Members in the News:

Barrett and Greene:
The Government Ignorance Gap and
Measuring the Performance of Government’s Hidden Workforce

Susan Gooden:
Susan T. Gooden to Step Down as Wilder School Dean after Landmark Tenure

Pamela Herd and Don Moynihan:
What "The Pitt" Gets Right about Health Policy

Don Kettl:
Fact and Fiction in the Pursuit of Fraud and
Escaping the Democracy Death Spiral

Don Moynihan:
What the Death of Direct File Tells Us About State Capacity,
Power without Accountability: The Palantir Manifesto and
Power, Democracy and Clarity

Andrew Podger:
Can the U.S. Public Service Survive the Trump Era?

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!

• 2026 Combined SECoPA/NECoPA Call for Papers
  SECoPA and NECoPA are joining forces for a combined 2026 conference, taking place in Norfolk, Virginia, September 17-19. The 2026 SECoPA–NECoPA conference theme reflects a commitment to advancing public administration by bridging regional perspectives from the Southeast and Northeast. It emphasizes the dynamic interplay between academic research, professional education and applied practice in shaping the future of governance, policy and public management. By convening scholars, educators and practitioners, the conference fosters cross-regional dialogue on pressing public service challenges, such as climate resilience, equity, intergovernmental coordination and institutional trust. The theme invites comparative analysis, pedagogical innovation and practice-informed scholarship that strengthen public administration and prepare the next generation of public leaders. Tracks include critical issues in public administration; bridging regions and sectors; emerging issues; and public administration education and pedagogy. Proposals are due by May 15. Click here for more information.
  
  
• Call for Proposals: Journal of Health and Human Services Administration
  The Journal of Health and Human Services Administration (JHHSA) invites submissions for a special symposium titled "Building Healthy Communities: The Nexus between Public Administration and Public Health." This symposium seeks articles that examine how public administration shapes the health of the public through policy design, governance, leadership and delivery of health and human services. We are particularly interested in locally grounded work that addresses practical challenges facing communities in urban, rural, tribal and other local settings, with attention to how administrative systems respond to social, economic, environmental and infrastructural conditions affecting population health. Submissions may include applied research, policy or administrative analyses, program evaluations and practice oriented reports that offer actionable insights for practitioners and decisionmakers in health departments, human services agencies and policy environments. Contributions should clearly articulate implications for practice and governance and may include recommendations for improving public systems, cross-sector collaboration and community outcomes. The symposium welcomes work that centers accountability, equity and effectiveness in advancing the capacity of public institutions to promote community health and well-being. Initial submissions are due May 15. Click here for more information.
  
  
• Call for Papers: Special Issue on Accounting for What Matters (Financial Accountability & Management)
  Public sector organizations are navigating economic instability, climate crises, inequities and political pressures, often forced to balance financial sustainability with the equally vital goals of social sustainability and equity. This special issue invites research that rethinks public sector accounting and accountability, not only as tools for fiscal management but also as frameworks that foster inclusion, fairness, resilience and long-term public value. Editors welcome conceptual, empirical and comparative studies addressing how accounting can better embed social sustainability, manage value trade-offs, strengthen organizational resilience and challenge existing power dynamics. Case studies, longitudinal analyses and critical perspectives across diverse contexts (health care, education, social services, etc.) are encouraged. Click here for more information. Submissions are due June 30.
  
  
• Call for Papers: Public Money & Management (PMM) Theme
  For this theme issue the publishers are looking for disciplinary eclecticism. They seek contributions that bring together insights from several disciplines including law, social sciences, public management and the study of politics. Traditionally public management has not engaged in "constitutional’ conversations." However, the rise of what has been identified within the political landscape as "populism" calls for a cross-disciplinary perspective to understand whether, and how, it is impacting public management and administration. Contributions of 8,000-word research articles, 1,000-word debate pieces and 3,500-word new development articles are asked to consider, but are not limited to: are we facing the limits of traditional thinking in public management? Is there a problem, incipient or actual, facing public managers if they are becoming answerable to politicians (1) with a value set that is antagonistic to the values of public management (if such exist); (2) antagonistic to the liberal, law-based state; (3) who may be poised to break the law—or make decisions that are likely to be challenged in courts? What is "extremism"/populism? Do public managers observe/answer to a code that protects them against orders (short of law-breaking)? How far do existing doctrines of accountability accommodate answerability for extremist policies? What lessons could public managers learn from international and comparative perspectives from the rise of populism in different political systems and architectures? The publishers are seeking both conceptual and case examples to address the questions above. All submissions should follow the PMM author guidelines and be submitted via ScholarOne. Find more information online. All submissions are due October 1.