Despite all of the teaching, service, and other activities, our NKU MPA faculty have still made time to further their research programs and share their work. Dr. Shamima Ahmed and Dr. Darrin Wilson presented some of their research at the Southeastern Conference of Public Administration (SECoPA), which took place in Memphis.
Dr. Ahmed moderated a panel on the accountability and sustainability of nonprofit organizations and, as part of the panel, she presented her own research on nonprofit transparency and accountability. Dr. Wilson moderated a panel on citizen actors and customers, and he presented his exploratory research of citizen academies, which are organized by local governments to inform and engage citizens.
The International Journal of Event and Festival Management published a long-term study of event volunteers by Dr. Julie Olberding (Northern Kentucky University) and Dr. Douglas Olberding (Xavier University) using data from the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon Weekend in 2012 and 2022. The purpose of this collaborative, community-based research was to enhance our collective understanding of volunteers in light of ongoing challenges with recruitment and retention, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Surveys of more than 2,000 Flying Pig volunteers found that their characteristics, motivations, and satisfaction remained relatively consistent across the 10-year period. They were motivated by a set of multiple, interrelated factors which the authors call “community-based altruism” -- that is, the desire to help others driven by a sense of community pride and involvement. In both years, more than 90% were satisfied with their volunteer experience. Satisfaction was higher for individuals with certain characteristics such as being a repeat volunteer and volunteering with a group.
This may be the first scholarly article to assess volunteers for a major sport event in the same location across multiple years. For more information, visit the journal's web site here.
Last year, MPA Professors Darrin Wilson and Kobena Osam worked with Janet Harrah, Executive Director of the NKU Center for Economic Analysis and Development (CEAD), on a comprehensive assessment of the workforce investment ecosystem in Northern Kentucky. Their recommendations are now coming to fruition in the region.
The most effective governance system, the study concluded, is an office that focuses specifically on workforce development policy and strategies. Called "NKY Works," this office will be similar to the Northern Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, which was created in 2015 to help develop substance use policy initiatives and to advise Boone, Campbell and Kenton fiscal courts.
NKY Works will replace GROW NKY -- based at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce -- as the region’s primary workforce development office. NKY Works will unveil its official website and host its first event in the coming weeks. You can learn more at this article by LINKnky.
Dr. Shamima Ahmed presented a paper at the Annual Conference of the National Social Science Association (NSSA) in Las Vegas. The paper was titled "Domestic Violence in Tajikistan: Scope and Issues," and it is part of ongoing research inspired by her work in the Republic of Tajikistan through The Fulbright Program.
Dr. Darrin Wilson was interviewed by WLWT about the potential impacts of medical marijuana in Kentucky, particularly in terms of economic growth for cities and counties with dispensaries. “Being on the front end has potential for immense growth going forward because there's a limited amount of licenses at this point,” he said.
As the WLWT story explains, the state will initially issue 48 licenses for medical cannabis dispensaries with the expectation that two of them will go to businesses in Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties. But county and city governments can pass an ordinance by December 31 that prohibits dispensaries in their jurisdictions.
Between July 1 and August 31, businesses can apply for a license to sell medical marijuana in Kentucky. In October, the state will hold a lottery to select the initial group of businesses that will receive a license.
We're excited that Dr. Nana Arthur-Mensah is now teaching our Executive Leadership and Public Management course (PAD 632) in a fully online format this Spring. PAD 632 can be taken as an elective toward the MPA degree and/or as one of three required courses toward the Leadership in the Public Sector graduate micro-credential.
Dr. Arthur-Mensah is an Associate Professor of Organizational Leadership (OL), and she's been teaching at NKU since 2015. Her courses include Leading in Global and Diverse Contexts, Leadership Around the World, Organizational Theory and Change, and Ethical Leadership and Decision-Making. Her research has focused on the use of work-based learning to enhance human capital in organizations, and the dynamics of leadership and followership within organizational and community settings.
Dr. Arthur-Mensah's academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development and a master's degree in Human Resource Education, both from the University of Louisville. Originally from Ghana, she earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Ghana. In addition, she has years of professional experience and a passion for traveling and exploring new cultures, all of which contribute to her engaging teaching style.
Last Spring, Dr. Shamima Ahmed was selected by The Fulbright Program for a project in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Her six-week experience inspired a new line of research on domestic violence in Tajikistan with a goal of publishing a book on the topic in order to impact public policy in this country and at the global level. Located in Central Asia, Tajikistan is surrounded by Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and China. The current population is about 9.6 million with females accounting slightly more than 50%. Among Central Asian countries, Tajikistan scores as one of the lowest on international indices of gender equality. For the Fulbright project, Dr. Ahmed worked with the Academy of Public Administration in Dushanbe, which included teaching students and offering seminars to faculty and staff. She had opportunities to meet with many people informally, who engaged with her on various issues faced by Tajik women. One major issue, she discovered, is domestic violence.Various reports have documented the severity and perseverance of domestic violence in Tajikistan. “Between a third and a half of women in Tajikistan have experienced physical, psychological or sexual abuse by husbands or other family members,” according to Amnesty International. These situations can take extreme forms including murder and incitement to suicide (Human Rights Watch, 2019). The suicide rate is on the rise in this country with the majority being young women between the ages of 18 and 40. Dr. Ahmed is working with Ms. Takhminai Mirali, who is a faculty member at the Academy of Public Administration, on this research project. The two are conducting in-depth interviews with Tajik women who have experienced domestic violence or who know someone that has had such an experience. Dr. Ahmed is conducting interviews via Zoom with women who can speak some English while Ms. Takhminai is conducting interviews with women who speak only the Tajik language. The two researchers are using the storytelling methodology to write up each of these interviews. The goal is to publish a book with each chapter describing the story of one woman’s life, her experience with domestic violence, and her thoughts on how to address this issue. The ultimate goal is to enhance public awareness of the severity of domestic violence and, hopefully, to make an impact on public policy in Tajikistan and at the global level.
Three NKU professors across different disciplines – David Tataw (Allied Health), Suk-hee Kim (Social Work), and Julie Olberding (Public Administration) – co-authored a study that was published by Child & Youth Services journal. It assesses the Municipal Youth and Family Master Plan in Pomona, CA, using an integrated conceptual framework that combines community organizing theory and the risk and protective factors approach. The Pomona Youth and Family Master Plan was designed to create a healthier environment for youth and families. The study analyzed data five years after the plan to identify outcomes, both positive and negative. It found greater prosocial involvement demonstrated through measures such as participation in clubs, organizations, activities, and community service as well as lower community transitions through home and school changes. But there were negative trends in the environment such as disrepair, permissive substance use, and lower neighborhood attachment. According to the study, the persistence of some risk factors after five years calls for transformative social and economic investments in the Pomona community. Also, there is a need to reconsider community organizing models, specifically moving toward social action approaches. This may include reconfiguring the Youth and Family Master Plan with greater involvement and leadership by young people in Pomona and other community members. Here's a link to the journal article.
Dr. Julie Olberding presented at the 2023 Local Government Summit in Louisville, KY. The two-day event was organized by the Kentucky City/County Management Association (KCCMA) in partnership with Spalding University. The purpose is "to help KCCMA members develop their staff for a great and impactful career in public management."
In only its second year, the Local Government Summit included sessions on various practical topics including building an effective strategic plan, creating a harmonious workplace, and developing positive relationships between city/county managers and their governing bodies. The keynote address was given by the President of Spalding University, Tori Murden McClure, who was the first woman and first American to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, among other accomplishments.
Dr. Darrin Wilson presented the results of the 2022 State of Local Government Survey at the Winter Conference of the Kentucky City/County Management Association (KCCMA) in Lexington. This is the first time that a statewide survey on local government has occurred, and the report benchmarks local governments in regions of Kentucky against statewide averages.
Looking forward, a key purpose of the study is to identify trends in local government in Kentucky, as the survey will be conducted annually and data will be cumulated over time. The study represents a partnership between KCCMA, the NKU MPA Program, and the NKU Center for Economic Analysis and Development.
The Journal of Economics and Politics published an article co-authored by the NKU MPA team of Dr. Julie Olberding, Dr. Darrin Wilson, and Stefanie Swiger (MPA 2020). The article focuses on their community-based research about "neighborhood governance systems."
Generally speaking, neighborhood governance systems are designed to enhance citizen engagement in local government. Despite this important purpose, scholars have given limited attention to these systems, and most existing articles look at neighborhood councils in Los Angeles. The NKU MPA team extended the scholarly literature to community councils in Cincinnati with a focus on the relationships between board performance and community council effectiveness. A PDF of the full article can be found here.
In conducting the study, the NKU MPA team collaborated with Invest In Neighborhoods (IIN), a nonprofit organization that's considered "the council of community councils" in Cincinnati. The team developed a survey for community council board members, based on a previous study of LA's neighborhood councils. IIN staff and board members provided feedback on the survey and helped disseminate it.
Drs. Olberding and Wilson presented the most relevant results at the Cincinnati Neighborhood Summit a couple years ago. This annual event -- organized by IIN -- brings together hundreds of community leaders, community volunteers, city officials, and nonprofit representatives in a daylong series of seminars and workshops.
As you might remember from previous a previous newsletter, Dr. Kobena Osam worked with five MPA students to develop a best practice guide for NKU advisors to enhance the quality of support for Black students during the ongoing pandemics. The students (some now alumni!) involved in this project include: Nick Bliven, Krystal Daniels, Julie Muehlenkamp, Monique Nuby, and Will Parsons.
Dr. Osam, Nick, and Monique traveled to Portland, Oregon in the fall to present their research at the National Conference on Academic Advising (NACADA)! Kuddos to everyone!
Dr. Julie Olberding traveled to Chicago to meet with the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA), which is the global accreditation body for master's degree programs in public and nonprofit policy, affairs, and administration. She is in the third year of a three-year term on the commission.
While in Chicago, Dr. Olberding also served on a panel at the Annual Conference of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). In addition, she met with the Steering Committee of Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA), which is the global honor society for public affairs and administration. There are lots of connections here, as NASPAA organizes the conference and manages and supports both PAA and COPRA.
Dr. Ryan Salzman participated in StartUp Cincy Week, an event designed to help startups learn, network, and engage to best benefit the Cincinnati community. As part of the "Unlikely Partnerships" panel, Dr. Salzman shared his expertise on placemaking, economic development, and smaller cities in the Northern Kentucky region.
We celebrated a few of our MPA faculty at the NKU College of Arts and Sciences Fall Convocation in August. Dr. Kobena Osam was selected for the Outstanding Junior Faculty Award in the NKU’s College of Arts and Sciences and Dr. Darrin Wilson was recognized for earning tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. Congrats to Dr. Osam and Dr. Wilson!
Fulbright Project and Trip to Tajikistan
By Dr. Shamima Ahmed
I spent a month in April completing a Fulbright project in Tajikistan. The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s “flagship program of international educational and cultural exchange, offers passionate and accomplished students and scholars in more than 160 countries the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to mutual understanding” (https://fulbrightscholars.org/who-we-are/what-fulbright-program).
The project that I completed in Tajikistan included: working with the faculty and staff at the Academy of Public Administration to teach MPA students and undergraduate students in International Relations; training civil service officials; and offering training sessions to university staff on time management, curriculum development, and academic writing and publication. It was a very busy month for me since my workdays in Tajikistan would start at 8:30 a.m. and go until 4:30 p.m. (M-F); then at night I would work online on my NKU courses. However, the month went by quickly and it was a very pleasant, interesting and great learning experience for me.
Tajikistan is a small country with an area of 143,100 kilometers and approximately 9 million population; it is slightly smaller (geographically speaking) than the state of Wisconsin. It is in Central Asia, surrounded by Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The country gained independence in 1991 from the former USSR. Its capital city is Dushanbe, my home (away from home) for a month. A predominantly Muslim country, Tajikistan’s landscape includes the beautiful Pamir Mountains.
I have never visited any Central Asian countries. Before I left for Tajikistan, I did my homework and tried to learn as much as I could about its culture, etiquette and ways of life. Of course, I was a bit apprehensive on my first day and meeting with the staff at the Academy. However, the staff and teachers, that I met on the first day, made me feel very comfortable and at home. Tajikistan people are extremely generous, friendly and very beautiful! Many of them invited me to their homes for dinner or lunch. Some of the students took me out for dinner and more than once. They would not allow me to pay! Many of them asked me questions about the educational system in the USA, the civil service systems and the political parties and elections. I found them very smart, intelligent and knowledgeable about U.S. politics and also about world news.
Within the classroom, I felt that the society is quite egalitarian when it comes to equal opportunities. In my MPA classes, at least half of the students were females; the same with the civil service group. However, during informal conversation with students outside the classrooms, I realized the country even though has made some good progress in regard to women’s rights and equal opportunities, is still quite patriarchal as we see in so many other countries.
Some of the things that I found interesting and informative include:
I was fortunate to be able to take a trip to Lake Iskanderkul. Before I left for Tajikistan, I was told that it would be impossible to imagine a trip to Tajikistan without paying a visit to Iskanderkul Lake. It was a three-hour drive from Dushanbe. According to one legend (there are many), locals believe that Alexander the Great (king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon) visited that place and that one of his favorite horses drowned in the lake during a battle. The local legend is that during full moon, the horse comes out at midnight to graze at the shores. The three-hour drive was not easy; some parts of the roads were good, some were almost treacherous, and winding through the mountains. However, when we reached the lake, it was a breathtaking view!
I love visiting new places and learning about the people, interacting with them and trying to understand their culture, and ways of thinking and doing things. I feel these experiences help me see things in a broader perspective, to continue to learn and grow, and appreciate the richness in diversity! As Mark Twain said so eloquently, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
Some of the students, teachers and civil service employees continue to maintain contact with me through emails, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger. Sometimes they have specific questions for me, sometimes they want me to give feedback on their applications for grants or research, and sometimes just to share updates on their education or life stories. I am so grateful to have this opportunity to make this rich and enduring connections with these wonderful folks in Tajikistan!
Dr. Darrin Wilson co-authored a journal article titled "Patterns in Local Economic Development in Light of COVID-19," which was recently published in State and Local Government Review. Congrats to Dr. Wilson and his research team!
Using data from surveys and interviews with local government officials, the study focuses on the strategies that were employed to help stabilize businesses early in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. You can read the abstract below, and you can access and download the full article -- for free! -- at the publisher's web site.
Dr. Shamima Ahmed received a Fulbright Specialist Program award and completed a project at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Dr. Ahmed was selected as a Fulbright Specialist based on her academic and professional achievements, leadership in the field of public administration, and potential to foster long-term cooperation between institutions in the United States and worldwide. This is Dr. Ahmed’s second Fulbright project — she previously completed a project in Myanmar. You can read about Dr. Ahmed’s Fulbright here.
Dr. Darrin Wilson has earned tenure and promotion to associate professor at Northern Kentucky University. Congrats and kudos on this significant career achievement!
Dr. Kobena Osam has been working with five MPA students to develop a best practice guide for NKU advisors to enhance the quality of support for Black students during the ongoing pandemics. The students who’ve been involved in this project are: Nick Bliven, Krystal Daniels, Julie Muehlenkamp, Monique Nuby, and Will Parsons.
With Dr. Osam's guidance, these MPA students are applying organizational theory to develop a workforce product to improve organizational performance. The key question is: “In what ways can we better support the needs of Black students through advising?” The main activities for this project include:
- summarizing scholarly and practitioner literature on support for underrepresented minority (URM) students in higher education;
- compiling best practices for URM student support and developing benchmarks;
- comparing these benchmarks to focus group interview data from three cross-sectional samples at NKU (Norse advisors, College of Arts and Science Advisors, and Black undergraduate students);
- using these benchmark analyses to develop a best practice guide; and
- presenting information from the best practice guide to the NKU Advisory Council.
Congratulations to Dr. Shamima Ahmed on her latest publication! It is the second edition of her book entitled "Effective Nonprofit Management: Context, Concepts, and Competencies."
Underlining the relationship between the public and nonprofit sectors, "Effective Nonprofit Management" comprehensively explores the practical art of forming, managing, and leading nonprofit organizations. In doing so, the book contextualizes the changing socio-political conditions and expectations of key stakeholders in nonprofit organizations.
The book reviews are in, and they are very positive! Dr. Laurie DiPadova-Stocks of Park University said: "Professor Shamima Ahmed literally gifts us with her second edition of the book Effective Nonprofit Management. Her 'real life' focus permeates this work: from case studies, to advisory broads of nonprofit executives for each chapter, and more. With her cross-sector focus, she provides a major contribution to the field by tying the insights of the book to public administration theory/public service/public professionals. Ahmed’s important work will no doubt inform and engage public professionals in all endeavors."
Dr. Nicole Dillard continues to work on innovative scholarship related to the development of women leaders and intersectionality in organizations. As part of her research program, Dr. Dillard co-authored an article titled "Black Mothers at Work: A Contemplative and Anti-Oppressive Approach to Dismantle Workplace Oppression."
The Academy of Management (AOM) selected this article as one of the best papers at its Annual Meeting and published it in the official proceedings. AOM is "the preeminent professional association for management and organization scholars," and it selects only 10 percent of papers for publication in the proceedings.
Dr. Kobena Osam, Dr. Nicole Dillard, and Dennia Palmer (MPA 2020) have continued to further research on employee engagement, particularly how social identities can enhance understanding of engagement during times of crisis. Employee engagement is of interest to both academics and practitioners, partly because it is consistently linked to work ethic, performance, and productivity.
This research team conducted an intersectional qualitative analysis using interview data from diverse public servants working in local, state and federal agencies in 2020, during the dual crises of the COVID pandemic and racial injustices. Their study concludes with recommendations for both researchers and practitioners. For practitioners, these include: increasing training for managers focused on cultural competencies and enhancing opportunities for employees to engage in community-based experiences (i.e., outside of the workplace).
Osam et al. presented their research at the Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA) last year. Then they developed a manuscript that was published in the Online Journal of Workforce Education and Development this year. The article title is: "Engagement Under Pressure: The Impact of Identity on Engagement During Times of Crisis." Here's a link to the journal, where a PDF of the article can be downloaded.
Dr. Julie Olberding, MPA director and professor, has co-authored an article with Dr. Suk-hee Kim, associate professor in NKU's School of Social Work, in a recent issue of the Journal of Social Work Education (JSWE). The article is called "Experiential Philanthropy in Social Work Education: Assessing Outcomes for Students as Active Learners, Community Members, and Social Activists."
The article examines the outcomes of experiential philanthropy (aka student philanthropy) on key social work competencies, identified by social work scholars and associations. The study uses a multifaceted conceptual framework that recognizes students as active learners, community members, and social activists. It analyzes quantitative and qualitative data from more than 200 students, finding positive effects on social work competencies for the vast majority of them.
Congratulations to the NASPAANEXT Class of 2021 including Dr. Julie Olberding! This leadership development institute is organized by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), which is "the global standard in public service education."
Dr. Nicole Dillard was selected for the Outstanding Junior Faculty Award in the NKU College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)! The award was officially announced and presented at the college convocation in August 2021. Pictured below (left to right): Dr. Karen Miller, Department Chair, Political Science, Criminal Justice and Organizational Leadership; Dr. Nicole Dillard; and Dr. Diana McGill, CAS Dean.
Talk about collaborative research! A new article in "Local Development & Society" journal was multi-authored by Professors Darrin Wilson and Ryan Salzman, MPA alum Elishia Chamberlain, and MPA students in our Local Government Management class in Fall 2018 (taught by Dr. Wilson). These MPA students have since graduated and are now MPA alums -- Tom Elfers, Marsha High, James McManus, Danielle Ott, Taylor Schafer, Nikki Williams, and Jeremy Worley.
The title of the Wilson et al. article is: "Place Branding and Civic Pride: Comparative Case Study of Two River Cities in Northern Kentucky." The authors developed case studies on the cities of Bellevue and Ludlow, which focused on their efforts to create a community brand. They also conducted an online survey of residents in both cities related to their views of civic pride and branding in their respective communities. Here's a link to it on the journal's web site.
Kudos to all of the authors! And a special shout-out to Dr. Wilson for creating this unique community-based research project in his class and seeing it through to publication!
An article co-authored by Dr. Nicole Dillard and Dr. Kobena Osam has been published in the August 2021 issue of Human Resource Development International. The article's title is: "Deconstructing the Meaning of Engagement: An Intersectional Qualitative Study."
This article recognizes that employee engagement has been the focus of much scholarly research, but there has been limited attention to the ways that an employee's identities (e.g., race and gender) inform their engagement experience. To explore this phenomenon, Drs. Dillard and Osam used an intersectional qualitative framework and a sample of diverse public service employees.
The following is a brief excerpt of the abstract: "If engagement research is centered on bringing and being ourselves at work, then we must not ignore the significant role that identity plays in one's development of self. ... Our research found that identity has a profound impact on the conditions of engagement and must be considered to examine the full potential across multiple contexts. Implications and suggestions to advance identity-based research and engagement theory and practice are discussed."
For those interested in learning more, see here for full article.
The Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership (JNEL) published an article by Dr. Julie Olberding (MPA program) and Dr. Megan Downing (Organizational Leadership). This study is one of the first to examine student philanthropy in online classes. It applies a conceptual framework that recognizes students as learners, community members, and social activists.
The study analyzed data from online classes prior to the COVID pandemic, and it found the philanthropy experience had positive outcomes for students on various measures. These measures included interest in the course, learning and applying course material, awareness of community needs, awareness of nonprofit organizations, responsibility to help others in need, and belief they can make a difference in the world.
This article contributes to research on the intersection of online education and service-learning activities, such as student philanthropy. Its findings are particularly relevant during an unprecedented time of online teaching and learning due to the pandemic. Here's a link to the abstract.
Kudos and congratulations to Dr. Nicole Dillard for her sole-authored publication in the Journal of International Women's Studies!
The article explores Critical Narrative Analysis (CNA) and Critical Participatory Action Research (CPAR) to enable personal and counter narratives of research participants to challenge master narratives and, ultimately, to lead the change needed in their organizations, communities, and society at large.
Dr. Dillard's abstract is below, and the full article can be accessed at https://vc.bridgew.edu/jiws/vol21/iss7/5/. JIWS is a peer-reviewed online journal with open access, so full articles can be accessed and downloaded for free at its web site.
Congratulations to Dr. Darrin Wilson and Rosie Polter (MPA 2020) for their publication in the journal Community Development!
Their article is titled "Sustainable Local Economic Development Indicator Framework: A Tool for Property Building Redevelopment Projects."
Sustainable Local Economic Development (SLED) was initiated about 10 years ago with the purpose of enhancing economic, social, and environmental sustainability in communities. Using SLED's five principles, Dr. Wilson and Rosie developed an indicator framework that can be used to score historic property redevelopments utilizing Historic Tax Credits (HTCs).
Dr. Wilson said he's willing to share the indicator framework with MPA students, MPA alumni, and others who are interested in it. If you're interested in the framework, send an email message to him at wilsond32@nku.edu. For anyone interested in accessing the full article, here's a link to the Community Development web site.
Did you hear? Dr. Ryan Salzman's book "Pop-Up Civics in 21st Century America" was recently published by Routledge Research in American Politics and Governance. His book explores the political potential of placemaking, which includes pop-up markets, community gardens, murals, painted crosswalks, parklets, little libraries, and more.
Last semester, Dr. Salzman talked about his placemaking research as part of the NKU MPA Online Lecture Series. This semester, he's teaching our Executive Management and Public Leadership course (PAD 632), incorporating related information and ideas.
Congrats and kudos to Dr. Salzman on this research achievement!
Dr. Darrin Wilson (MPA professor) was recently interviewed on the Move Norwood Forward podcast, which helps citizens learn more about the people, businesses, and happenings shaping the City of Norwood Ohio. Dr. Wilson focused on Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) as a tool for embracing a community’s strengths and building on them. The full interview and supporting information can be found here!
Our MPA faculty serve public administration and related disciplines and professions in various ways at the local, state, national, and international levels. For example, Dr. Julie Olberding is serving as a member of the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA), which is the global accreditation body for master's degree programs in public and nonprofit policy, administration, and affairs.
COPRA is part of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). The commission consists of 14 members who are deans, program directors, professors, and practitioners. The meetings are traditionally held in-person, but they've been online recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More info here.
Congratulations to Dr. Darrin Wilson on another publication! This one focuses on the fiscal health of local governments in the United States during the "Great Recession" of the late 2000s. Specifically, it examines the relationship between the economic diversity in local economies and the fiscal health of county governments.
This co-authored article was published in the International Journal of Economic Development (IJED), which is a peer-reviewed journal that promotes research for public administrators and policy analysts. IJED is online and open access, so anyone go to the web site and download Dr.Wilson's article and others ... for FREE!
Cheers to 25 years of Dr. Shamima Ahmed in theNKU Master of Public Administration program! Through her teaching, research and service, Dr. Ahmed has had many positive and profound impacts on our students and alumni, the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati region, and the disciplines of public administration and nonprofit management.
Since 1995, Dr. Ahmed has helped hundreds of people begin and advance their careers in public service. In particular, she has guided and mentored numerous MPA students with their Capstone projects. Examples are implementing a citizen satisfaction survey in Boone County, assessing the effectiveness of the Cincinnati Police Department’s homicide witness support program, and developing a volunteer handbook for the Mason Food Pantry.
Her former students have become top administrators, police and fire chiefs, and department heads in cities, villages and townships in our region such as Covington, Newport, Independence, Union, Cincinnati, Mason, Fairfield, Evandale, Green and Deerfield as well as counties such as Campbell, Kenton, Hamilton, Butler and Clermont. Some alumni are leaders and managers in other government and nonprofit organizations such as the EPA, FBI, Census Bureau, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Great Parks of Hamilton County, REDI Cincinnati, Children Inc., Talbert House, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center.
In terms of research, Dr. Ahmed has authored two books so far: "Effective Non-Profit Management: Context, Concepts, and Competencies" (she's currently working on the second edition); and "NGOs in International Politics" (with David Potter). Her research has also been published in several academic journals such as Public Personnel Management, International Journal of Public Administration, and State and Local Government Review.
Dr. Ahmed’s distinguished reputation was affirmed and amplified a few years ago when she was accepted into the Fulbright Program. For her first assignment in 2019, she traveled to Myanmar for five weeks to provide training and consulting to government employees on human resource management, knowledge management, and public service.
Professors Julie Olberding and Darrin Wilson led a virtual session of the Cincinnati Neighborhood Summit. They presented and discussed initial results from their survey of Community Council executive board members. Those interested can watch a recording of the Zoom / Facebook live session. An advantage of the recording is that you can view it at a higher speed, using the control in lower right corner in the Zoom window.
Thanks to Invest in Neighborhoods for organizing and hosting this virtual session -- and other sessions! -- and for all who attended and participated in the chats and discussion of Community Councils! Professors Olberding and Wilson look forward to continuing this research project in various ways.
Dr. Darrin Wilson has co-authored an article in a new Public Administration Review (PAR) symposium that focuses on challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This article examines how some local governments in the United States are taking collective action during this crisis -- which tends to be rare in traditional economic development practices -- resulting in multi‐institutional grants and low-interest loans to support businesses.
This PAR symposium is designed to stimulate conversations between public administration scholars and practitioners around the pandemic crisis. Other articles in the symposium look at:
PAR is the premier journal in the field of public administration, serving both academics and practitioners interested in the public sector. More information on the journal and the COVID-19 symposium here.
Dr. Kobena Osam co-authored a chapter in a new book called From Discord to Harmony: Making Your Workplace Hum. The chapter is titled "The Work of Employee Engagement: Practical Strategies for the Workplace." Kudos, Dr. Osam, on another contribution to the scholarly conversations about employee engagement!
The first section of the book focuses on topics related to discord in organizations such as workplace incivility, workplace bullying and mobbing, toxic leaders, and sexual harassment and the #MeToo era. The latter sections address ways to bring harmony to organizations including employee engagement, conflict coaching, alternative dispute resolution, shared leadership, and ombuds persons and practices.
Dr. Shamima Ahmed's article “Social Media Use in the Public Sector: The Evolving Landscape and Unique Challenges” was published in the most recent issue of the Journal of Public Administration and Governance (JPAG).
The article focuses on social media use in the workplace and discusses unique legal issues that apply to government organizations. It includes rulings from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to explain the evolving and sometimes confusing legal landscape of the use of social media by government employers and employees in the workplace.
JPAG is an internationally refereed journal that "aims to provide in-depth analysis of developments in the organizational, administrative, and policy sciences as they apply to government and governance."
Dr. Julie Olberding served as a judge at this year's Social Innovation Weekend, held at the Farmer School of Business at Miami University. About 24 teams involving more than 130 undergrad students came up with creative ideas to address food insecurity and related issues. Representatives from other organizations in Greater Cincinnati served as judges and mentors over the weekend, including FUEL NKU, Freestore Foodbank, Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District, MASTER Provisions, Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank, and Blue Manatee Literacy Project and Bookstore.
Emeritus Professor Jan Hillard is currently serving as Senior Editor for data-driven research for the Northern Kentucky Tribune. Most recently, he wrote an article on the impacts of COVID-19 in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati region and innovative strategies to address and mitigate them.
The article discusses efforts by Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky to support restaurants and nonprofit organizations. Horizon started the NKY Restaurant Relief Fund in cooperation with Northern Kentucky Tri-ED and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce to distribute grants to local restaurants. In addition, Horizon developed the NKY Coronavirus Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to nonprofits that are experiencing increased demand for resources due to COVID-19. So far, the fund has raised $2 million.
Prior to his retirement in 2018, Dr. Hillard taught MPA classes such as Local Government Management, Organizational Behavior and Theory, and Ethics and Decision Making. He also served as Associate Provost for Research, Graduate Studies, and Regional Stewardship at Northern Kentucky University.
You can read the NKY Tribune article here.
In addition to his recent article in Public Administration Review, Dr. Darrin Wilson published research in Teaching Public Administration (TPA). He co-authored this article with Dr. Adam Williams of University of Illinois Springfield and Dr. Derek Slagle of University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
The authors' study focuses on the importance of individual scholarship in the field of public administration, and it develops a system to rank institutions based on individual scholarship. This system provides an alternative to traditional rankings of institutions that tend to be based on reputation and prestige. The abstract, references, etc. can be found here.
TPA is a peer-reviewed journal that offers an international forum for a wide range of issues relating to knowledge transmission and skill acquisition in the public and nonprofit sectors. More info here.
NKU’s Valiant Women campaign for Womens History Month, featured Dr. Julie Olberding! Learn more about her here.
Dr. Dillard is working on a number of research projects with students. Her research with Marsha High (MPA 2019) explores leader dentity and engagement for Women of Color leaders in public administration. Their project was spotlighted at NKU’s Night of Black Excellence, and it was selected for a Collaborative Faculty and Student Award through the College of Arts and Sciences. Check out some photos here.
Dr. Dillard is beginning another research project – on employee engagement and identity – with Dr. Kobena Osam and MPA student Dennia Palmer.
Dr. Shamima Ahmed has a forthcoming publication titled “Social Media Use in the Public Sector: The Evolving Landscape and Unique Challenges,” in the March 2020 issue of the Journal of Public Administration and Governance. The article focuses on social media use in the workplace and discusses unique legal issues that apply to government organizations. It also includes rulings from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to explain the evolving and sometimes confusing legal landscape of the use of social media by government employers and employees in the workplace.
This story on unclaimed assets in The New York Times cites an article co-authored by Dr. Darrin Wilson and published in the Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management. The NYT reporter recently interviewed him about the study and included a couple quotes in the story.
Dr. Kobena Osam is the lead author of a "happiness and healthiness" study recently published in Human Resource Development Quarterly Journal (HRDQ).
Overall, Dr. Osam's research examines employee engagement, particularly ways to create, manage, and sustain a happier and healthier workforce. This particular study focuses on the relationships among psychological climate, engagement, and well‐being in a sample of college and university employees. One of its contributions is to expand this scholarly work to public and nonprofit organizations, as previous studies have looked at for-profit businesses.
Dr. Osam teaches Research Methods (PAD 615) and Data Analysis (PAD 616) in the NKU Master of Public Administration program. He also teaches classes in the undergraduate Organizational Leadership program.
Dr. Julie Olberding met with a delegation from the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), which is the U.S. Department of State's "premier professional exchange program" for current and emerging leaders in other countries. This delegation consisted of four government leaders from Afghanistan who were visiting the United States to learn more about government and business ethics, particularly related to procurement and contracting.
Dr. Olberding talked with the leaders about efforts in public administration, including MPA programs, to teach and advance ethical behavior. Broadly speaking, the components include societal pieces such as ethics laws and citizen participation, organizational structure characteristics including clear accountability and dissent channels, organizational culture such as exemplary leaders and ethics training, and individual attributes such as professional values, which can be reinforced through codes of ethics.
In addition to the NKU MPA program, this delegation met with representatives of other organizations in the Greater Cincinnati region including the City of Newport, City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Ohio, P&G, DHL, General Electric Aviation, and the Cintas Center for Business Ethics at Xavier University.
Dr. Shamima Ahmed
Dr. Shamima Ahmed was selected to serve as a Fulbright Specialist on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. She participated in her first project this spring in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Dr. Ahmed provided training and consulting to the country's Union Civil Service Board (UCSB) for about five weeks.
The UCSB handles all civil service affairs for the Myanmar government, such as selecting employees, providing training, and implementing policies and programs. Dr. Ahmed led workshops for government employees on human resource management, knowledge management, and "service dominant logic" (i.e., public service values). The official title of the Fulbright project is "Capacity Enhancement of Myanmar Civil Service."
This photo captures Dr. Ahmed (maroon shirt in the front row) with a group of her civil service trainees in Myanmar.
Dr. Ahmed provided the trainings at a large institute on 1,000 acres in Upper Myanmar. She said, "They call it a village – which has its own bank, hospital, schools, etc. It is like a small city within a city."
Dr. Ahmed said it's interesting that women make up about 90% of the civil service staff in Myanmar. She noted that these women are very smart and confident, and almost all of them have motorcycles that they ride to the workshops, their offices, and elsewhere.
"It is also great to see that most of the trainees, civil service folks, are eager to learn and understand. They have asked me to offer topics on other related areas, which were not on the initial list," said Dr. Ahmed. "People here are very nice and generous."
Formerly known as Burma, Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia, bordering China, Thailand, Laos, India and Bangladesh. The country has a population of 54 million, and its government is a parliamentary system with a bicameral legislature. In the legislature, 25 percent of members are appointed by the military, and 75 percent are elected by the people.
Dr. Julie Olberding
On May 22, Dr. Julie Olberding met with 24 leaders from 24 countries participating in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The IVLP is the U.S. Department of State's "premier professional exchange program" that brings current and emerging leaders in other countries to the United States so they can experience the country firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships.
These delegates -- representing countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Central and South America -- were focused on leadership and management of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Olberding talked with them about efforts at Northern Kentucky University and other universities to enhance students' knowledge and skills in nonprofit management and, at the same time, support and improve nonprofit organizations in the "real world." These efforts include student philanthropy, service learning, and capstone projects.
In addition to our MPA program, the ILVP delegation met with representatives of other organizations in the Greater Cincinnati region including the World Affairs Council - Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, Leadership Council for Nonprofits, and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful. Also during their three-week visit, delegates traveled to other cities such as Washington DC, New Orleans, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Seattle.
Started in 1940, the ILVP has brought more than 200,000 people from about 200 countries to the United States. Numerous participants have gone on to become presidents, prime ministers, and other world leaders such as Carlos Mesa (President of Bolivia), Julia Gillard (Prime Minister of Australia), and Tony Blair (Prime Minister of the United Kingdom).
Dr. Olberding had met with another IVLP delegation a few years ago to discuss volunteerism and volunteer management. "It's a tremendous honor to connect with these global entrepreneurs, managers, and leaders," she said. "I appreciate learning from their unique experiences, interesting perspectives, and creative ideas."
Drs. Nicole Dillard and Darrin Wilson
Dr. Nicole Dillard and Dr. Darrin Wilson were selected for Collaborative Faculty-Student Project Awards. Granted by the NKU College of Arts and Sciences, these awards provide funding for "collaborative, learner-centered research and creative endeavors between NKU faculty and students."
Dr. Dillard's project focuses on women of color leaders in the field of public administration, particularly how they lead an engaged workforce. She and Marsha High, MPA student, will approach this study through the lenses of intersectionality, leader identity, and psychological safety.
Dr. Wilson's project examines the connection between asset-based community development (ABCD) and sustainable local economic development. He and MPA student, Rosie Polter, will develop a model determining if and how the redevelopment of historic buildings -- which are considered physical assets in many regenerating neighborhoods -- fulfill the goals of sustainable local economic development.
Dr. Darrin Wilson
Dr. Darrin Wilson spent part of Spring Break at the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Annual Conference in Washington, DC. He gave a presentation called "Civic Pride in the Co-creation and Co-production of Community Branding." It was based on service-learning projects in his Local Government Management class (PAD 675, pictured above) during the Fall 2018 semester, involving the cities of Bellevue and Ludlow, Kentucky.
Co-authors include Dr. Ryan Salzman, NKU professor and Bellevue City Council member, and NKU MPA alumna Elishia Chamberlain as well as a number of students from the PAD 675 class. The students are Tom Elfers, Marsha High, James McManus, Danielle Ott, Taylor Schafer, Nikki Williams, Jeremy Worley.
Talk about co-creation and co-production! Well done, Team NKU MPA.
Drs. Marcos Misis, Danielle McDonald, Jae-Seung Lee
Drs. Marcos Misis, Danielle McDonald, and Jae-Seung Lee (left to right) are working on a project to study the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program in the Butler County (Ohio) Probate Court. This "rock star" research team was recently awarded a grant for a student to assist with the project.
Butler County's AOT program is considered a model by court officials across the state of Ohio and across the nation. It was designed for individuals with mental illness who have ended up in court mostly because they have created a disturbance due to their condition. The program allows a judge, working with a clinician and the family, to order monitored treatment in the community as an alternative to jail.
A key goal of this study is to gain a better understanding of the AOT program's clients, including their successes and failures, and to identify potential ways to improve the program. The Butler County court judge and magistrate keep a book with detailed information about every individual in the AOT program. Drs. Misis, McDonald and Lee – with help from a student – will enter and analyze the book's quantitative and qualitative data.
Dr. Misis teaches and advises in the MPA program as well as the undergraduate Criminal Justice program. Drs. McDonald and Lee teach and advise in the CJ program. (Dr. McDonald is also the Assistant Chair of the Department of Political Science, Criminal Justice, and Organizational Leadership.)
Dr. Darrin Wilson
MPA Professor Darrin Wilson recently wrote a column for the Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) web site. He shares some thoughts and ideas on attracting talented people – especially talented young people – to work in local government.
In case you aren't familiar with ELGL, it's a national nonprofit organization with a mission "to engage the brightest minds in local government," partly by providing timely content on its web site and a local government job board. The organization is committed to encouraging joy in public service, fostering authentic and meaningful connections, welcoming new ideas and technology, and expecting equity and inclusion.
Dr. Melissa Moon
Dr. Melissa Moon co-authored a study of two types of responses to active shooting situations – a traditional lockdown approach and a multi-option approach and it was published in the Journal of School Violence.
The traditional paradigm involves teachers and students finding cover in a classroom and locking the door, while the multi-option paradigm allows for evacuating the area, creating barricades and, in last-resort situations, actively resisting the shooter. Based on drills, this study found that the multi-option approach was more effective in terms of the situation ending more quickly and fewer people being "shot."
Dr. Moon has taught the Research Methods (PAD 615) and Data Analysis (PAD 616) classes in our MPA program. She definitely practices what she teaches!
Dr. Julie Olberding
MPA Director Dr. Julie Olberding was interviewed on WVXU about her book Social Enterprise and Special Events: Market-Based Approaches to Mission-Driven Gatherings. Listen to the podcast here!
Dr. Darrin Wilson recently published a study on economic diversification in Appalachia in the International Journal of Economic Development, and he co-authored a study on unclaimed property management with Dr. Derek Slagle (University of Arkansas at Little Rock) in the Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting and Financial Management. Currently, Dr. Wilson is working on various research projects including how the Great Recession influenced local government fiscal policy and how economic diversity correlates with the fiscal health of local governments.
Dr. Wilson taught our Foundations of Public Administration (PAD 500) this Summer, and he invited Cincinnati Assistant City Manager Sheila Hill-Christian as a guest speaker. For his Local Government Management (PAD 675) class this Fall, he is plans to provide students with the opportunity to apply course content to real world problems in order to make a positive impact on communities in the region.
Dr. Shamima Ahmed recently wrote a chapter for the book "Governing in a Global World: Women in Public Service." Her chapter is titled "Women in International NGOs: Status, Challenges, and Opportunities." It is based on interviews with several female leaders in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in different countries. It identifies challenges that these women have faced in their leadership roles as well as opportunities for new and prospective female leaders to excel in these organizations.
The "Women in Public Service" book was edited by Maria D'Agostino and Marilyn Marks Rubin, and it was published by Routledge. Chapters were written by noteworthy public administration scholars, such as Camilla Stivers and Mary Guy, as well as global political leaders such as Silvana Koch-Mehrin, who is a former member of the European Parliament.
The journal Community Development recently published a study by Dr. Julie Olberding – with co-author Dr. Whitney McIntyre Miller – on collaborative development efforts by two neighborhoods in the City of Cincinnati. The study examined the short-term and longer-term outcomes of inter-neighborhood meetings, including the identification of assets, challenges, and strategies. A survey of participants found that the meetings enhanced: 1) their interest in community engagement; 2) their behavior in terms of attending community events, shopping at local businesses, and informing friends and neighbors about their community; and 3) positive relations between the two neighborhoods.
Dr. Olberding is an associate professor in NKU's MPA program, and she has been serving as program director for eight years. Dr. McIntyre Miller was an assistant professor in NKU's MPA program – and its undergraduate Organizational Leadership program – when they initiated this study; now she is at Chapman University in Orange, CA. The two professors have worked together on other research related to community and economic development in urban neighborhoods.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15575330.2017.1419272?journalCode=rcod20
Dr. Shamima Ahmed has been selected for the Fulbright Specialist Program! This is a huge honor for Dr. Ahmed, our MPA program, and Northern Kentucky University.
The Fulbright Specialist Program sends U.S. faculty and professionals to serve as expert consultants on institutional planning, faculty development, curriculum and related issues at academic institutions in other countries for a period of 2 to 6 weeks. In order to be selected to this prestigious program, academics and professionals must have significant experience in their respective disciplines or fields.
Dr. Ahmed has been granted a tenure of three years in the Fulbright program, and she is now eligible to be matched with projects designed by host institutions in 150 countries. Her areas of expertise, to which projects would be matched, include non-governmental organizations (NGOs), nonprofit management and public administration. We hope that she is selected to participate in one or more interesting projects in one or more interesting countries.
Congratulations, Dr. Ahmed! Again, this is a very big honor, for which you are very deserving.
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