogs (no formal education). Education MA, Social Sciences (political psychology/public opinion emphasis) University of Chicago BJ, News-Editorial (double-major in political science) University of Nebraska-Lincoln Professional Background University of Nebraska Foundation, Director of Annual Campaigns – UNO, UNK & UNMC Creighton University, Direct Mail Coordinator, Creighton Fund
Beth Gillespie Doctoral Student Email: egillespie@unomaha.edu Bio Beth is a third year doctoral student. Before starting the doctoral program, Beth’s professional experience was in the human services field. She spent seven years working in management at a large nonprofit organization serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She earned her B.A. from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA, and her Master’s degree from Drake University in Des Moines, IA. Her research interests focus specifically on women’s philanthropic foundations and their grant making for social change, women’s empowerment, and gender equality. Beth’s dissertation concerns whether women’s foundations are agents for social change. Education MPA, Executive Development Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa) BA, History University of Iowa Research Interests Women’s philanthropy Social equity Feminist theories
Dell Gines Doctoral Student Email: rgines@unomaha.edu Bio Dell Gines has a deep passion for seeing disadvantaged and economically challenged communities grow and thrive through innovative economic development strategies. As a Senior Community Development Advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, his primary responsibility is to support the Banks small business and economic development initiatives across the seven states within the Bank’s region. Dell is a Certified Economic Developer (CeCD) who focuses on entrepreneurship based economic development in urban and rural communities. A gifted speaker and presenter, Dell has spoken across the nation on entrepreneurship based economic development, entrepreneurship ecosystems and developing local rural and urban economies through developing entrepreneurship growth strategies. In 2013 he served as the keynote presenter for the National Economic Gardening Conference, a panelist at the National Workforce Investment Board Conference, and presented at numerous other conferences and seminars across the region and nation. During his work at the Federal Reserve Bank Dell has created numerous programs and projects including the creation of the Grow Your Own Guide to Entrepreneurship Based Development, the regional micro-finance alternative lender database and Small Biz Day programs across the region, which connected over 600 entrepreneurs to local small business resource providers.
With his background in business banking, non-profit executive management, community activism and as adjunct professor of Social Entrepreneurship at Creighton University, he brings a unique, community grounded perspective to the field of urban core and rural economic development. In 2011 Dell received the Omaha Jaycees TOYO award, given to the top 10 individuals under 40 making who are making an impact in the Omaha, NE community. Education MS, Finance Bellevue University Executive MBA University of Nebraska at Omaha BS, Business Management Grace University
Gabby Henderson Doctoral Student Email: gehenderson@unomaha.edu Bio Gabby Henderson is a Richmond, Virginia native, and first-year doctoral student at UNO. Gabby has a Master’s in Public Administration from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia where she concentrated on international non-governmental organization management. She also has an undergraduate degree from JMU in international relations with a concentration in African politics, a minor in Africana studies, and a minor in economics. While pursuing her MPA, Gabby worked as a graduate assistant where she did research on nonprofit giving, student veteran academic needs, and nonprofit codes of ethics. She has contributed to research presented at ARNOVA, guest lectured, volunteered her time to fundraising campaigns, and worked on departmental rebranding. In the future, Gabby hopes to bring her experiences with research and nonprofit management, as well as her background in international relations, to work on bridging the gap between the U.S. and countries throughout Africa. She hopes that her time in the Ph.D. program will help to shape her understanding of public administration as it applies to the international sphere.
Nick Juliano Doctoral Student Email: njuliano@unomaha.edu Bio Nick Juliano is a third-year doctoral student. He currently works as Director of Regional Advocacy and Public Policy for Boys Town. Nick has lead Boys Town’s initiative to grow community based services in Nebraska and Iowa and the expansion of Boys Town locations into north and south Omaha. Nick serves on the senior leadership team of Boys Town NE/IA programs, which grew from serving 3,500 youth in 2007 to over 15,000 youth in 2016. Nick works closely with public and private sector leaders in Nebraska and Iowa to improve the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Through this work, he has seen the promise of public-private partnerships in helping children and families achieve better life outcomes. During the program, Nick hopes to explore ways that public policy can improve these partnerships and accelerate efforts to strengthen communities in the region. He is also interested in the role of nonprofits in serving communities of concentrated need. Education MBA University of Nebraska Omaha
Professional Background Senior Director Community Impact Boys Town, April 2013 - Present
BS, Psychology Creighton University
Senior Director Business Development Boys Town, August 2007 - April 2013 Director Support Services Boys Town, April 2005 - August 2007
Ji Seul Kim Doctoral Candidate Email: jiseulkim@unomaha.edu Bio Ji Seul Kim is a doctoral candidate in the School of Public Administration. She is a recipient of a national scholarship sponsored by the Korean Government, enabling her to attend graduate school abroad. Her research and teaching interests are in public budgeting and financial management, with emphasis on budgetary institutions and institutional performances, capital budgeting and spending, and government accounting and financial reporting. At present, she is working on her dissertation, “Why Pay More? Capital Budgeting Institutions for State Public Highway Maintenance.� After graduation, she hopes to extend her research areas and contribute to the field of public budgeting and finance as a public administration scholar. Education MPP, Public Policy Arizona State University BA, Business Administration and Health Service Management Kyung Hee University Research Interests Budgetary Institutions and Institutional Performances Capital Budgeting and Spending Government Accounting and Financial Reporting
Publications Jiseul Kim and Carol Ebdon. (2017). Have the GASB No. 34 Infrastructure Reporting Requirements Affected State Highway Spending, Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, 29, 347-374. Jiseul Kim, Can Chen, and Carol Ebdon. (In press). Effects of the GASB No. 34 Infrastructure Reporting Standards on State Highway Infrastructure Quality: A Panel Data Analysis. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management. Teaching Experience Public Budgeting (undergraduate)
Junghack Kim Doctoral Candidate Specializations: Public Budgeting & Finance, Public Policy Email: junghackim@unomaha.edu Bio Junghack Kim is a doctoral candidate and instructor in the School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska Omaha. He received both an MA and BA in public administration from Korea University in Seoul. Before coming to UNO, he was a research analyst at the Korea Institute of Public Finance. His current research interests include public budgeting, financial management, government accounting, and quantitative methods. His research has appeared in public administration journals including the American Review of Public Administration and Public Money & Management. His current research projects address borrowing costs, borrowing scales, school finance, and government accounting practices. He is teaching several courses at the undergraduate level, including Public Budgeting, Introduction to Public Administration, and Applied Statistics for Public Administration. Education MA, Public Administration (Specialty: Public Budgeting and Financial Management) Korea University BA, Public Administration Korea University Professional Background Research Analyst Korea Institute of Public Finance, 2012 Research Interests Debt Management Accounting and Financial Reporting Cutback Management
Yeonkyung Kim Doctoral Student Email: yeonkyungkim@unomaha.edu Bio Yeonkyung Kim is a first-year doctoral student in the School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her research interests lay at the interplay between inter/intra governmental networks, evaluating government efficiency and capacity, and network management in public administration. She has a background working in government-sponsored research institutes, the Korea Institute of Public Administration (KIPA) and the Supreme Audit Institution of South Korea, as a research assistant. Kim previously completed a Bachelor’s degree in public administration and a Master’s degree in public administration at Ewha Woman’s University in Korea.
Yunseung Kim Doctoral Student Email: yunseungkim@unomaha.edu Bio Yunseung is a third-year doctoral student in the School of Public Administration. His research interests include public budgeting and finance, public service provision, intergovernmental relations, policy and program evaluation, and transparency. Studying in-depth budget execution, performance and financial resource management of state and local governments and public corporations, he hopes to find ways to increase the effectiveness, transparency, and responsibility of state and local governments’ fiscal management. He has an academic interest in studying diverse modes of public service delivery and further evaluating the effectiveness of different forms of public service management strategies such as intergovernmental collaboration, public-private partnerships, and coproduction of public services. At UNO, Yunseung has worked for Global Digital Governance Lab (GDGL) as a research assistant. He carried out the data arrangement and analyses of the Nebraska City and County E-government Survey 2015 and Iowa County E-government Survey 2017. He also participated in Nebraska Transit Projects in the summer of 2017, during which he collected and arranged data of public transit providers in Nebraska and performed case studies to search benchmarking cases or best practices of mobile applications for rural transit. Research Interests Public Service Provision Public Finance and Budgeting Public and Nonprofit Management Intergovernmental Relations Policy and Program Evaluation Transparency
Professional Background Research Analyst, Research Center of State-Owned Entities, Korea Institute of Public Finance Research Analyst, Laboratory for Future Society Seoul Development Institute Research Assistant, BK 21 Project, Graduate School of Public Administration, Seoul National University
Wei-Jie Liao Doctoral Student Specializations: Public Budgeting & Finance, Public Policy Email: wliao@unomaha.edu Bio Wei-Jie is from Taichung, Taiwan. He is a second-year doctoral student in the School of Public Administration at UNO, with a focus on public budgeting and finance. He received his MPA and BA in public administration from National Taiwan University (NTU) and wrote his master’s thesis on debt management. His research interests include debt management, performance budgeting, participatory budgeting, and pension reform. Wei-Jie is also interested in teaching. He worked as a teaching assistant for Applied Statistics at NTU and received an NTU Excellent Teaching Assistant Award four times. He hopes to enhance both research and teaching skills during his Ph.D. studies at UNO and wants to become a scholar in public administration. Education MPA National Taiwan University BA, Political Science / Public Administration National Taiwan University
Megan McGuffey Doctoral Candidate Email: mmcguffey@unomaha.edu Bio Megan McGuffey is a doctoral candidate at the UNO School of Public Administration. As a doctoral student, she specializes in public policy and public budgeting and finance, while contributing to a growing focus in food systems and food policy studies and research. As a graduate assistant, Megan has worked on diverse projects, from the Global Digital Governance Lab, to evaluation of the Nonprofit Capacity Building Program at the Omaha Community Foundation, to various food systems research projects. As an instructor, she teaches PA 4300 (Seminar in Public Policy) and PA 2000 (Leadership & Administration), and codeveloped a new course, PA 8896 (Introduction to the U.S. Food System). Prior to beginning her doctoral studies at UNO, Megan worked at the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center as a Project Assistant and in the private sector working with psychologists and other academics to conduct research for the U.S. Army and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This work gave her experience working with federal contracts and grants in the social sciences, managing the daily business operations of a small company, and sharpening her research skills in the social sciences. Research Interests Food Policy Public Policy Food Systems Citizen Participation and Active Citizenship Local Government Management Network Governance Nonprofit Management
Publications McGuffey, M. M. (2016). The Producer’s Perspective: Examining the Challenges of Providing Local Food. Food Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 6 (3), 13-26. McGuffey, M. M., & Starke, A. (In press). Towards A Just Food System. In A. B. Hoflund, J. Jones, & M. C. Pautz (Eds.), The Intersection of Food and Public Health: Current Policy Challenges and Solutions. CRC Press/ Taylor & Francis.
Emily Newman Doctoral Student Specializations: Emergency Management, Policy Email: emilynewman@unomaha.edu Bio Emily was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska and is now working on her doctorate in Public Administration with an emphasis in Emergency Management at UNO. She did a portion of her undergraduate degree at the University of Haifa in Israel and while there focused her studies in counter-terrorism and nuclear proliferation. She has been able to use these areas of study to help assist in lobbying on Capitol Hill. Emily also has a background in the nonprofit sector, including work with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Omaha-based educational theater organization RESPECT. Through her work with the ADL as a facilitator and RESPECT as both an Actor Educator and as Scheduling Coordinator, she has helped to educate students of varying ages on bullying, teen dating violence, suicide and depression, anti-Semitism on college campuses, and more. She links such work with her background in political science and counter-terrorism studies as being a spectrum of ways in which to observe human communications and interaction during emergency and disaster situations and prevention, from the individual to the societal level. Her research interests focus on emergency management policy and the effects that politics have on these policies. Education BA, Political Science Minor in Religion University of Nebraska at Omaha MS, Political Science University of Nebraska at Omaha
Sungho Park Doctoral Candidate Specializations: Public Budgeting & Finance, Public Policy Email: sunghopark@unomaha.edu Bio Sungho Park is a doctoral candidate in the School of Public Administration. His main research interests are in public budgeting and financial management. His major scholarly agenda is on how to enhance local government fiscal outcomes, in an attempt to make local governments fiscally efficient and accountable. He is particularly dedicated to examining the impact of various fiscal institutions, accounting rules, financial reporting, and budget reforms. Policy tools (or instruments) for local development and collaborative governance are also his research interests. He believes that this Ph.D. program and professional faculty members provide the most excellent training course in his major area. Sungho hopes to graduate in 2018 and wants to be an expert scholar in the area of local government administration and policy. Since he hopes to share his expertise with other scholars and students in the future, he would like to find an academic position in a U.S. university after graduation. Research Interests Public Budgeting & Finance Local Government Fiscal Efficiency and Accountability Fiscal Institutions Accounting Policy Financial Reporting Budget Reform Policy Tools and Collaborative Governance Link to CV https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sungho_Park13
Selected Publications Local Property Tax Limits in Nebraska: Within-State Variations in Effects (with Craig Maher and Carol Ebdon) Public Administration Quarterly, forthcoming. The Impact of Tax and Expenditure Limits on Municipal Credit Ratings (with Craig Maher, Steven Deller, and Judith Stallmann). The American Review of Public Administration, 46(5): 592-613. The Effects of Tax and Expenditure Limits on Municipal Pension and OPEB Funding during the Great Recession (with Craig Maher and James Harrold). Public Finance & Management, 16(2): 121-146.
Michael Pippin Doctoral Candidate Specializations: Managing Information in the Public Sector, Public Policy Email: mpippin@unomaha.edu Bio Michael Pippin is a doctoral candidate in the School of Public Administration with interests in public sector information management and public policy. He hails from Florida, where he spent 25 years working in both the public and private sectors performing a variety of information technology duties from computer programmer to information services director. This mix of public and private sector work experience fuels his interest in information management similarities and differences between sectors. His dissertation focuses on the similarities and differences between chief information officers working in traditional public sector and traditional private sector organizations with emphasis on internal organizational factors that may impact CIO performance. As an adjunct instructor he has taught PA 2170 (Introduction to Public Administration), PA 3000 (Applied Statistics and Data Management in the Public Sector), PA 3200 (Program Planning and Evaluation), PA 3700 (Financial Management for Nonprofits), PA 4300 (Public Policy Seminar), and PA 4530 (Strategic Planning). He has also taught the Managing Information and Information Technology module for the Certified Public Managers program. In conjunction with the Emergency Management Department, Mike assisted in the development of the Applications of Fire Research (FSMT 4860) course, which teaches students how to apply social science research methods to fire-related research. He plans to graduate this coming year and to secure an academic position, which will allow him to pursue these interests. Michael’s primary intent is to contribute to the research on the impact of information technology on the public and nonprofit sector organizations. Professional Background Information Services Director Office of the State Attorney, Jacksonville, Florida
Research Interests The role of impact of the sector in the performance of CIOs.
Systems Program Administrator Florida Department of Corrections, Tallahassee, Florida
The impact of information technology on organizations, especially in the public and nonprofit sector
Owner Computer Tutors of the First Coast, Jacksonville, Florida
Josh Shirk Doctoral Candidate Email: emilynewman@unomaha.edu Bio Josh is a doctoral candidate currently working towards completing his dissertation on the interplay of performance management systems and the implementation of welfare policy. Josh is especially interested in studying the street-level interactions between welfare professionals and recipients in the context of a general shift in the organization of economic, political, and social relations over the past 40 years. Education MS, Urban Studies University of Nebraska Omaha BA, General Studies University of Nebraska Omaha Research Interests Welfare Policy Performance Management Critical Theory Meaning of Work
Taylor Smith Doctoral Student Email: tssmith@unomaha.edu Bio Taylor Smith is a Nebraska native and is a first-year doctoral student in the School of Public Administration with an emphasis on public policy. He received both his undergraduate degree in history, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration, from UNO. Taylor has been a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center since beginning the second year of his MPA program. He will continue as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Public Policy Center, where he has helped conduct research on various projects that actively informs public policy. He seeks to use this background to conduct policyoriented research with expertise, and to specifically make a contribution to the improvement of the understanding, perception, and use of inter-organizational networks at various government levels to render services to the public.
Xiaowei Song Doctoral Student Email: xiaoweisong@unomaha.edu Bio Xiaowei is a first-year doctoral student, and was born in Henan Province, central China. Before coming to UNO, he worked as a research assistant and a teaching assistant at Sun Yat-sen University, with a focus on public budgeting and finance, and performance budgeting in particular. He has had the honor to participate in much advisory work and programs for Chinese local governments on public budgeting and fiscal management. Education Master of Management, Public Administration Sun Yat-sen University BA, Public Administration Liaoning Technical University
Anthony Starke Doctoral Candidate Specializations: Public Administration Theory, Public Policy Email: astarke@unomaha.edu Bio Anthony Starke is a doctoral candidate at the UNO School of Public Administration. As a doctoral student, Anthony completed coursework in public administration theory, public policy, and black studies. Since joining UNO, he has worked as the Project Manager for a research enterprise examining Hispanic/Latino immigrants and access to healthcare in the Greater Omaha Area and currently serves as the Project Specialist for UNO’s Monitoring, Assessment, Evaluation, and Research for Community Engagement initiative. Prior to beginning his studies at UNO, Anthony was an active leader in the governance and management of serviceoriented nonprofits based in Virginia’s Greater Fredericksburg and Hampton Roads communities. Anthony holds credentials as a Qualified Mental Health Professional and has experience in the field of human development. He is a former VCU Wilder Fellow, 2014 ASPA National Founder’s Fellow, 2016 ASPA International Young Scholar, 2016 Engagement Scholarship Consortium Emerging Engagement Scholar, AmeriCorp VISTA Alum, and life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Anthony hopes to secure a tenure-track faculty position upon completion of his doctoral degree. Professional Background Research & Policy Analyst | VCU Office of Development & Alumni Relations Youth Programs Coordinator | Garden of Hope, Inc. Site Supervisor | Hanover County Parks and Recreation Research Interests Social Policy/Welfare State Social Equity Race and Racism Community Engagement in Higher Education
Selected Publications Starke, A., Shenouda, K. & Smith-Howell, D. (2017). Conceptualizing community engagement: Starting a campus-wide dialogue. Metropolitan Universities Journal, 28(2), p. 72-89. doi: 10.18060/21515 McGuffey, M. & Starke, A. (In Press). Toward a just food system. In A. Bryce Hoflund, John Jones and Michelle C. Pautz (Eds.), The Intersection of Food and Public Health: Examining Current Challenges and Solutions in Policy and Politics. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Morgan D. Vogel Doctoral Student Email: mdvogel@unomaha.edu Bio Morgan is a first-year doctoral student in the School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Her primary research interests include public administration theory, organizational theory and behavior, and emergency management. She is particularly drawn to research on bureaucratic discretion and public service motivation, and more specifically, how these topics relate to the field of public safety. Morgan has had several unique internship opportunities that furthered her passion for public administration, namely working for Ohio Governor John Kasich’s office, the congressional district office of U.S. Representative Mike Turner (OH10), the Dayton Fire Department Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS), and the University of Dayton Government Relations office. Morgan received her BA in Political Science and her MPA from the University of Dayton. She is originally from Cleveland, Ohio.
Ming Xie Doctoral Student Specializations: Nonprofit Management, Public Policy Email: mingxie@unomaha.edu Bio Ming currently holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, China. She is particularly interested in nonprofit organization management, policy analysis, intergovernmental collaboration, and risk management. She has focused on intercultural communication research for several years. She believes that intercultural comparison and experience is a good way to help people understand their own culture and society, and that this can be used to understand and solve social problems. From the perspective of cultural diversity, her goal is to propose a theoretical-practical, systematic and effective intervention system to empower individuals and groups, and to assist policy makers in understanding the nature of the partnership arrangements between the non-profit and government organizations and how they might affect the implementation of public policy. Education PhD, Anthropology Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences MA, Communication Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences BA, Journalism Shanxi University, China
Dong Whee Yang Doctoral Student Email: dongwheeyang@unomaha.edu Bio Dong Whee was born and raised in Je-Ju Island, South Korea, and is starting his doctorate in Public Administration, concentrating on nonprofit management. He did his undergraduate work at University of California, San Diego and graduate work at Korea University. He has been interested in the development of NGOs and NPOs in Korea. Dong Whee is interested in NGOs adopting certain strategies from private organizations, particularly marketing and resource management. During the Ph.D program, Dong Whee would like to establish a common criterion to measure efficiency of civil organizations and find ways to improve the comparatively lagging effectiveness of organizations in the civil sphere, also to find what kind of organizational structures would affect these partnerships and how they have been institutionalized within civil organizations. Education MS, Sociology Korea University, Seoul BS, Sociology University of San Diego, California
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Suyang Yu
Doctoral Student Email: syu@unomaha.edu
Bio Suyang Yu is from China, working toward a doctoral degree in public administration at the Unversity of Nebraska at Omaha. She has experience working at the Decision-making Theater of Renmin University of China as a research assistant. After spending nearly ten years studying in Beijing and Tianjin, Suyang Yu made a decision to study abroad to pursue a broader and deeper understanding of her research fields, including the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on government and public policy. She loves UNO and feels happy to have a beautiful place to conduct her research with excellent faculty members. She is currently working for the Global Digital Governance Lab as a research assistant.
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Education MPA, Public Finance and Public Policy Renmin University of China, Beijing, 2014
COLLABORATORSADMINISTRAT SO BA, Public Administration Tianjin Foreign Studies University, Tianjin, 2012 Research Interests Information and Communication Technology Public Policy
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