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 G. Nigro is the Chair of Public Administration and Urban Studies.

In this Section:

• Programs and Activities
• Internships
• Projects
• Seminars

Programs and Activities

M.P.A. Advisory Board. The M.P.A. Advisory Board was created by PAUS faculty in 2001 to assess the M.P.A. curriculum to ensure that its graduates meet the needs of today's public agencies and non-profit organizations. Board members, many of whom are AYSPS Alumni, hold administrative positions with local, state and federal agencies and departments, as well as nonprofits. These positions include that of city administrator, tax commissioner, department head, program director, budget and finance director and non-profit executive director. The board has developed a mission that emphasizes making a positive impact on public service by 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 2004, the M.P.A. Advisory Board continued to expand its activities. The Board meets often, and an informal reception on November 4 allowed the Board to interact with students and staff and continued a tradition of Board to student interaction. Board members and other experts in the past have addressed questions about finding jobs, making contacts in the public and nonprofit sectors, and the skills necessary to succeed in public service. Katherine G. Willoughby, Robert Eger III, and Theodore H. Poister are the PAUS faculty liaisons with the M.P.A. Advisory Board.

M.P.A. Advisory Board Members:

Faculty Recruitment. Adjunct Professor John Cascone earned his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. His specialties include Management of Health Services Organization, Administration of Health Care Services, Health Policy, Health Care Finance, Organizational Development, and Human Resources Development/Management. The department also is seeking a new faculty member specializing in nonprofit management.

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 University-Georgia Institute of Technology doctoral program in public policy graduated another Ph.D. in 2004. Craig Stanton Gordon's dissertation, "Mediating and Moderating the Agenda-Setting Process: Three Studies of the Air Quality Issue," was chaired by Gary T. Henry; Gregory B. Lewis also served on his dissertation committee. Soon-to-be graduate Pablo Saavedra won a highly competitive Young Professionals position with the World Bank. Fellow soon-to-be graduate Christopher Horne is a tenure-track assistant professor at Kennesaw State University. Recent graduate David B. Rein will be publishing a major paper from his dissertation, "A Matter of Classes: Stratifying Healthcare Populations to Produce Better Estimates of Inpatient Costs" in Health Services Research. Gregory B. Lewis coordinates the Joint Ph.D. Program.

Nine excellent new students entered the joint doctoral program in 2004: Grace Chikoto, Kevin Fortner, Gabriel Leonardo, Seong Soo Oh, Danika Parchment, Ravi Prasad, Abdul-Akeen Sadiq, Catherine Slade, and Amanda Wilsker. New students hail from Argentina, India, Korea, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, as well as the United States. The program awarded three special fellowships: the Andrew Young (to Amanda Wilsker), Dean's Scholar (to Kevin Fortner), and Carolyn Young (to Grace Chikoto) fellowships.

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 G. Nigro, Theodore H. Poister, Gregory Streib, William W. Waugh Jr., and Katherine G. Willoughby. Funded projects and reports within the PMG include:

Enhancing Strategic Management and Related Survey and Performance Measurement Processes at the Georgia Department of Transportation. Theodore H. Poister. (2004, $132,783 in additional funding for expanded scope of work. Total Project: $354,042)

International City County Management Association project. Gregory Streib, Principal Investigator. (Ongoing, $350,000)

Homeland Security and Emergency Management (Federal Emergency Management Agency/DHS, Emergency Management Institute). William W. Waugh Jr. (Lead course developer), with Frances Edwards and William Nicholson. (2003-2005, $20,000)

Government Performance Project. Katherine G. Willoughby (grading team leader). This project is a national effort funded by the Pew Charitable Trust, through the University of Richmond, to assess the management capacity of the American States. (September 2003-August 2005, $135,000)

Theodore H. Poister, John Clayton Thomas, and Sonali Ballal. 2003 Public Opinion Poll: Georgia Department of Transportation, Department of Public Administration, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, May 2004.

University of Northumbria Collaboration. The PAUS department created a study abroad, student exchange program for students at The University of Northumbria's (UNN) School of Arts and Social Sciences, located in Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K. The joint Georgia State University/University of Northumbria (UNN) exchange program is designed to give students a better understanding of comparative government and international policy. PAUS Director of International Student and Faculty Exchanges is Carol D. Hansen.

Through this semester-long exchange between two prominent research universities, graduate students in the fields of Public Administration and Urban Policy Studies will gain an awareness of international policy and practice, the tools necessary for work within foreign cultures, and the managerial skills needed to function effectively in a global setting. In learning about British institutions, participants will also learn about the U.K. and its role within the European Union. The program has a one-semester duration, and occurs each fall. Participants will travel to UNN, where they will take courses examining public administration and policy analysis and will reap the benefits of living and learning in a new cultural setting. Participation permits Georgia State students to establish a collegiate relationship with the faculty and students at UNN, some of whom will travel to Georgia State the following spring term.

The program is open to graduate students in the Public Administration and Urban Studies department of the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. Students must have completed at least three courses in the M.P.A. or M.S.-UPS program. Students will enroll in two modules of study at UNN. Each of these modules converts to 6 hours of Georgia State University semester hours. Upon successful completion of these modules, students will be awarded credit for 12 hours of coursework toward the graduation requirements of their M.P.A. or M.S.-UPS degree.

The Aviation Program. The aviation program continued to grow in 2004. New students joining the program included traditional students recently graduated from high school, transfer students from other universities, professional people entering to complete degree programs, and students from other countries. Forty-nine students successfully completed flight training practicums. All graduates during the year reported successfully obtaining employment in the aviation industry and several entered graduate programs. One 2004 graduate accepted a position with the National Transportation Safety Board. Three others accepted positions as professional pilots, one with a regional airline, one with the U.S. Air Force, and one in corporate aviation. Six undergraduate Airline Management Certificates were issued in 2004. Twenty students joined GSU’s Gamma Sigma chapter of Alpha Eta Rho, the national aviation fraternity, bringing the chapter’s total membership to 53. Several students won nationally sponsored aviation scholarships. Four aviation students completed internships with Atlantic Southeast Airlines, one student completed an internship with Delta Air Lines, and one student completed an internship with the National Transportation Safety Board. Richard Charles is the program coordinator.

Internships

Seventy-five students completed internships for academic credit in 2004. The graduate internship is one of several exit options for students in the M.P.A., M.P.A./J.D., and the M.S.-UPS degree programs. It is required of students in the M.S.-HRD program who do not have significant prior work experience. For undergraduates, the internship is an optional capstone course for urban policy studies students in their senior year, or is available as a junior elective.

Student Perspectives - Quotes from PAUS Interns in 2004

“Since the beginning of my internship I have been given the opportunity to work on a variety of projects. Not only have my experiences allowed me to practice skills I have learned in the classroom, they have also shown me how instructional design is practiced within organizational walls."

"This internship is equipping me with the experience that I need to reach my professional career goals. It is enabling me to enhance my skills in policy analysis, and [giving me] the opportunity to synthesize, apply and practice strategic planning in a Government-based arena."

"This internship is giving me the experience to work independently. I am also gaining knowledge about working at a public university and with people around the world."

"This internship broadened my view of non-profit organizations and afforded me the opportunity to work in a more professional organization. I believe that this internship will truly be an asset as I pursue a career managing a non-profit organization."

"My internship has equipped me with practical experience which I plan to use in the process of locating employment in the career development field."

"It has broadened my view that non-profits are complex organizations and that bureaucracy often limits the extent of productivity. This internship has allowed me to establish a portfolio of work that will enhance my marketability."

"This position greatly relates to my academic studies and is a highly beneficial experience. Having the opportunity to read, learn and speak about these types of subjects in class is an advantage now that I perform a job that is highly related. This [internship] puts me at an advantage in the classroom."

This internship program is coordinated by Gregory Streib and Katherine G. Willoughby. According to interns, the program’s flexibility and online facilitation make the program extremely attractive.

Typical Student Internship/Job Placements, 2002-2004

Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies with Aviation Specialization

• Accident Investigator, National Traffic Safety Board
• Associate, Varuna Aviation Consulting
• Pilot, Chautauqua Airlines
• Customer Service Supervisor, ASA
• Operations Supervisor, ASA
• Pilot, ASA
• Maintenance Manager, FedEx
• IT Director, AfraAir Cargo
• Pilot, USAF
• Pilot, Middle East Airlines
• Dispatch Supervisor, Atlantic Trucking
• Operations Representative, Chattanooga Airport
• Supervisor, ASA
• International Marketing Rep, ASA
• Pilot, Georgia Department of Transportation
• Training Supervisor, DHS/TSA
• Director of Safety, Lockheed-Martin
• Marketing Director, Avion-Dneper

Master of Science in Human Resources Policy and Development

• The Coca-Cola Company
• Choice Point
• RockTenn
• HomeDepot
• UPS
• Delta Airlines
• Eggleston Children's Hospital
• Wachovia Bank
• Bank of America
• U.S. Peace Corps
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control
• Mercer University
• Oakland University
• Equifax
• WorldCom
• BellSouth
• IBM
• Childrens Health Care of Atlanta
• Georgia Pacific
• Piedmont College
• Clayton State University
• Kennesaw State University
• Georgia Perimeter College
• Southern Company
• Ritz Carlton
• Check Free
• Nextel
• SouthTrust Bank
• Cingular
• Synovus

Master of Science in Urban Policy Studies

• Planner, Atlanta Regional Commission
• Consultants, Post, Buckley, Schuh and Jernigan, Inc. & Civic Strategies, Inc.
• Administrator, National Fair Housing Alliance, Washington, D.C.
• Municipal governments of Athens, Atlanta, Conyers, & Stockbridge, Ga.
• County governments of Cobb and Forsyth, Ga., and Lee, Fla.
• Master’s & Doctoral programs at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Georgia Institute of Technology
• Director of Research, South Carolina Association of Counties
• Redevelopment Project Manager, Marietta Development Corporation.

Master of Public Administration

• Analysts, U.S. Government Accountability Office
• Program Evaluators, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General
• Attorney, Mortgage Division, Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
• Budget and Program Analysts, Georgia Office of Planning and Budget, Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
• Assistant Education Specialist, Georgia Department of Education
• International Trade Specialist, Indiana Department of Commerce
• Analyst, Atlanta Regional Commission
• Senior Planner, Atlanta Regional Commission
• Project Manager, EG&G Technical Services, Inc. Eagle Group, International Consulting
• Crisis Management Consultant, Baker and Associates
• Attorney, King & Spalding
• Ph.D. student, Syracuse University
• Ph.D. student, Georgia State University

Ph.D. in Public Policy (joint with Georgia Institute of Technology)

• Researcher, U.S. Centers for Disease Control
• Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State University
• Researcher, World Bank
• Researcher, Research Triangle Institute

Projects

Funding Received in 2004:

Funding Public Health in Georgia: Developing a Model to Analyze Revenue, Expenditures and Options for the Future (Georgia Healthcare Foundation). Robert Eger III, Co-Principal Investigator. The purpose of the research effort is development of a budgeting framework for use by public health leaders and advocates along with state and local policymakers, with the goal of ensuring that financing systems are adequately understood, sufficiently reliable and appropriately integrated to support needed services and result in desired outcomes. (2004-2005, $54,704)

Feasibility Study on Comprehensive Contract Maintenance in GDOT (Georgia Department of Transportation). Robert Eger III. Comprehensive maintenance contracts (CMC) require that awards which outsource the performance of all or nearly all of the maintenance activities conducted by a state DOT for certain corridors or regions are managed through an individual contract. Although the benefit of CMC may address the administrative burden and the economy of scale issues, there is no manual to guide decision-making in choosing CMC. The research problem addressed in this study is to evaluate the feasibility of CMC for the Georgia Department of Transportation. (2004-2005, $339,700)

Study of Physical Activity in Public Parks. Amy Helling, Co-Principal Investigator. Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 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 Emory and other experts from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory, the University of Georgia and the Centers for Disease Control. (3 years, approximately $600,000)

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

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

International Strategic Initiatives. Atef Ghobrial. For the Office of the Provost, GSU. ($2,650)

Surveys for the Center for Political Studies at the University of Michigan, the Georgia Transplant Foundation, and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Charlotte Steeh. ($40,500)

Projects Completed in 2004:

A Study of Liquid Asphalt Price Indices: Applications to Georgia Pavement Contracting (Georgia Department of Transportation). Robert Eger III. This report presented GDOT with the findings of research into asphalt price indexes from both quantitative and qualitative sources and analyzed this information as it applied to a possible asphalt price index system for Georgia. The quantitative data used for this report came from GDOT and the five neighboring states and the qualitative information came from phone interviews, personal interviews and the survey questionnaire sent to the 48 contiguous states. (2003-2004, $77,942)

Seminar Series

1. For a complete listing of AYSPS Active Research Sponsored Grants from CY2004, see the Appendix: Report on External Funding.