Public Administration and Urban Studies¹
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

The Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies is ideally positioned for collaborative and interdisciplinary enrichment though its affiliation with the Andrew Young School's other research components. Its faculty, staff, and graduate students are actively engaged in research and public service projects that inform public policy and enhance the quality and effectiveness of policy implementation and evaluation in the United States as well as internationally. Academic programs are listed in the Academic Assistance section. PAUS faculty are very active in the Centers and Programs of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. In addition to work found in those sections, and to publications listed in "Papers, Books and Chapters: Published or Forthcoming," various other projects are listed below. Lloyd Nigro is the Chair of Public Administration and Urban Studies.

Programs and Activities

M.P.A. Advisory Board. The M.P.A. Advisory Board was created by Katherine Willoughby in 2001 to assess the M.P.A. curriculum, to ensure graduates meet the needs of today's public agencies. Its 15 members, many who are AYSPS Alumni, hold chief executive and other administrative positions with local, state and federal agencies and departments, as well as non-profits. The board has developed a mission that emphasizes making a positive impact on public service, taking on the primary role as a resource to faculty in communicating the necessary skills, knowledge, ethics and values required to practice in the public sector. This board also offers the program a more formal connection with its alumni.

In 2003, the M.P.A. Advisory Board continued to expand its activities. An informal reception on September 25 allowed the Board to interact with students and staff. The Board hosted a public service panel discussion for students. Board Members and other experts addressed questions about finding jobs and making contacts in the public and nonprofit sectors. Professors Katherine Willoughby, Robert Eger, and Ted Poister are the PAUS faculty liaisons with the M.P.A. Advisory Board

M.P.A. Advisory Board Members:

Faculty Recruitment. The Department hired two new Assistant Professors, who joined the faculty in August. Carolyn Bourdeaux, from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation in June 2003. Her areas of specialization include public management and finance, economic development, and urban policy. Her background includes being a Senior Associate with Sarah J. Siwek & Associates and serving as a legislative assistant to Oregon's Senator Ron Wyden. Robert J. Eger III earned his Ph.D. in Public Administration from the Martin School of University of Kentucky in 2000. He came to AYSPS from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His professional background includes research associate positions with the Kentucky Transportation Center and the Council of State Governments. His areas of specialization include public budgeting and finance, financial management, and research methodology.

Nonprofit Programs. The nonprofit program was created "to foster academic scholarship in the nonprofit sector, and serve as a conduit between scholars and practitioners in creating and disseminating knowledge." Atlanta has one of the fastest-growing nonprofit sectors in the United States, providing an ideal location in which to study this sector's growing influence and challenges. The impact of technology changes, shifting demographics, global influences and the sector's increasing linkages to the private and government sectors are presented in a program that combines rigorous academic study, critical research and influential community partnerships. Both the M.P.A. and M.S. in Urban Policy Studies degree programs offer specializations in nonprofit management and policy, and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management is offered. The department is committed to serving as a leading edge center for research and professional education in the nonprofit field. For more information, see the Nonprofit Studies Program section of the annual report.

Joint Ph.D. Program. The joint Georgia State-Georgia Tech doctoral program in public policy graduated its first two Ph.D.s. in 2003. Angela Blair Hutchinson's dissertation was "A Health Technology Assessment of HIV Counseling and Testing Technologies: Evidence of Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness and the Consumer Perspective" and was chaired by Paul G. Farnham (Economics). David Rein's dissertation was "Modeling the Health Care Utilization of Children in Medicaid" and was chaired by Gregory B. Lewis (PAUS). Nine excellent new students entered the joint doctoral program in 2003: Kwaw Andam, Shena Ashley, Sarah Blake, Hai (David) Guo, Taehyun Jung, Monica LaBelle, Timothy McNeill, Ignacio Navarro, and Lei Zhang. The program awarded its first Andrew Young fellowship (to Shena Ashley) and its first Dean's Scholar fellowship (to Monica LaBelle).

The Public Management Group. The Public Management Group (PMG) of the Andrew Young School is committed to promoting state-of-the-art management practices in the public sectors, to advancing both the efficiency and effectiveness of program and financial operations of public agencies, and to supporting the professional, democratic and ethical administration of government in the United States and around the world. Faculty involved in PMG activities to date include: Lloyd Nigro, Judith Ottoson, Theodore Poister, David Van Slyke, Gregory Streib, William Waugh, and Katherine Willoughby.

Human Resource Development Alumni Club. Nearly 200 alumni have initiated contact since the club was formed. President Neelam Sharma and founding members are excited about their strong response and participation in the club’s inaugural programs. The HRD Alumni Club is planning a fund-raising campaign to endow a new Verna Willis Scholarship, which will be awarded annually to an outstanding HRD student. The group plans to award its first scholarship in fall 2004.

University of Northumbria Collaboration. The PAUS faculty signed a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with The University of Northumbria's (UNN) School of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Politics and the Centre for Public Policy located in Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K. The primary purpose of this MOU is to create a joint masters degree in International Public Administration (IMPA) for students enrolled at both UNN and AYSPS. This degree will permit students to spend a semester at each institution followed by a thesis and an internship with the EU or with other organizations such as CARE, AID, WHO, etc. The MOU provides a framework by which the two sides may work on establishing a curriculum and other program features that meet the requirements of both faculties and institution. The MOU arose from visits by UNN faculty to AYSPS in April 2002 followed by a visit from their Deputy-Chancellor for Development in October 2002 and their Associate Dean for the School of Arts and Social Sciences and their Associate Director for the Centre for Public Policy in April 2003. The University of Northumbria also has invited Ambassador Andrew Young to accept an honorary degree.

Projects

Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, Capital Preventative Maintenance. Robert Eger. (2002-2003, $111,664)

Georgia Department of Transportation, A Study of Liquid Asphalt Price Indices Applications to Georgia Pavement Contracting. Robert Eger. ($77,942)

Enhancing Transportation Education. Atef Ghobrial. Sponsored by the Southeastern Transportation Center. ($26,500)

Developing a Multimedia Course on Intermodal Transportation Safety and Security. Atef Ghobrial. Southeastern Transportation Center. (Extended though December 2003, $19,986)

Ghana Tourism Capacity Development Initiative Project: sub-grant to the Robinson College of Business. Atef Ghobrial.

International Strategic Initiatives. Atef Ghobrial. Office of the Provost, GSU. ($4,300)

Physical Activity in Public Parks Study. Amy Helling, co-principal investigator. The team is led by P.I. Howard Frumkin of the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University; and includes co-P.I. Karen Mumford of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia and other experts from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, University of Georgia and Centers for Disease Control. The study is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson foundation. (3 years, approximately $600,000)

National Institute for Early Education Research & Pew Charitable Trust, Early Childhood Study. Gary T. Henry, Principal Investigator. Supplemental Grant. (2003-2004, $199,845)

National Institute for Early Education Research & Pew Charitable Trust, Preschool Policy Research. Gary T. Henry, Principal Investigator. ($36,482)

Impacts of High Stakes Accountability on Teachers’ Professional Development. Gary T. Henry, Principal Investigator. Spencer Foundation. (2000-2003, $210,000)

Early Childhood Study; Office of School Readiness. Gary T. Henry, Principal Investigator. (2000-2004, $1,180,825)

Sponsored Teaching Agreement with Columbia Theological Seminary. Harvey Newman. (August 25, 2003, to May 30, 2004, $12,736)

Development of Writing Intensive Course in DPAUS for Writing Across the Curriculum Program. Harvey Newman. GSU. (Summer 2003, $3,000)

Enhancing Strategic Management and Related Survey and Performance Measurement Processes at the Georgia Department of Transportation. Theodore Poister. Funded by GDOT. ($221,259)

A Comparison of RDD and Cellular Telephone Surveys. Charlotte Steeh. National Science Foundation. The NSF grant funded a PAUS graduate research assistant during the entire academic year of 2003. (2002-2004, $176,296)

Homeland Security and Emergency Management. William Waugh (lead course developer), William L. Waugh, Jr., Frances Edwards-Winslow, and William C. Nicholson. Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Management Institute. (2003-2004, $20,000)

The Government Performance Project. Katherine Willoughby, Principle Investigator. A national effort funded by the Pew Charitable Trust, through the University of Richmond, to assess the management capacity of the American states. (September 2001-August 2005, $135,000)

Robert Moore coordinated the school's development of FY04 New Funding Proposal that resulted in new funding for PAUS graduate student support. ($107,000)

Katherine Willoughby (with Julia Melkers) has been awarded a grant from the IBM Business of Government. They will prepare a report regarding performance measurement application in governments, based on their survey data and GASB case assessments. ($15,000)

Under Review

Portal to the City of Atlanta -- Joint Georgia State University-City of Atlanta project. John C. Thomas. Letter of inquiry to Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. (proposal under review)

Project Management

Laura Henderson serves as Co-Manager of the Georgia Early Childhood Study, funded as the Longitudinal Evaluation of the Georgia Prekindergarten (Pre-K) Program by the Georgia Office of School Readiness. Bentley Ponder is the other Co-Manager; Gary Henry is Principal Investigator. The study is designed to determine the impact of various types of preschool experiences on children’s future school success. These experiences include children who were enrolled in one of three types of early childhood programs: Georgia’s Prekindergarten Program (Georgia Pre-K), Head Start, or other full-day preschool program, and children with no formal preschool experience. The children are currently in first grade. Data collection efforts include: individualized standardized assessments with the sampled children in key developmental areas, teachers’ and parents’ assessments of children’s skills and behaviors, classroom observations of quality environments, surveys with teachers and administrators regarding early childhood education, and surveys with parents about preschool arrangements and family demographics.

Reports

Gary T. Henry, Laura W. Henderson, Bentley D. Ponder, Craig S. Gordon, Andrew Mashburn, and Dana K. Rickman. “Report of the Findings From the Early Childhood Study: 2001-02,” Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, 2003.

Gary T. Henry and V. Darleen Opfer. “Responses to High Stakes Accountability in the South,” Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, 2003.

Gary T. Henry and Craig S. Gordon. “Can Competition Improve Educational Outcomes?”

Greg Streib and Chad Gorman completed a performance review of the Personal Development Program operated by the Atlanta Union Mission, which is a local rescue mission.

Visitors

John C. Thomas and David Edwards, Program Management Officer in the office of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, co-hosted a visit to Atlanta on August 21 by Dr. Ted Greenwood, a Program Director with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in New York City. Dr. Greenwood was here to discuss a possible grant to GSU and the City of Atlanta under the Sloan Foundation's program in Performance Assessment of Municipal Governments. Thomas and Edwards are seeking a Sloan grant to assist in the development of an online complaint system that would enable Atlanta residents to (1) report complaints on municipal services, (2) check on whether others had made the same complaints, and (3) monitor responses to those complaints by City Hall. The visit included a meeting with Mayor Franklin. 

Seminar Series

	April 30	Howard McCurdy, Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Administration at American University "Dismantling the Administrative State: The Loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and Other Concerns"
	May 6	Lester Salamon, Professor at Johns Hopkins University and Director of the Center for Civil Society Studies "Tools of Government Action: Examining the Government-Nonprofit Relationship"

1. For a complete listing of AYSPS Active Research Sponsored Grants from CY2003, see the Appendix: Report on External Funding.