Research
Professional Reports
“Themes from Focus Groups and Client Interviews for the New Hanover County Departments of Public Health and Social Services.” (2013). Prepared for the New Hanover County Health and Human Services Organization & Governance Study Group.
“High School Drop-Out Focus Group Themes: Interpretation of Results.” (2010). Prepared for the Education Action Team of the New Hanover County Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence. March 25.
“Blueprint for Impact: A Health and Human Services Needs Assessment for the Cape Fear Region.” (2005) Commissioned by the Cape Fear Area United Way and conducted by the Capstone Class of the UNCW Master of Public Administration Program. May 3.
“Regional Growth Summit: Summary of Remarks: (1999). Report on conference sponsored by the Department of Political Science at UNC-Wilmington, November 17.
“A Study of Compliance with Executive Order 11246 at Methodist Hospital Systems, Inc.” (1996). Prepared for Methodist Hospital Systems.
“Count of Homeless Population in Memphis” (1995). Prepared for the City of Memphis, Division of Housing and Community Development (Co-Principal Investigator on grant).
“Survey of the Homeless and Special Needs Populations in Memphis: (1995). Prepared for the City of Memphis, Division of Housing and Community Development (Co- Principal Investigator on grant).
“Survey of the Homeless and Special Needs Populations in Memphis” (1993). Prepared for the City of Memphis, Division of Housing and Community Development (C0- Principal Investigator on grant).
“Summary of Transition Team Task Force Presentations” (1991). Prepared for the City of Memphis, Office of the Mayor (requested by Mayor-elect W.W. Herenton to observe and report on “State of the City” reports presented by transition team task forces).
“First-Year Evaluation of the Work Incentive Demonstrations” (1985). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (co-authored).
Conference Presentations
Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Political Science Association, Raleigh, NC, February 22, 2013
Presented paper: “Scholarly Engagement at a Regional University: The Case of QENO.”
Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Political Science Association, Raleigh, NC, February 22, 2013
Presented Paper: “Values-Based Decision Making: Fact or Fiction.”
2012 Southeastern Conference on Public Administration, Coral Springs, FL, October 4, 2012
Presented paper: Organizational Culture and Values-Based Decision Making”
2011 Southeastern Conference on Public Administration, New Orleans, LA, October 6, 2011
Presented paper: “Issues Related to School Dropouts: Focus Group Results”
2010 UNCW Adult Scholars Government Day, February 18, 2010
Presented: “Big Questions Facing American Government”
The 2009 American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), Miami, Florida, March.
Member of panel on “Collaboration Revisited: Lessons from the Real World—Bridging Theory and Practice.”
The 2006 Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECOPA), Athens, Georgia, September 29, 2006
Presented paper with MJ Kwon: “Local Government Red Tape in Personnel Decisions: A Pilot Study with Florida City Governments.”
The 2004 Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECOPA), Charlotte, NC, October 3-5.
Chaired panel and co-presented paper: “The Holy Grail of Relevance: Searching for a Relevant MPA Curriculum.”
The 2004 National Conference of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), Portland, OR, March.
Presented paper, “Crisis in the Catholic Church: Lessons for Public Administrators.”
The 2003 Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECOPA), Savannah, GA.
Chaired a roundtable of MPA Directors on challenges facing MPA programs.
The 2002 Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECOPA).
Chaired a graduate student panel on current issues in the field of public administration.
The 2001 National Conference of the American Society for Public Administration, Phoenix, AZ, March 23-26.
Presented two papers: “The Historical Context of Ad Hoc Regional Alliances” (part of The Paul Van Riper Symposium) and “Teaching Public Administration Online: Reflections of a Skeptic.”
The 2001 Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECOPA), Baton Rouge, LA, October 11-14.
Formed and chaired roundtable discussion of MPA Directors from the southeastern U.S. on challenges facing MPA programs.
The 2000 Annual Southeastern Conference on Public Administration, Greensboro, NC, October 4-7.
Presented paper entitled, “Regionalism: Implications for the Smart Growth Movement.”
The 1999 Southern Political Science Association Annual Conference, Savannah, Georgia, November 5.
Presented paper entitled, “Welfare Reform in Southeastern North Carolina: Smoke, Substance, and Unanswered Questions.”
The 1998 Annual Southeastern Conference on Public Administration, Pensacola, FL, January 21-23, 1999.
Presented paper entitled, “Welfare Reform in North Carolina: Devolution and the Politics/ Administration Dichotomy.”
The 1998 Annual Public Administration Teaching Conference, Colorado Springs, CO, March 15-18.
Presented paper entitled, “How Handbooks in the Field of Public Administration are Viewed by Practitioners.”
The 1997 Annual Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECOPA), Knoxville, TN, September 25-27.
Presented report entitled “Building an Urban Management Concentration in an MPA program.”
The 1996 Annual Conference of the National Association of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), Denver, CO, October 16-19.
Presented paper entitled, “The Memphis Capstone Experience.”
The 1996 Annual Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECOPA), Miami, FL, October 3-5.
Presented paper entitled, “Serving the Homeless: Public Administration as Science, Process and Art.”
The 1996 Annual Public Administration Theory Conference, Savannah, GA, February 21-23.
Presented paper entitled, “Artificial Intelligence and Administrative Discretion: Questions to Ponder.”
The 1995 Annual Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECOPA), Savannah, GA, October 5-7.
Convened roundtable discussion on teaching citizen participation and empowerment in MPA programs.
The 1994 Annual Southeastern Conference on Public Administration (SECOPA), Lexington, KY, October 5-7.
Presented report entitled, “Anticipating Change: Strategic Planning at a VA Medical Centers.”
The 1993 SECOPA (Southeastern Conference on Public Administration) Conference, Cocoa Beach, FL, October 6-9.
Presented paper entitled, “Administering in the Public Interest: Contemporary Implications.”
The 1993 National Conference on Teaching Public Administration, St. Louis, Missouri, March 25-27.
Presented paper entitled, “Collaboration Between Academics and Practitioners in Public Administration.”
The 1992 National ASPA Conference, Chicago, IL, April 11-15.
Presented at workshop on Career Development in the Public Sector.
The 1992 SECOPA Conference, Montgomery, AL, October.
Presented paper entitled, “Schein Revisited: Applicability of Career Anchor Theory to the Public Sector.”
The 1992 National Conference on Teaching Public Administration, Charleston, S.C., February 6-8.
Presented paper entitled, “The Public Interest: Making It Real.”
The 1989 Public Sector Division Doctoral Consortium, the Academy of Management Annual Meetings, Washington, D.C., August 12-13.
Selected to participate in two days of discussions on the dissertation process and the choice of methodology and its implications.
The Twelfth National Conference on Teaching Public Administration, Charlottesville, VA, March 14-16, 1989.
Presented paper entitled, “Case Studies in Public Administration: Linking Theory to Practice.”