14:I[522016,["/_next/static/immutable/chunks/0x-9rc1bm-510.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/3v80c1g1-zgi8.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/3vivgy3w2iyos.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/1x5jqjnamgleq.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/10gpo3q2bed86.js"],""] 15:I[88361,["/_next/static/immutable/chunks/0x-9rc1bm-510.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/3v80c1g1-zgi8.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/3vivgy3w2iyos.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/1x5jqjnamgleq.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/10gpo3q2bed86.js"],"default"] 18:I[27201,["/_next/static/immutable/chunks/0x-9rc1bm-510.js","/_next/static/immutable/chunks/3v80c1g1-zgi8.js"],"IconMark"] 16:Tffe1,

Learn the latest public administration news in today's edition of The Bridge!

September 9, 2026

ASPANet.org | PA TIMES.org | Donate: Campaign 2030

Hitting the Road!

ASPA is on the road! With the academic year now fully underway, ASPA staff is visiting longstanding university partners and institutional members. Beginning yesterday with a visit to Suffolk University and University of Massachusetts—Boston, Executive Director and CEO, Bill Shields, along with national staff TJ Riggs and Katie Jahnz, will travel to Rhode Island College, John Jay College, Rutgers—Newark, Seton Hall and University of Delaware to meet with university deans, directors and students. The trip even includes a Chapter event with the New York Metro Chapter hosted at Pace University.

Throughout the week, ASPA will connect with these groups to discuss institutional memberships and explore ways to grow ASPA's presence on college campuses and within the broader student and new professional community, all with the goal of supporting the next generation of public service leaders.

ASPA institutional members, now totaling nearly two dozen, are the fastest growing segment of the organization's membership base. Ranging from universities and academic programs to local governments, the institutions work with ASPA to individually tailor their membership based on their priorities and preferences. In the process, hundreds of individuals are welcomed annually into the ASPA community, including Los Angeles County managers, Miami-Dade County employees and students in the Texas Certified Public Manager Program.

This week's visits are just the beginning, with ASPA looking forward to connecting with more institutional members and university partners across the country in the months ahead. ASPA looks forward to sharing updates from the road as we connect with students and faculty. Follow along on LinkedIn at American Society for Public Administration and on Instagram at @aspa.national to see where ASPA goes next!

#ASPA2027 Call for Proposals Closes Next Friday

No charts. No maps. A world you have not seen before. How do you find your way? The same way everyone always has done: with the knowledge that comes from past experience and an educated companion or two to help you understand the terrain.

There are less than two weeks left until our 2027 Annual Conference call for proposals closes. Those interested in submitting for the program need to do so by September 18.

Our profession is facing a host of new challenges: technological, regulatory, budgetary, philosophical, conceptual and cultural. No matter your role, chances are good your world is shifting constantly right now—in good ways and cautionary ones. "Doing something new" always carries with it elements of both the exciting and the scary. No matter what any of us faces, upholding our mission and taking care of those we serve require agility, flexibility and temerity.

We continue to grasp the efficiencies generative AI has provided us, the judicial decisions that create new regulatory landscapes and revised concepts of what public service is and should be—as well as the whiplash effect created by recent federal, state and local policy choices. We have better analytics, better tools and a more active and engaged public—who has the same analytics and tools we do, trusts less and is quick to argue. We teach, we learn, we generate research findings and work to put them to use, despite any roadblocks. We serve our communities, manage budgets, develop new funding sources and evaluate programs to ensure success. We highlight "promising practices" and strive to improve programs that do not work anymore. We explore the unknown and share our journey to help guide others. ASPA's 2027 Annual Conference will help us all navigate uncharted territories—together. Everyone needs someone with them who knows the terrain and can define it.

Seven tracks will guide our discussions, providing space for both research and practice in the conversation:

AI and Digital Tools
Citizen Engagement
Democratic Norms Now...
Emergency Management/Environmental Sustainability
Public Administration around the World
Public Finance, Economics and Budgeting
Workforce and Human Resource Management

Workshops, student learning, research-specific, roundtables and open conversations are all welcome. Proposals are encouraged to include either quantitative or qualitative methods, as well as promising practices from the field.

Contact aspaconference@aspanet.org with any questions.

Collaborative Governance Webinar Series Continues (Tomorrow!)

Good public administration relies, in part, on feedback from the community to ensure programs are working and needs are met. In today's climate of distrust and discontent, how can public administrators facilitate this two-way communication and reinvigorate governance? By recentering citizens in the heart of public institutions, initiatives and processes.

Throughout this webinar series, ASPA and our experts will explore emerging techniques and programs designed to put community members in the front seat of democratic governance. From citizens' assemblies to participatory budgeting, we will examine how constituents across the United States and the globe use public participation to transform their communities and set themselves on the path to stronger, more responsive democracies. We hope you will join us for these sessions! Use the links below to register.

Promoting Equitable Public Participation and Community Engagement
Tomorrow, September 10 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Sponsored by the National Civic League

Almost every city, county and state has opportunities for its constituents to get involved in the governance process, but ease and access can be limited. How can governmental bodies encourage participatory events that are fair and accessible to as many constituents as possible, ensuring policy outcomes that are both reflective of and responsive to community needs? This webinar will explore tools, techniques and programs that can elevate marginalized voices, minimize barriers to participation and encourage equitable participation in public initiatives.

Speakers:
Brandon Davis, Managing Director, Office of Oversight and Public Accountability, City of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Kip Holley, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, The Ohio State University
Jillian Youngblood, Director of Deliberative Democracy, National Civic League

Calling All Experts: Advisory Boards in Public Administration
September 22 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Governments at every level rely on subject-matter experts to frame policy and advise on program performance, but the mechanisms that bring outside knowledge into the decision-making process often are overlooked and underutilized. Advisory boards offer a powerful bridge between technical expertise and public decision-making, shaping everything from environmental regulations to public health guidelines. How effective are they and what transforms a board from one that that merely checks a box into one that drives meaningful change? This webinar will examine how advisory boards influence government processes, the ways they improve policy outcomes, real-world implementation challenges and the strategies that help them succeed.

Speakers:
Valerie Lemmie, Senior Advisor for State and Local Government, Kettering Foundation
Eric Roberts, Project Director, Citizens Advisory Board, Paducah, Kentucky and U.S. Department of Energy

"I Pay Your Salary": Participatory Budgeting in State and Local Government
October 1 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Participatory budgeting is a decades-old concept implemented in communities around the world. This process of empowering community members to allocate government funds can build civic knowledge and engagement, alter attitudes and values, promote trust between participants and institutions and even benefit communities. What else can participatory budgeting practices contribute to the present moment? This webinar will examine the ways in which participatory budgeting can build common understanding and the tools necessary to implement it.

ASPA's webinar program keeps your skills up to date and the information flowing all year long. Beyond our collaborative governance series, we have other programs coming your way this fall. Visit our website to see more details about upcoming programs.

KeepingCurrent: Going Global: Publishing Comparative Public Administration Research from Diverse Contexts
September 29 | 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. ET
Sponsored by ASPA's Section on International and Comparative Administration

Speakers:
Claudia N. Avellaneda, O'Neill Professor, Indiana University Bloomington
Evan Berman, Professor Titular in Public Management, Fundacao Getulio Vargas
Alfred Wu, Associate Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and International Director, ASPA

Navigating the international and comparative public administration publication process can present unique challenges and opportunities. In this webinar, leading scholars will share their insights about current research trends and global perspectives' representation in public administration journals. We also will discuss how the field can support doctoral students and early-career scholars better when building necessary skillsets to advance international and comparative public administration.

BookTalk: Public Administration and Nonprofit Management in Practice: A Case Study Collection
October 15 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Sponsored by Suffolk University

Speakers:
Marc Holzer, Distinguished Research Professor, Suffolk University
Aimee Williamson, Chair and Professor, Public Service, Suffolk University

This volume presents a practical, case-based approach to public administration and nonprofit management. Bringing together diverse global perspectives, the editors compile case studies that effectively bridge theory and practice organized around key themes in the field including foundational principles, human resource and service management, and strategies for enhancing organizational efficiency and effectiveness. The cases focus on building the knowledge, skills and abilities public and nonprofit administrators need, providing a necessary supplement to the introductory texts in public administration. Speakers will feature the editors alongside contributing authors who will share key perspectives from their chapters and discuss practical applications for students and practitioners. Through the lens of practical case studies, the webinar will highlight how these examples foster essential knowledge, skills and competencies for effective public service.

From the Archives
KeepingCurrent: Dealing with Changing Global Policy Dynamics: Emergency Management and Its Impact on Disaster Survivors
This international panel focused on emergency management evolving policy arena. Panelists discussed how they view the changing policy environment's implications for disaster survivors. Examples illustrated the various impacts changes are having and might have in the future and how curriculum should/might adjust in response to broad policy changes that have the potential to have profound implications for the emergency management profession globally. (Members only)

Students and New Professionals: Where Policy Meets People: Leading through Code Compliance
This presentation explored how MPA graduates can find meaningful and impactful careers in the field of code compliance, while also highlighting the role our profession plays in community well-being, policy implementation and public trust. (Members only)

Critical Take-Aways Focus: Ethics Under Pressure

Our most recent Critical Take-Aways edition looked at "Ethics Under Pressure: Project 2025 and Public Integrity." This webinar was the final episode in a four-part series that examined Project 2025, focusing on public integrity and the importance of ethics and accountability frameworks. If you missed it in your inbox, find it on our website any time!

Editions available include:

The Power of Performance Audits
Navigating the New Intergovernmental Relationship
From the Heritage Foundation to the White House: Project 2025 in Practice
Redefining Governance: How Project 2025 Impacts Institutions and Social Trust
Professionalism in Peril? The Exodus of Expertise from Government
Cybersecurity: What Can Government(s) Do?
Ethics Under Pressure: Project 2025 and Public Integrity

We release a new edition every month, open access for both the summary and the webinar for further viewing. Contact us for assistance if you are not getting a copy and want one!

In Memoriam: Susan M. Flaschenberg

Susan Flaschenberg, who held a number of management positions with the City of New York for more than 30 years, passed away recently from a September 11th-related illness.

Flaschenberg lived in Brooklyn. She began her career in government at the City of New York, Office of the Mayor, Office of Management and Budget. Subsequently, she held managerial and executive positions with the city's tax commission and Office of the Actuary.

Flaschenberg was very active in ASPA and held senior leadership positions in the New York Metropolitan Chapter, as well as serving on steering committees for ASPA's 1983, 1991 and 1999 annual conferences. She was honored for her achievements in 2019 when she was awarded "Practitioner of the Year."

Upon retirement in 2017, Flaschenberg served as a volunteer on her local community planning board and with the city's Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) for Brooklyn, including community support for emergency preparedness. She received CERT's John D. Solomon Award for Exemplary Service in Emergency Preparedness Education in 2019. She was the consummate public service professional and a role model for young people aspiring to public service careers. She spoke as a guest lecturer at several graduate classes at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In all of her endeavors, she gave 110 percent.

Flaschenberg received her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York system and her Master of Public Administration from the Bernard M. Baruch College, City University of New York. She later served as president of the Baruch MPA Alumni Association.

Want ASPA in Your Inbox? Whitelist Us!

ASPA has made some adjustments to how we send emails this summer, which may result in our messages going to your spam or junk boxes!

If you want to make sure you continue to receive all of our announcements—including webinar alerts and membership renewal reminders!—please make sure to whitelist aspanet.org and icpbounce.com to ensure our announcements get to you in a timely fashion (ICPBounce is our third-party email tool, so not spam!). Check out this article to find out more about whitelisting and how to do it, depending on the service you use to receive emails.

Now Announcing: 2027 Ian Axford Fellows in Public Policy

Four outstanding U.S.-based public policy professionals have been selected for the 2027 Ian Axford Fellowships in Public Policy: Andrew Imparato, Darya Pilram, Katherine Nace and Katie Saviano. These individuals have been selected to undertake fellowships in New Zealand, working alongside government agencies on issues of national importance.

Ian Axford Board Chair Annette Dixon says the quality of this year’s applicants was especially high, leading to four fellowships being awarded.

"We are delighted to be partnering with government departments in New Zealand to bring four high-calibre Axford fellows from the United States to New Zealand in 2027. The fellows selected bring valuable expertise and experience and will work alongside government agencies in New Zealand on issues of high priority to New Zealand government agencies—including strategies for people with disabilities, the use of AI in government agencies, housing solutions for people leaving prisons and building community capital for infrastructure investments. This is the 30th cohort of Axford fellows and over the years since the programme was founded under the leadership of the late Rt Hon Jim Bolger, the Axford programme has strengthened capacity among public policy practitioners, with benefits to both New Zealand and the U.S.” said Dixon.

Click here for more information about the 2027 cohort and the Ian Axford fellowship.

TurnUp Offers Civic and Activism Internship

TurnUp would like to share its Civic and Activism Remote Internship information for those interested. The program's format is tailored to accommodate a student's fluctuating lifestyle. It is fully remote, offers start dates at the beginning of each month, encourages campus engagement and has a flexible time frame and schedule.

Students join remote teams to work on amplifying youth civic engagement and learn about responsible activism related to social justice issues. The internship features a unique curriculum, peer-to-peer learning, expert speakers and professional development events to deepen the experience. Most colleges have counted students' hours for college course credit and the program has been invaluable for bolstering resumes, widening networking reach and earning letters of recommendation.

Apply online here; the deadline for applications is rolling.

New editions of PAR are released every other month; articles are posted online regularly between editions. Check out the following open source articles that have been posted to the website recently.

Why Politicians Misbehave: A Systematic Review of How Attributes of Political Office Affect Moral Decision-Making and Behavior
Manon Koopman, Koen Migchelbrink and Leonie Heres

The Practice and Origins of Performance Measurement: Assessing the Sunnyvale Model, 1984–2023
Joyce Kasing Tagal, Derek Ouyang and Daniel E. Ho

The Role of Public Administrators in Building a Robust Liberal Democracy
Eva Sørensen and Jacob Torfing

Public Integrity—2025 Special Issue Available

Public Integrity is pleased to showcase an article collection for a new special issue, guest edited by Oliver Meza and Elizabeth Pérez-Chiqués: "The Paradox of Anti-Corruption Policy Formulation, Adoption, and Implementation in Contexts of Systemic Corruption."

This special issue was organized around the fundamental question of why and how polities where corruption is the rule establish anti-corruption policies? Hypotheses in the literature have brought forward some reasons—signaling, fire-alarm or insurance. However, these points of departure still offered ample room for explaining the phenomenon for developing countries and the Global South. Several key insights arise from the collection of papers: there is widespread use of anticorruption policies and discourse for other non-public-serving purposes such as power-maintenance or as political weapons against political opponents. Furthermore, the adoption of these policies may help to further consolidate corruption rather than weaken it. In any case, we conclude, in contexts of systemic corruption, anticorruption institutions and measures should not be the first line of defense to address corruption.

The articles in the collection can be viewed and downloaded freely through September 30. Click below to access the collection.

Global Public Policy and Governance—Special Issue Available

Global Public Policy and Governance special issue editors are pleased to share "Law, Democracy and Robots: Governing AI-Assisted Public Services in the Algorithmic Age." This is a collection of studies that analyse the governance of artificial intelligence in the public sector through empirical evidence and theoretical discussion across diverse public administration domains, including public service delivery, street-level enforcement, budgeting decisions, regulatory sandboxes, the role of tech firms in knowledge production and scholarly attention to AI research.

Collectively, these studies illustrate how AI development is associated with different dimensions of public governance including power structures, public values, institutions, decision-making, organisations and bureaucratic actors. Drawing on evidence offered by scholars from the United States, United Kingdom, China, Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand, Thailand and other contexts, the contributions advance our understanding of both governance by AI and the governance of AI. This special issue is guest edited by Wonhyuk Cho (Ewha Womans University), Ziteng Fan (Fudan University) and Yueping Zheng (Sun Yat-sen University).

SLGR Issues Call for Submissions; Ties to #ASPA2027

Trust between residents and local government is a foundational condition for effective governance. Where trust is high, residents are more likely to comply with local regulations, participate in civic processes and support public investment. Where it is eroding, the consequences for service delivery, democratic legitimacy and community resilience can be severe. Despite the practical urgency of this challenge, local governments often lack systematic frameworks for measuring resident trust, understanding its drivers or identifying evidence-based strategies for rebuilding it.

State and Local Government Review is issuing a call for submissions for a special issue: "Measuring, Building and Sustaining Trust in Local Government." This special issue emerges directly from a National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) Local Government Working Group initiative: Last spring the working group convened a symposium that brought together academic researchers and local government practitioners to examine the challenges governments face in measuring resident trust, identifying tools and strategies to strengthen it, and improving community engagement as a pathway to trust. The symposium surfaced a clear demand for more applied, comparative and actionable scholarship at the intersection of public administration research and local government practice.

The journal welcomes submissions addressing trust in local government from multiple theoretical traditions, methodological approaches and governance contexts. They seek submissions that advance theory, report empirical findings and offer practical insight, individually or in combination. Consistent with the mission of State and Local Government Review, they especially are interested in work that connects research findings to practitioner implications.

Authors are encouraged, though not required, to present work-in-progress at ASPA's 2027 Annual Conference, April 9–13, 2027 in New Orleans. The guest editorial team plans to organize sessions at the conference to support early feedback on submissions and build a community around this research agenda. Presenting at ASPA 2027 does not guarantee acceptance and full submissions will undergo independent peer review. Contact Colt Jensen or Jaclyn Piatak for more information.

Tips, Resources and Updates

Life Happened. Now What About Your Retirement Benefits?
Retiring from federal service is a major milestone, of course, but it does not end the need to understand how federal benefits work. In the years after retirement, life events and new opportunities can raise important questions about insurance, survivor benefits, beneficiary designations and the effect of returning to government employment.

How Dopamine Anchoring Can Motivate You To Tackle Boring Tasks, According to Experts
Ever wonder why doing mundane tasks like folding the laundry or putting away groceries is easier when you’ve got your favorite podcast on? That’s dopamine anchoring at work.

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
Most news related to federal workforce are being reported in Federal Workforce in Turmoil. Contact us if you are not receiving that digest and want to.

Social Equity

Members and Notables in the News

Barrett and Greene:
The Power of Performance Audits

Jim Bourey:
Seattle Deserves a Better City Government. Here’s How To Do It

Phil Joyce:
The Pending Insolvency of Social Security: Was Anybody Listening over the Last 40 Years?

Don Moynihan:
What Could a Post-Trump Governance Coalition Look Like?
Annie Lowrey on the Time Tax
Which Stories About Academia Matter? and
Democrats Are Plotting Government Efficiency in a Post-DOGE World

Ron Sanders:
Do We (Still) Need a Director of National Intelligence?

Alan Shark:
The Great AI Escape(s): Now What? and
AI and The New Rules of Digital Trust: Watermarks

Texas CPM Program:
Texas Certified Public Manager Program and the Hobby Center for Public Service at Texas State University Awards Balanoff Good Government Award

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:

2026 Combined SECoPA/NECoPA Event
Norfolk, Virginia | September 17-19
Theme: Two Regions, One Future: Shaping Governance, Policy and Public Management through Research, Education and Practice
Registration is open
ABFM 38th Annual Research Conference
George Washington University Student Center | September 24-27
Theme: Shared Challenges, Shared Resources: Managing Public Budgeting and Finance in a Multi-Level System
Registration is open
2026 NASPAA Global Conference
Seattle | September 30 - October 2
Theme: Public Service Without Borders: Reimagining Global Leadership, Inclusiveness, and Collaboration
Registration is open
APPAM 48th Annual Fall Research Conference
Boston | November 5-7
Theme: 50 States, 50 Systems: State Policy Variations and Impacts
Registration is open
55th Annual ARNOVA Conference
Philadelphia | November 19-21
Theme: Igniting Civic Activism: Grassroots and Voluntary Action and Democracy
Registration is open
ASPA 2027 Annual Conference
New Orleans | April 9-13
Theme: Navigating Public Service in Uncharted Territory
Call for Proposals is open

Calls for proposals, calls for nominations and other updates:

Call for Proposals: Economic Diplomacy Journal Special Issue
Economic Diplomacy Journal invites submissions for a special issue examining the evolving role of "Small States, Statecraft and Diplomacy in a Changing World Order." The contemporary international system is characterized by geopolitical fragmentation, institutional strain, financial volatility and widening development asymmetries. Multilateral institutions are facing mounting pressures, while global cooperation is increasingly challenged by competing national priorities and strategic rivalries. In this context, new calls have emerged within international policy discourse for strategic options among states and for the formation of coalitions capable of navigating a more uncertain global landscape. For small states, these developments raise important questions of diplomacy and strategy. How do small states respond to global uncertainty and systemic disruption? What forms of statecraft allow them to exercise influence in international affairs despite structural constraints in the context of contemporary global politics? And how can small states leverage diplomacy, partnerships and multilateral engagement to advance national and collective interests? This special issue seeks to explore the practice of statecraft and diplomacy among small states, focusing on how they navigate global instability while shaping their own agendas. While often described as system-takers within the global order, small states are faced with new challenges beyond the orthodox processes of coalition diplomacy and strategic engagements in world institutions. Proposals are due by September 15. Contact the journal with any questions or for more information.
Call for Abstracts: Public Administration Quarterly Special Issue
PAQ editors are pleased to share a call for abstracts for an upcoming special issue focused on "Future of Public Administration and Public Policy in Latin America in Times of Transformation." As governments across Latin America navigate technological innovation, institutional reform, democratic challenges and evolving societal expectations, there is an important opportunity to deepen our understanding of how these transformations are shaping the future of governance. This special issue seeks scholarship that advances both empirical knowledge and theoretical contributions from Latin American perspectives. Whether your work focuses on public management, organizational change, human resource management, public policy, innovation, governance or comparative public administration, consider submitting an abstract. Guest editors are Susan Appe, Eduardo Grin, Nathalie Mendez, Elizabeth Perez Chiques and Cristian Pliscoff. Submit abstracts to Jen Alexander by September 30. Click here to find more information via LinkedIn.
Call for Proposals: SPPM 2027 Marc Holzer Public Performance Symposium
The Section on Public Performance Management (SPPM) invites academics and practitioners to submit proposals for its 2027 Marc Holzer Public Performance Symposium, scheduled for Sunday, April 11, during ASPA's Annual Conference. This symposium highlights exemplary and innovative issues in public performance and management. This year’s conference theme, "Navigating Public Service in Uncharted Territory," calls us to connect research and practice so governments, nonprofits and community partners are empowered to build and strengthen evidence-based management practices that are effective, flexible and adaptive. The Holzer Symposium advances this charge by identifying and exploring performance-driven approaches that strengthen capacity today and lay the groundwork for innovation and positive change. We welcome proposals that offer balanced and innovative approaches to performance management, or examine adapting approaches in the face of change. Contact Ron Schack with any questions. All proposals are due by September 30. Send your proposal via email to aspasppm@gmail.com.
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.
Call for Nominations: New York Metro Chapter Elections
The New York Metro Chapter invites nominations and recommendations identifying qualified and motivated individuals to serve as officers and council members for the coming term. Founded in 1940, the Chapter is one of the oldest and largest in the nation and its reach has expanded beyond New York City to include the surrounding suburbs and all but nine counties (note: Western New York has its own chapter). The Chapter governing board is headed by a president, who is elected the previous term as President-Elect and eight (8) council members. Council members serve a two-year term. Elected officers' and council members' terms run from July 1 to the following June 30. Chapter elections are scheduled for late October/early November; elected board members will participate in an orientation and board retreat following their election. Contact interim Chapter President Steve Rolandi for more information. All nominations are due by October 2.
Harvard Kennedy School: Collaborating for Public Value
Collaborating for Public Value is a five-week program that will run October 13 - November 12. Each week there will be independent asynchronous work (approximately three hours/week) and one live session on Thursdays at 10 am ET. Program participants will gain practical tools for alignment, accountability, adaptive management and building durable collaborative capacity across diverse institutional environments. Visit their website 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 patimes@aspanet.org for consideration. (Please review our submission guidelines in advance!)

The Auditing Officer: More Tools. Less Judgment. (Part II)
By Mauricio Covarrubias
Social Cohesion in a Chaotic World
By Renée Cardarelle
Measuring Beyond the Ledger: What Performance Data Misses
By Charles Anthony Smith

American Society for Public Administration
1320 19th Street, NW, Suite 501, Washington, DC 20036

Please send inquiries to Managing Editor Karen E. T. Garrett.

8:["$","main",null,{"className":"flex-1 bg-white","style":{"fontFamily":"var(--sans)"},"children":["$","article",null,{"children":[["$","header",null,{"className":"relative overflow-hidden bg-[var(--navy-dkr)]","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"pointer-events-none absolute inset-0","aria-hidden":"true","style":{"backgroundImage":"linear-gradient(rgba(255,255,255,.018) 1px,transparent 1px), linear-gradient(90deg,rgba(255,255,255,.018) 1px,transparent 1px)","backgroundSize":"80px 80px"}}],["$","div",null,{"className":"pointer-events-none absolute -right-16 -top-16 h-[220px] w-[220px] rounded-full border-[34px] md:-right-[80px] md:-top-[90px] md:h-[340px] md:w-[340px] md:border-[50px]","aria-hidden":"true","style":{"borderColor":"rgba(0,95,140,.28)"}}],["$","div",null,{"className":"relative z-[1] mx-auto max-w-[1000px] px-6 py-8 md:px-12 md:py-10","children":[["$","$L14",null,{"href":"/news","className":"mb-4 inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-[0.8125rem] font-medium text-white/70 transition-all hover:gap-2.5 hover:text-white","children":[["$","svg",null,{"width":"14","height":"14","viewBox":"0 0 14 14","fill":"none","aria-hidden":"true","children":["$","path",null,{"d":"M11 7H3M6 4 3 7l3 3","stroke":"currentColor","strokeWidth":"1.4","strokeLinecap":"round","strokeLinejoin":"round"}]}],"Back to News & Updates"]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"mb-2.5 text-[0.75rem] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[.12em]","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"text-[var(--green-accent)]","children":"The Bridge"}],["$","span",null,{"className":"text-white/60","children":[" · ","September 9, 2026"]}]]}],["$","h1",null,{"className":"subpage-hero-title max-w-[760px] font-light leading-[1.25] text-white","style":{"fontFamily":"var(--serif)","fontSize":"clamp(1.75rem, calc(2.2vw + 0.125rem), 2.125rem)"},"children":"Bridge Newsletter, September 2026"}],["$","p",null,{"className":"mt-2.5 max-w-[640px] text-[0.9375rem] leading-[1.6] text-white/70","children":"ASPA is on the road! With the academic year now fully underway, ASPA staff is visiting longstanding university partners and institutional members."}]]}]]}],null,["$","div",null,{"className":"mx-auto max-w-[820px] px-6 py-10 md:px-12 md:py-14 lg:py-16","children":[null,["$","div",null,{"className":"$undefined","children":["$","$L15",null,{"html":"$16","title":"Bridge Newsletter, September 2026"}]}],"$L17"]}]]}]}]