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ASPA Opens Call for Nominations for Leadership Posts
For more than 80 years, ASPA has been enriched by the active participation of our dedicated members. Our committed volunteer leadership plays a critical role in charting ASPA’s path: who we are, what we do and where we are headed.
Please consider yourself and/or a fellow member for one or more leadership positions. This year, members will elect five district representatives and a student representative. All will serve on the National Council, our governing board, which is responsible for setting ASPA's policy direction, ensuring our financial and programmatic position and promoting ASPA within the broader public service community.
Nominations will be accepted until midnight on Friday, September 3, 2021 for the following leadership positions:
ASPA seeks candidates with a variety of leadership skills, including a strategic understanding of the public administration field—spanning practice and scholarship—to position the Society for continued programmatic and financial growth. We also welcome individuals with a commitment to building a positive organizational culture, participating in ASPA's development activities and modeling care and loyalty to our Society. Click here for more information about the National Council's responsibilities.
As you consider potential candidates for these positions, please note that ASPA seeks a slate of nominees representative of the groups and professional interests within our association, balancing academic and practitioner, and including international, nonprofit and all levels of government. In addition, the National Council has charged the Nominating Committee with presenting a slate of nominees diverse relative to race, gender, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation and other important forms of diversity.
Chapters and Sections are allowed and encouraged to consider individuals active in their communities and submit a nomination on their behalf. Visit our online form for more details and to submit a nomination. Remember: Nominations will be accepted until September 3, 2021.
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. Members, visit our webinar archives to catch up on what you have missed!
A Three-Part Series in Partnership with American University:
Integrating Public Administration and the Law: Challenges and New Voices
Many of the world's most pressing issues lay at the intersection of law and public administration, but does the assertion that “public administration has largely abandoned or forgotten its roots in public law” hold true? Next week we will close out a three-part webinar series featuring American University School of Public Affairs Professors Kenneth Meier, Neil Kerwin and David Rosenbloom, along with guest panelists, as they discuss these issues with new voices who are examining this cross-field integration and its challenges. Robert Christensen (Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University and co-author of Systematically Reviewing American Law and Public Administration: A Call for Dialogue and Theory Building) will moderate this final discussion.
August 31 | 1 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. EDT
Qualified Immunity: Contemporary Issues and Prospects
Presenters:
Rob Christensen, Moderator, Professor and George W. Romney Research Fellow, Brigham Young University Marriott School of Management
Stephanie Newbold, Associate Professor, Rutgers University—Newark, School of Public Affairs and Administration
David Rosenbloom, Distinguished Professor, American University School of Public Affairs
Kenneth Warren, Professor, Saint Louis University, College of Arts and Sciences
James E. Wright II, Assistant Professor, Florida State University, Askew School of Public Administration and Policy
BookTalk: Cultural Competency for Emergency and Crisis Management: Concepts, Theories and Case Studies
September 2 | 1 p.m. EDT
Presenters:
Brittany "Brie" Haupt, Assistant Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University
Claire Connolly Knox, Associate Professor, School of Public Administration, University of Central Florida
Disasters are complex and dynamic events that test emergency and crisis professionals and leaders—even the most ethical ones. Within all phases of emergency management, disasters highlight social vulnerabilities that require culturally competent practices. The lack of culturally respectable responses to diverse populations underscores the critical need for cultural competency education and training in higher education and practice. Using a case study approach that is both adaptable and practical, this textbook is an accessible and essential guide to what makes teaching effective not only in emergency and crisis management, but also related disciplines of public administration, international studies, public health and criminal justice.
Park University Hauptmann Lecture:
Public Administration's Triple Bottom Line—People, Process and Performance
September 9 | 1 p.m. EDT
Presenters:
Erik Bergrud, Moderator, Chief Strategic Communications Officer, Park University
Mary Guy, Professor, University of Colorado Denver
An annual lecture hosted by Park University, the Hauptmann Lecture has a long and storied history. ASPA is proud to produce this year's lecture online and make it available to all ASPA members to attend. Click here to learn more about the Hauptmann Lecture.
This year's lecture will focus on what Mary Guy calls the "triple bottom line": people, process and performance. In the tradition set forth by Dr. Jerzy Hauptmann, Guy will explore how the triple bottom line reflects stewardship of the common good and advancement of civil society. Guy teaches courses on public administration, public management, organizational behavior, human resource management and leadership and ethics at UC Denver and is a past president of the American Society for Public Administration. She recently was announced as an inaugural co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration. Her teaching and research has focused on the human processes involved in public service delivery. She has written widely about social equity and the emotive demands of street level work, as well as workforce diversity and the difference gender makes in policy development and implementation.
ASPA South Asian Section Launches Website
ASPA's newest Section, the South Asian Section for Public Administration (SASPA), has launched a website to showcase its programming and expertise. SASPA's purpose is to take ASPA's activities and networks to the South Asian region, while simultaneously allowing for South Asian scholars and practitioners to be involved in ASPA activities in the United States. The Section is looking to build a free-flowing professional network of scholars and practitioners in this subject area. Visit their website for more details—and contact us if you would like to join the Section!
Public Integrity Launches New Feature
The editorial team at Public Integrity is excited to announce it has adopted a new feature section: "Vantage Point." The purpose of this section is to encourage the identification and discussion of emerging issues in the field of public sector ethics outside the context of a traditional research manuscript. "Vantage Point" welcomes diverse submissions by individuals engaged in public service as professionals, scholars or students, including:
- commentaries
- reflections on current events and/or happenings within public administration
- notes from the field (e.g., what is happening on the ground; promising practices in public administration; reflections on best and not-so-best practices)
- invited essays
- opinion pieces
- responses to published pieces
- classroom strategies
- reflections and challenges from inside the classroom from the perspective of MPA, DPA and PhD students
Submissions should follow the journal's general submission guidelines and scope and aims. The editorial team encourages shorter pieces (rather than full length articles of about 3000-4000 words) but longer pieces will be considered. When submitting, please be sure to indicate that the piece is being submitted to "Vantage Point" to facilitate timely processing of your manuscript. Manuscripts will undergo a single-blind review process.
USC DEI Program Registration Deadline Friday!
How has your leadership style evolved within the past year? What comes to mind when you reflect on your leadership approach? Looking ahead, how can you employ a leadership approach to effectively address diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)? In October, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, Executive Education, in partnership with ASPA, will facilitate instruction and foster discussions around the following core principles:
- Self and Social Awareness and Management
- Cultural Humility
- Psychological Safety
- Empathy
- Courage
- Appreciative Communication
The one-month program is designed for senior and emerging public service executives who are eager to develop and challenge their leadership values within the scope of diversity, equity and inclusion. Held via Zoom, with a small class size, this will be a powerful opportunity to expand your leadership skills to include a DEI lens.
The registration deadline for this event is this Friday, August 27; click here for more information and click here to view the YouTube video.
OMB Report Highlights Major Barriers to Equity in Federal Programs
According to Federal Computer Week, a study from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) assessing equity in government practices has identified major barriers preventing historically underserved communities from accessing benefits and services in federal programs.
OMB Acting Director Shalanda Young recently submitted a report to President Biden after studying methods for assessing how the federal government can advance equity with respect to race, gender identity and income, among other factors, as outlined in an executive order signed earlier this year.
The report detailed five key findings, starting with the observation that equity assessment is a new concept in the federal government and remains a developing practice across agencies. It also found that more needs to be done to expand "meaningful stakeholder engagement" on designing programs and services for underserved communities and customers, including small disadvantaged businesses.
NASPAA Announces New Executive Director
Angela Wright-Lanier has been appointed executive director for the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). She was most recently assistant county manager of Cumberland County, North Carolina. She has held leadership roles in city and municipal government for more than 20 years. She begins her position at NASPAA in September 2021, based in Washington, DC.
"It is very clear to me that Dr. Wright-Lanier is a committed public servant dedicated to ensuring that the next generation of public service leaders are equipped to guide organizations charged with addressing a wide range of complex and evolving societal challenges," commented Laura Bloomberg, NASPAA's 2020-2021 president.
Wright-Lanier received her master's degree in public administration and a second master's degree in management information systems. She received her Ed.D. from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College with a concentration in leadership and learning and her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee.
NASPAA is a nonprofit membership association with more than 300 institutional member schools at U.S. and non-U.S. universities across 25 countries that award degrees in public administration, public policy, public affairs, nonprofit and related fields. It is the global standard in public service education and the recognized global accreditor of master's degree programs in these fields. The association’s twofold mission is to ensure excellence in education and training for public service and promote the ideal of public service.
Tips and Resources
Here are some resources and fun reads posted online recently that you should check out!
Why Does It Take So Long to Get Your Benefits?
Retirement benefits are a paper-intensive process and mistakes can cause delays.
Naps Don't Actually Relieve Sleep Deprivation
Study participants who got a full night's sleep performed better on tasks.
Stop Hitting Snooze! Here Are Eight Expert Tips for Waking Up on Time.
Of course, waking up is hard—sometimes even after eight hours. That's why so many folks fall victim to the siren song of the snooze button. What to do?
Coronavirus in the News
While you can find our usual assortment of news headlines from the past several weeks below, here are stories specific to the coronavirus that are noteworthy.
Infrastructure
Public Finance
Public Service
Social Equity
(Otherwise) 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
Members in the News
ASPA members are in the news in a variety of ways. If you have been featured, please send a link to the article to us and we will be happy to include it in a future newsletter.
Is Government Better When Anyone Can Be Fired Anytime?
By Don Kettl
A Million More Georgians: Census Data Shows How State, Augusta Area Has Changed
Augusta University MPA Program Director and ASPA member Wesley Meares is quoted on the census data.
UAB Professor Named Senior Fulbright Specialist at World Learning
ASPA National Council member Akhlaque Haque has received a Fulbright award.
Will Recent Political Instability Affect Haiti's Earthquake Response? We Ask an Expert
An interview with Louise Comfort.
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