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ASPA Launches 2023 Annual Conference Call for Proposals
ASPA is pleased to announce that its 2023 Annual Conference proposal submission process is now open! Taking place online, Monday, March 20 - Friday, March 24, the 2023 conference will feature almost 200 panels across seven tracks and will center around the theme, Protecting Democracy for the Next Generation: The Role and Responsibility of Public Administration. All proposals are due November 4, 2022.
We were delighted to hold the 2022 Annual Conference in person this past spring and know our attendees were gratified to see their friends and colleagues after such a long pandemic quarantine. We also appreciate the desire to continue in person next year. That said, as organizations like ours continue to cope with the residual effects of the COVID pandemic—hotel jam-ups, extremely limited availability and demand-driven cost increases due to postponed events that we could not pass along to our attendees—we must host our 2023 conference online.
That said, know this: We will use technology to our fullest advantage, providing the opportunity for those who cannot typically attend in-person events to engage their peers in more than 200 sessions. And, we will be working to introduce in-person touch points with our members throughout 2023. And, of course, we will be back in person for the 2024 conference in Minneapolis.
Your participation means more this year than ever before. The threats to democratic norms in the United States and around the world are known to all of us. The time has come for public administration—as a profession—to shore up our resources, steer the conversation and provide avenues to reinforce democratic principles for current and future generations. Many voices must contribute to these efforts. Ours must be at the forefront.
ASPA’s 2023 Annual Conference will bring together practitioners, scholars and students from around the world to continue a century-old tradition of bridging research and practice to develop new frameworks, share best practices and showcase new scholarship.
Recent years have shown weakening democracies amidst a global pandemic that has taken millions of lives and increased inequalities that have existed for decades, if not centuries. Now, emerging global economic volatility has begun to affect nations through inflation and recessionary concerns. Issues considered problematic before are now crises; what were crises are now catastrophes. Notwithstanding noteworthy successes in saving lives from COVID-19, improving aging infrastructure and placing renewed emphasis on social justice and racial equity, we also have seen significant backsliding toward autocracy, oppression and ignorance. Even more, the debate between individual freedom and authority undercuts basic societal necessity and rational government structure. Now is the time to loudly and publicly proclaim our commitment to democratic norms and practices, not only in the interest of good governance but to ensure they continue in the near and long term. Public administration “done right” is a beautiful thing. We must celebrate it and showcase its successes.
ASPA’s Annual Conference is the ideal forum for the varied and diverse voices within the public administration community to share information, invite others to learn alongside us and advance excellence in public service. During plenary lectures, concurrent panels, symposia and other forums, we will plan for a more democratic and equitable future.
Seven tracks will shape the discourse, providing focused space to concentrate on current research and practice to help those in the field take the necessary steps for future successes. Those tracks are:
- Good Governance and Democratic Norms
- Social Equity
- Public Service
- Global Challenges
- Emergency Management and Public Health
- Environmental Sustainability
- Infrastructure and Financing It
Review track details on our website to better understand the discussions we anticipate and submit your ideas for how you can contribute by the November 4, 2022 deadline.
We look forward to having a robust conference next year and are excited to see the proposals you all submit to make that possible! Contact ASPA's conference staff with any questions.
ASPA Searches for Next PAR Editor in Chief; Proposals Due October 31
ASPA has issued a Request for Proposals for the next Editor in Chief of Public Administration Review (PAR), its flagship professional journal. The new editor’s term will begin January 1, 2024, preceded by a six-month transition period. All proposals are due by October 31, 2022 at 5 p.m. EDT. If you are considering submitting a proposal, you have less than five weeks to finalize your package.
Through the outstanding efforts of its editorial team, led by Editor in Chief Jeremy Hall of the University of Central Florida, PAR has achieved significant success in terms of its readership, impact and contributions to the study and practice of the field. It has earned the top ranking in Thomson Reuters' Journal Citation Reports five-year metrics, ranks No. 2 in its two-year metrics for 2021 (behind Policy and Society) and stands atop Google Scholar's Public Policy and Administration ranking for 2018-2021. It also has seen substantial increases in its downloads and other access metrics.
The Editor in Chief is one of ASPA's most visible public figures and ASPA is looking to the next editor to sustain and build on the record of accomplishment made in the past several years.
Please visit our website to review the Request for Proposals, search and selection timeline and other details about the process. You also may download a PDF of the RFP here. Those who missed our webinar discussing what is involved in managing PAR on a daily basis can find a recording of it on our website, as well.
Remember: Proposals are due no later than Monday, October 31 to ASPA Chief of Communications, Marketing and Membership Karen Garrett. Contact her at 202-585-4313 with questions.
Please forward this message to your colleagues and networks that may be interested in this RFP.
E-Learning at Your Fingertips
ASPA staff work tirelessly to keep your skills up to date and the information flowing all year long through our e-learning program. Visit our website to see more details about upcoming KeepingCurrent, BookTalk and Students and New Professionals series programming.
Students and New Professionals: Nonprofit Advocacy and Personal Leadership
October 4 | 1 p.m. EDT
Presenters:
Josh Avila, Moderator, City of Providence, Office of Mayor Jorge O. Elorza
Beth Flanagan, Managing Director of Development, ALS Association
This webinar will examine the importance of getting involved in advocacy and nonprofit work, particularly through the lens of service and the potential impact it may have on yourself and your community. Nonprofit advocacy, through professional and personal leadership/volunteerism, helps establish a personal brand: what you care about, how you spend your time, what you fight for and what you believe in. This webinar also will explore how to research organizations, express interest and get involved.
BookTalk: Handbook on Gender and Public Administration
October 6 | 1 p.m. EDT
Speakers:
Nicole Elias, Associate Professor, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY
Patricia Shields, Regents' Professor, Texas State University
This ground-breaking Handbook on Gender and Public Administration brings together leading scholars to explore the emerging contexts of gender and public administration including gender equity, masculinity, intersectionality and beyond binary conceptions of gender. The 27 chapters provide an in-depth analysis of the history, theory and context of gender equity alongside the intersection of gender and traditional public administration topics such as budgeting, personnel, organizations, ethics, performance and representative democracy. Furthermore, it investigates gender dynamics in international, governmental, nonprofit, policy and academic contexts, highlights the progress made, and identifies the ongoing challenges. This timely Handbook will be an excellent resource for scholars and faculty wishing to incorporate gender into their courses.
KeepingCurrent: Improving Accountability for Public Services in India: What Works?
October 11 | 8 a.m. EDT
Speakers:
Anindita Adhikari, Department of Sociology, Brown University
Himanshu Jha, South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University
Suchi Pande, School of International Service, American University
Rajdeep Pakanati, Jindal School of International Affairs
Alasdair Roberts, Moderator, University of Massachusetts Amherst
In recent years, Indian governments have experimented with many innovations designed to improve accountability for public services in India. These include right to public service laws, right to information laws and improved grievance redress mechanisms. What have we learned from these experiments? What further steps are necessary to improve responsiveness in the delivery of public services?
From the Archives
KeepingCurrent: Disability Policy and Administration in South Asia: A Call to Action for Academics and Practitioners
Disability is acknowledged universally as a cross-cutting issue. However, numerous factors affect the mainstreaming of disability as an integral dimension of policymaking and administration in South Asia. This webinar explored academic and practitioner perspectives on disability policy and administration in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and South Africa. Speakers assessed the current climate for disability policy and administration in the region and examined the impediments to effective disability policy, programs and services. Intersectionality of disability, gender and poverty was explored to understand how scholarship should advance knowledge and awareness about this topic in the region and how public administration and policy practitioners should incorporate disability imperatives in government decisionmaking.
ASPA President's Committee on International Scholarly Engagement Releases Discussion Paper
ASPA President Allan Rosenbaum created a committee to study international scholarly engagement earlier this year. After almost nine months of work, the President's Committee on International Scholarly Engagement (PCISE) has released a short discussion paper providing guidance on how organizations can engage internationally while respecting academic freedom, human rights and other core values.
In this discussion paper, PCISE proposes a general approach to international engagement based on examples of actual challenges, consultation with international experts and a review of institutional practices.
The committee is seeking comments on this draft prior to developing final guidance at the end of this year. Those interested are welcome to download the paper, review its contents and submit comments and reactions to committee co-chairs Alasdair Roberts and Mary-Lee Rhodes in the next few weeks.
ASPA Launches Public Administration Today
ASPA is pleased to announce it has launched a new online community: Public Administration Today. This outlet is one more tool we are happy to provide as part of our mission to advance excellence in public service and ensure you have what you need to deliver the highest level of ethical, efficient service to your constituents.
Public Administration Today brings together the widest set of expert, thought-leadership content from hundreds of sources. Powered by Aggregage technology, this website uses smart algorithms, social media and audience-driven data—customized to your preferences!—to deliver the most relevant, curated content you can find online.
With this new resource, you can access the best expert insights, in-depth analysis and latest information from hundreds of sources, all in one place. More, you are welcome to submit your own content to be added to this site.
If you have not done so yet, visit the website, create your account, provide your preferences and start enjoying the information available there!
We are excited to launch this new community. We hope you enjoy this valuable resource and let us know if you have thoughts or ideas on how to make this service better.
The United States Is Falling across Many Global Measures
In a disturbing piece recently printed in The Conversation, Kathleen Frydll (Johns Hopkins University) wades through a number of global listings to demonstrate that our country's continued inequities are slowly pushing it out of most democratic rankings and into "developing country" standards.
In brief:
As Frydll states, "...these dismal ratings [are] the inevitable result of two problems. Racism has cheated many Americans out of the health care, education, economic security and environment they deserve. At the same time, as threats to democracy become more serious, a devotion to 'American exceptionalism' keeps the country from candid appraisals and course corrections."
Read the article to learn more.
President's Management Agenda Learning Agenda Finalized
Earlier this month, the White House published its final President's Management Agenda (PMA) on Performance.gov, supporting PMA priorities across federal agencies in three learning areas of focus:
- How can the federal government strengthen and empower its workforce, so it can best serve the American people?
- How can the federal government deliver programs and services effectively and build trust? and
- How can the federal government advance equity and support underserved communities?
It includes specific questions in each area of focus, as well as illustrative aligned questions from agency learning agendas, which can be found on www.evaluation.gov.
The work is not done and the White House is continuing to ask researchers, public servants, community members, philanthropic organizations, customers of government services and "all those passionate about improving government" to continue to respond to and provide feedback for the PMA. Interested individuals can sign up via Performance.gov for updates and continue to engage in this cross-government effort.
IPAA Hosts 2022 National Conference
With the theme, "Adapt: Australia in a changing world," the National Conference of the Institute of Public Administration—Australia (IPAA) will take place both in person and online from October 12-14, exploring Australia’s future in an increasingly uncertain world; the effects of change and the changes that we can affect. The program includes an impressive line-up of senior and thought leaders from across the public and private sector and academia. Crafted to provide both strategic and practical learning for all levels, it will equip attendees with the insight and connections to keep pace in a new hybrid, dynamic and unchartered world. Click here to register.
Join SECOPA in Lexington This Weekend!
SECOPA in Lexington, Kentucky, begins on Friday! Join your colleagues in the beautiful Bluegrass; find the full program on their website now. You can review all the panels, from cyber infrastructure to COVID Roundtables, from journal editors to the hiring process...federalism, property taxes, education, police, health care and more! There is still time to register via the EKU College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences’ new ticketing portal—click "Conference Registration.” Student registration is $155 and regular registration is $215.
Tips and Resources
How Much Sugar Is in a Glass of Wine?
Figuring it out may be harder than you think!
How Lizzo Came to Play a President’s Crystal Flute on a D.C. Stage
Because the Librarian of Congress invited her to!
Seven Things to Know About Traveling During Hurricane Season
Hurricane season lasts from June through November. Here’s how to be prepared.
Four Emotional Workouts to Help You Feel Empowered and Promote Resilience
When you are anxious and stressed, you could add an “emotional workout” to your self-care regimen
In the News
Today's headlines contain plenty of news coverage of some of our nation's most pressing public administration challenges. ASPA has curated some of the most important stories from recent weeks. If you have not seen these yet, make sure you read them now!
Infrastructure
Public Finance
Public Service
Social Equity
Tell Me Something Good...
Despite the earlier piece in this newsletter showing our country's backsliding into "developing country" status, it's not all bad news! With this edition, we are introducing a new newsletter item showcasing something good in public administration since the last Bridge edition.
Check out this recent piece via The New York Times:
Pandemic Aid Cut U.S. Poverty to New Low in 2021, Census Bureau Reports
The Supplemental Poverty Measure and other data shows a reduction of almost half in the number of children below the poverty level.
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Around Public Administration
Here are the most recent updates from across the profession. Did we miss you? Send us your news and we'll include it in the next round!
Upcoming Events:
Calls for proposals and other updates:
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PMA Roundtable Event at Georgetown's McCourt School
The Better Government Lab at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, in collaboration with the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, invites participants for a roundtable on the President’s Management Agenda, in support of the “Year of Evidence for Action." This half-day event will bring together public management scholars and federal government officials charged with implementing the President’s Management Agenda learning agenda to explore research opportunities, especially as it relates to questions of how the federal government can strengthen its workforce, deliver programs and services effectively and advance equity and support underserved communities. The event will be hosted at the Georgetown University campus from 1-5 p.m., Wednesday, November 16, 2022. Those interested in participating should apply online, with a short description of the topic they are interested in, by October 1, 2022. A limited pool of funds are available to offset travel costs for applicants from underrepresented backgrounds (including those from institutions with limited travel support), so please indicate if you will need such support.
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PMA Webinar Hosted by PMRA
The Public Management Research Association (PMRA) and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget will co-host a webinar on Friday, October 21 at Noon (EDT) exploring President Biden’s Management Agenda Learning Agenda and how public management researchers can connect with federal agencies on research opportunities. Diana Epstein and Dustin Brown of the Office of Management and Budget have been invited to present. Register here to attend.
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Public Budgeting and Finance Call for Editors
Public Financial Publications, Inc., a nonprofit corporation sponsored by the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management and the American Association for Budget and Program Analysis, invites applicants for a new editor of its quarterly, peer-reviewed journal, Public Budgeting and Finance. The call is open to a single editor or a team of editors. The current editors' term ends on December 31, 2023. The term as editor is for three (3) years and may be renewed once. Public Budgeting and Finance serves as a forum for the publication of research on all facets of government and nonprofit finance. Its purpose is to provide a meaningful dialogue among scholars and practitioners in public budgeting and finance. The search committee seeks an editor with a national reputation as a scholar in public budgeting and finance with a commitment to enhancing scholarly research and encouraging practitioners to share their insights and experiences. Nominations should be directed to the chair of the search committee. Applications for the position should include a statement of vision and editorial goals for the journal, a letter of institutional support and a CV. To receive full consideration, completed applications should be submitted to the chair of the search committee, Melissa Neuman, by December 15, 2022.
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Institute for Peace and Dialogue Call for Participants
The Institute for Peace and Dialogue has issued a newly launched three-month executive diploma program, with special modules of instruction and experienced trainers to give participants field-based education, wide professional experience and fruitful networking, appropriate for a variety of positions. This program targets titles including manager, program coordinator, human resources officer, case manager, mediator, public relations manager, mentor, coacher, arbitrator and more. Modules are "Leadership, HR Management, Coaching and Project Management" and "Peacebuilding, Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediation, Conflict Management, International Security and Law." Participants may join either module. Applications are due beginning February 10, 2023, depending on your module of choice. Scholarships are available. Click here for more information.
PA TIMES Online
Here's a selection of current pieces on PA TIMES Online, covering a range of issues within the profession. We accept individual articles on a rolling basis; if you have a piece you think would fit our publication, submit it to [email protected] for consideration. (Please review our submission guidelines in advance!)
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