You Asked, We Answered: 2023 Annual Conference Call for Proposals Deadline Extended!

We received so many requests to extend our Call for Proposals for the 2023 Annual Conference that we are granting them. You have until this Friday, November 11 to submit your paper, panel and workshop proposals!

We were delighted to hold the 2022 Annual Conference in person this past spring and know our attendees were gratified to see their friends and colleagues after such a long pandemic quarantine. We also appreciate the desire to continue in person next year. That said, as organizations like ours continue to cope with the residual effects of the COVID pandemic—hotel jam-ups, extremely limited availability and demand-driven cost increases due to postponed events that we could not pass along to our attendees—we must host our 2023 conference online.

That said, know this: We will use technology to our fullest advantage, providing the opportunity for those who cannot typically attend in-person events to engage their peers in more than 200 sessions. And, we will be working to introduce in-person touch points with our members throughout 2023. And, of course, we will be back in person for the 2024 conference in Minneapolis.

Your participation means more this year than ever before. The threats to democratic norms in the United States and around the world are known to all of us. The time has come for public administration—as a profession—to shore up our resources, steer the conversation and provide avenues to reinforce democratic principles for current and future generations. Many voices must contribute to these efforts. Ours must be at the forefront.

ASPA’s 2023 Annual Conference will bring together practitioners, scholars and students from around the world to continue a century-old tradition of bridging research and practice to develop new frameworks, share best practices and showcase new scholarship.

Recent years have shown weakening democracies amidst a global pandemic that has taken millions of lives and increased inequalities that have existed for decades, if not centuries. Now, emerging global economic volatility has begun to affect nations through inflation and recessionary concerns. Issues considered problematic before are now crises; what were crises are now catastrophes. Notwithstanding noteworthy successes in saving lives from COVID-19, improving aging infrastructure and placing renewed emphasis on social justice and racial equity, we also have seen significant backsliding toward autocracy, oppression and ignorance. Even more, the debate between individual freedom and authority undercuts basic societal necessity and rational government structure. Now is the time to loudly and publicly proclaim our commitment to democratic norms and practices, not only in the interest of good governance but to ensure they continue in the near and long term. Public administration “done right” is a beautiful thing. We must celebrate it and showcase its successes.

ASPA’s Annual Conference is the ideal forum for the varied and diverse voices within the public administration community to share information, invite others to learn alongside us and advance excellence in public service. During plenary lectures, concurrent panels, symposia and other forums, we will plan for a more democratic and equitable future.

Seven tracks will shape the discourse, providing focused space to concentrate on current research and practice to help those in the field take the necessary steps for future successes:

• Good Governance and Democractic Norms
• Public Service
• Social Equity
• Global Challenges
• Emergency Management and Public Health
• Environmental Sustainability
• Infrastructure and Finance

ASPA Slate of Nominees Announced

ASPA is pleased to announce the following individuals have been approved by the Nominating Committee to have their names on this year's election ballot:

District 1

• Michael Ahn

• Marlon I. Brown

• Ronald Sanders

• Merlene-Patrice Bourdeau-Quispe
• Weston Burrer

• Drew Brassfield
• Rex L. Facer, II
• Juliet Lee

• Jennifer Martinez-Medina
• Mary A. Smith

• Pan Suk Kim

• John Bartle
• Miriam Singer

E-Learning at Your Fingertips

ASPA staff work tirelessly to keep your skills up to date and the information flowing all year long through our e-learning program. Visit our website to see more details about upcoming KeepingCurrent, BookTalk and Students and New Professionals series programming.


BookTalk: What Should We Do?
November 22 | 1 p.m. EST

Presenter:
Peter Levine, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Lincoln Filene Professor of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Tufts University, Jonathan Tisch College of Civic Life

People who want to improve the world must ask the fundamental civic question: “What should we do?” Although their specific challenges and topics are enormously diverse, they often encounter problems of collective action (how to get many individuals to act in concert), of discourse (how to talk and think well about contentious matters) and of exclusion. To get things done, they must form or join and sustain functional groups and, through them, develop skills and virtues that help them to be effective and responsible civic actors. Good civic action requires insights from these three traditions of theory and practice. We need a synthesis of them that also addresses the challenge of scale: How to preserve intentional, ethical, collective action when millions or billions of people are involved.




From the Archives
KeepingCurrent: The Power of Surveys in Performance Management
Evidence-based performance management offers an enormous opportunity to improve public services. Two senior-level evaluators from Idaho's nonpartisan Office of Performance Evaluations discussed how they use surveys to enrich available program data and conduct independent evaluations in Idaho, which has been called a "data-free zone." Attendees learned about situations when surveys can help address challenges in performance measurement.

ASPA Opens 2023 Founders' Fellows Application Window

ASPA's Founders' Fellows program is accepting applications for its 2023 class! Geared toward accelerating careers of young public administrators, doctoral students and new researchers, this is ASPA's most competitive Fellowship program of the year and provides results that could last throughout your career. Whether you fit one of these descriptions or know someone who does, start thinking now about applying for one of our 20 available spots (or nominating a student for one).

The Founders' Fellows program recognizes the exceptional accomplishments and future potential of the next generation of public servants in the academic and/or practitioner communities. The 2023 class will demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and professional promise.

All applications are due to ASPA by November 28, 2022. Click here to access the application form. Fellows receive the following benefits:

• Guaranteed acceptance to present their research as part of ASPA's 2023 Annual Conference, online March 20-24, including complimentary registration
• A year-long mentorship with a senior mentor in the discipline, matched with each Fellow based on academic and professional interests
• Tailored professional improvement webinars that address their specific educational and professional needs

• Contact information and relevant biographical details
• An outline of career and research interests
• A resume or curriculum vitae
• A personal statement
• An analytical essay (details are provided within the application form)
• A letter of recommendation from your nominator, who must be an ASPA member

ASPA Engaged Research Committee Hosts Workshop This December!

Earlier this year, ASPA launched a new committee focused on engaged research in public administration. To begin its work, the committee is inviting all ASPA members to attend a webinar and learn from the current and aspiring engaged scholars in our field.

This interactive virtual workshop for scholars will take place December 6 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. EST.



During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the committee's work and opportunities to engage, connect with fellow engaged researchers, share insights on challenges and opportunities they have faced in advancing engaged research and outline future directions for ASPA in this area. We will use interactive online tools to provide a productive and engaging experience.

Engaged research, while often overlooked, is critical to public administration and public service around the world due to its impact on communities and policymaking. Those engaging in applied research solve real-world problems for and with communities. Engaged research can be designed to integrate the knowledge of researchers and communities, draw insights from context and promote collaboration to enhance the relevance and usability of research. Engaged research advances theoretical, methodological and practical impacts. The Donald Stone Lecture at ASPA's 2022 Annual Conference, “Who is Waiting for Your Research?”, offers useful context and background on this topic.

The Engaged Research Committee aims to elevate engaged research within the ASPA community and public service broadly. It will undertake activities to demonstrate how engaged scholarship and evidence-informed policymaking inform administration. In addition to this workshop, the committee is planning activities for ASPA's 2023 Annual Conference; gathering exemplary published articles featuring engaged scholarship; and highlighting case studies demonstrating how engaged research has been invaluable in contributing to communities, policy, practice and more.

We hope you will join us for this event on December 6 to share your experiences and learn more about this important topic!

ASPA Awards Program Accepting Nominations

ASPA’s Awards Program is your annual opportunity to nominate someone to be recognized as one of public administration's dedicated public servants.

• Do you know a current or former city official who has dedicated themselves to the public good?
• Do you know an unsung scholar who produces excellent research?
• Do you know a public official who has stood up for equity and integrity in government?
• Do you know someone who has bridged the academic/practitioner divide and encouraged best practices because of it?
• Do you know someone who is all-around excellent?

• National Public Service Award
• Nesta M. Gallas Award
• Gloria Hobson Nordin Social Equity Award
• Public Integrity Award
• Elmer B. Staats Lifetime Achievement Award
• Paul P. Van Riper Award
• Donald C. Stone Service to ASPA Award

In Memoriam: Alexander Heckman

Long-time ASPA member Alexander Heckman passed away this past August. He lived a life of service, leadership and compassion for almost 50 years, including boundless devotion to family, community and public service.

Heckman joined ASPA in 2001 and played an active role in Chapters, Sections and other groups throughout his tenure. He chaired the Section on Public Administration Education, served on its board and served as president of the Central Ohio Chapter for a term. He also was active within national programming, attending conferences, webinars and more. He received ASPA's Walter Mode Scholarship in 2008.

As a professor and department chair for public administration at Franklin University, Heckman guided future Ohio leaders to positively impact their communities. His commitment to strong civic leadership extended beyond his college career to include service on the Westerville, Ohio board of education and city council for many years, pursuing equity, connectivity and sustainability in his community. Throughout his tenure, he championed many successful projects and laws including a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis and legislation protecting the rights of members of the LGBTQ community. Heckman consistently worked to protect marginalized people, including serving as a voice for children who were victims in their own homes by being sworn in as a CASA Guardian ad Litem.

Heckman was a voracious reader, '80s hair metal fanatic and, above all else, a loving and devoted father to Alise, Ava and Arden. While the community will remember his leadership and activism, those who loved him most will remember his handstands, varsity kicks, quoting random song lyrics (all the time), hunting for free coffee, keeping refrigerated leftovers, love of Seinfeld, exploring random festivals and historic sites, collecting over 100 hats, cheering the Buckeyes and habit of reading every page of every newspaper he touched, no matter how old.

Heckman was a force of good in this world who used his words and actions to make life better for friends and strangers. His own life was the definition of public service. He will be missed.

Find the full obituary online here.

Public Administration Today Highlight



Public Administration Today features white papers, research and blogs from across the profession. This edition's highlight looks at city planning! If you're interested in more—especially your own curated news feed in your inbox every week—visit the website, create an account and check off your interest areas so you can stay up to date about the latest research being released!

What Google’s Sidewalk Labs Ignored About Building A City
Before Sidewalk Labs targeted Toronto for its “smart city” project, it found 1,307 acres of land near downtown Detroit where its team believed they could carry out their utopian vision. There was just one problem.

PAR Symposium Call for Papers: Reviews to Reimagine and Rejuvenate Theorizing

Although reviews of scholarly literature can play an important role in reimagining and rejuvenating scholarship and pedagogy, reviews also can serve to reinforce existing understanding, thereby blocking avenues of progress. From a metascience perspective, reviews should indeed provide a synthesis on a subject but should also be critical of how we as researchers “do” research to encourage continuous development of our scientific repertoire—both in terms of theory development and methodological rigor. Breslin and Gatrell (2020) use the miner-prospector metaphor to distinguish creative and original review approaches from the standard systematic review. Increasingly, there have been calls over the last few years to reorient reviews to question taken-for-granted scholarly understanding and use reviews to reimagine and rejuvenate extant understanding and break disciplinary boundaries.

PAR’s pages have featured many creative and original review articles and the goal of this symposium is to add to this corpus of high-impact reviews. As a discipline, we need reviews to systematize existing knowledge in order to understand this knowledge better and create new ideas. To stand on the shoulders of giants does not necessarily prevent progress, but it takes some courage to go beyond summarizing what others have found and even more courage to suggest a fundamentally different organizing principle.

Public Administration Review invites manuscripts that survey scholarly literatures and promote new insights. Manuscripts will be subject to an editorial evaluation followed by PAR’s peer-review process. Manuscripts will be assessed according to review scope goals, and execution—of broad interest to public administration scholars and practitioners; clear articulation and execution of review goals; review methodology—replicable and transparent review methodology; and review contribution—contribution to reimagining and rejuvenating extant understanding. Manuscripts should be submitted online, choosing “Symposium Article” as the article type at the time of submission. In the comments to the editor, please note that the article is intended for the “PAR Review Symposium 2023.” All proposals are due by February 15, 2023. Click here to view the full Call for Papers.

National Civic League All American City Competition Open

The National Civic League is accepting applications for the 2023 All-America City Award. Since 1949, the All-America City Award has recognized communities that leverage civic engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness and innovation to successfully address local challenges.

The 2023 All-America City Award will recognize 10 communities that are working to improve the health and well-being of young people, with particular attention to efforts that engage young people in this work. Democracy thrives when all residents are active and engaged in the policies and decisions that shape their lives. In 2023, the National Civic League is seeking to identify communities that are breaking down barriers to meaningful youth participation and enacting programs that will improve quality of life for youth, and all residents, by extension.

Optional letters of intent to apply are due on December 15, 2022, and applications are due February 15, 2023. Twenty finalists will be named in March 2023 and invited to assemble a community team to present their work at the All-America City Award event in Denver, CO, June 9-11, 2023.

For additional information, watch this informational webinar and download the 2023 application.

Tips and Resources

Biden Administration Relaxes Rules for Student Debt Forgiveness
The Biden administration is moving forward with an overhaul of several student debt forgiveness programs, aiming to make it easier for borrowers to get relief if they are duped by their colleges or if they put in a decade of work as public servants.

Why Some Leaves Change Color in the Fall
NPR's Short Wave podcast spoke to botanist and plant ecologist Tanisha Williams about why some leaves change color in the Fall.

Please Stop Licking Psychedelic Toads, National Park Service Warns
(In case anyone needed to see this...)

Blood Moon 2022: Photos Show Moon Turning Rusty Shades of Red
A photo scroll of the recent lunar eclipse.

In the News

Today's headlines contain plenty of news coverage of some of our nation's most pressing public administration challenges. ASPA has curated some of the most important stories from recent weeks. If you have not seen these yet, make sure you read them now!

Infrastructure

• Why Are U.S. Transit Projects So Costly? This Group Is on the Case.
• Russia Linked to Nearly 75 Percent of Late 2021 Ransomware Attacks, Per Analysis
• Four Critical Infrastructure Sectors to Get New Cyber Rules, Per White House Official
• Voting Machine Myths Likely to Increase During and After Midterms, Report Finds
• Former CISA Head Calls for Renewed Action to Combat Election Lies

• Federal Contract Spending Decreases Again in Fiscal 2022

• Federal Employee Advocates and Scholars All Are Urging Congress to Enact Anti-Schedule F Legislation
• New Data Shows Feds’ Pay Is Lagging Even More Behind Private Sector Counterparts
• Sen. Kaine Is "Optimistic" an Anti-Schedule F Bill Will Get a Floor Vote This Year
• The Postmaster General Tells USPS Employees to Keep Upcoming Workforce Changes "in Perspective"
• More Than a Dozen States Have Activated the National Guard to Secure Midterm Elections

• To Get Safety-Net Programs Right, Include the People They Serve in Their Design
• Two Practical Approaches to More Equitable Government Spending

Members in the News

The Future of State and Local Government Jobs
By Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene
This is the first of a three-part series.

The Future of Government Jobs: Change Is Inevitable
By Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene with Bob Lavigna
Part two of a three-part series.

The Future of Government Jobs: No Field Will Be the Same
By Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene
Part three of the three-part series.

What Would a GOP Takeover of the House Mean for the Oversight Committee?
Featuring Don Kettl

Askew School of Public Administration and Policy Celebrates 75th Anniversary
Congratulations to FSU's public administration school for this milestone!

Division or Patriotism: The American Public Role in Defending and Sustaining Democracy
By James Christian B. Blockwood

Early Voting Turnout Breaks Records across South Carolina
Featuring an interview with ASPA Immediate Past President Kendra Stewart

Tell Me Something Good...

Need some good news in your world? Check this out (who doesn't love animals?):
Two New Elephants Just Arrived at the National Zoo—Babies Could Be Next
The Smithsonian's National Zoo has two new residents: a mom-and-daughter pair of Asian elephants. The 19-year-old Trong Nhi and 9-year-old Nhi Linh arrived in D.C. late Sunday night after a transatlantic flight, and are currently being quarantined at the zoo. If all goes well, a baby elephant or two could also soon be on the way, zoo officials say.
(P.S.: While not a requirement, this is public administration news. The Smithsonian is owned by the U.S. government; its zoologists and other caretakers are public servants!)
 

Welcome New ASPA Members!
Click here to view the most recent new ASPA members!

Around Public Administration

Here are the most recent updates from across the profession. Did we miss you? Send us your news and we'll include it in the next round!

Upcoming Events:

• Western States Virtual Career Expo
  Online | November 15, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
  Co-hosted between the Partnership for Public Service and the Volcker Alliance
  Registration is open
  
  
• AAPAM 41st Roundtable Conference
  Cape Town, South Africa | December 6-9
  Registration is open
  
  
• ASPA 2023 Annual Conference
  Online | March 20-24, 2023
  Find the Call for Proposals online; all proposals are due November 4
  
  

• JNPSM Call for Editors
  Taylor and Francis is looking for a new editor-in-chief for the Journal of Nonprofit and Public Sector Marketing (JNPSM) with a strong academic background and publishing experience as well as the enthusiasm and vision to drive the journal forward. The successful candidate will be responsible for editorial oversight and decisionmaking on submissions to the journal and will have authority to accept articles following successful peer review. The editor will uphold the highest standards of scholarship for the journal and ensure that reviewers and authors adhere to the journal’s Code of Publishing Ethics. Taylor & Francis will support the new editor in all aspects of the role such as providing training and support on all editorial processes and systems including ScholarOne, which manages the peer-review process. We will provide the editor with regular journal performance data to inform strategic decisionmaking and offer guidance on strategic journal development, publishing ethics and developments within the publishing landscape. Taylor & Francis will provide remuneration for the role to cover any journal-related expenses. Becoming the editor of a journal is a rewarding and fulfilling experience where the chosen candidate will build networks, promote the research and be recognized as a leading figure within the academic community. It is a significant role with a high profile, but one that we believe is compatible with an existing academic timetable. The successful candidate should apply immediately and be prepared to assume the role as soon as possible. Click here for more information.
  
  
• IJPA Call for Papers
  Organized by ASPA's Section on Emergency and Crisis Management, the International Journal of Public Administration (IJPA) invites proposals for a special symposium: "Public Administration during times of conflict: Impacts on governance and service delivery." Conflicts worldwide, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflicts in Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen, are increasing. There remain gaps in public administration and management scholarship relating to studying and understanding conflicts and their impacts on governing and service delivery. Conflicts often are protracted and complicated, compounding administrative burdens in ways we cannot always anticipate or fully comprehend. Their complexity, uncertainty and unpredictability make it difficult to study them, and their evolving and undefined nature complicates effective and timely public policy and administration treatment. This symposium collection seeks to redress some of these challenges. The journal welcomes research syntheses, international and comparative pieces, evidence from practice, quantitative research articles, single and comparative case studies, conceptual papers and literature reviews illustrating a particular practice or solution to the public administration and management challenges in conflicts. This symposium collection welcomes papers using analytical methods or mathematical modeling placed under public administration theoretical frameworks and models. All submissions are due by November 15, 2022. Click here for more information.
  
  
• Call for Nominations: SPAR Best Book Award
  ASPA's Section on Public Administration Research (SPAR) invites nominations for its 2023 Best Book Award, welcoming nominations for books on public administration published in 2021 and 2022. Books nominated should significantly contribute to research in public administration; all research methods are welcomed, as are books across the full range of public administration research. Books primarily written as textbooks and edited volumes will not be considered. The Section welcomes international publications written in English; only books contributing to public administration research and theory will be considered. This recognition will be awarded at ASPA's Annual Conference in spring 2023. All nominations are due by December 1, 2022. Please contact award committee Chair Angela Paez with any questions.
  
  
• Public Budgeting and Finance Call for Editors
  Public Financial Publications, Inc., a nonprofit corporation sponsored by the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management and the American Association for Budget and Program Analysis, invites applicants for a new editor of its quarterly, peer-reviewed journal, Public Budgeting and Finance. The call is open to a single editor or a team of editors. The current editors' term ends on December 31, 2023. The term as editor is for three (3) years and may be renewed once. Public Budgeting and Finance serves as a forum for the publication of research on all facets of government and nonprofit finance. Its purpose is to provide a meaningful dialogue among scholars and practitioners in public budgeting and finance. The search committee seeks an editor with a national reputation as a scholar in public budgeting and finance with a commitment to enhancing scholarly research and encouraging practitioners to share their insights and experiences. Nominations should be directed to the chair of the search committee. Applications for the position should include a statement of vision and editorial goals for the journal, a letter of institutional support and a CV. To receive full consideration, completed applications should be submitted to the chair of the search committee, Melissa Neuman, by December 15, 2022.
  
  
• International Social Science Journal Call for Editors
  Wiley is seeking an editor-in-chief and a team of associate editors for the International Social Science Journal (ISSJ) to start in early 2023. ISSJ bridges social science communities across disciplines and continents with a view to sharing information and debate with the widest possible audience. Originally founded by UNESCO in 1949, ISSJ has since grown into a forum for innovative review, reflection and discussion informed by recent and ongoing international, social science research. This is a pivotal time for ISSJ and the successful candidates will have the opportunity to shape the journal’s new Aims and Scope. The editor-in-chief will oversee the journal’s growth and development; a successful candidate will have an extensive global network of contacts and will be recognised internationally for their work in their field. We welcome applications from candidates from the following subject fields: business and management; communication and media; economics; education; environmental studies; policy; public administration; or sociology. Previous editorial experience is preferred. The ideal associate editor candidate will have broad and extensive knowledge in their field, excellent communication skills and the ability to work to tight deadlines. Previous editorial experience would be desirable but is not essential. Successful candidates will need to be able to devote a number of hours each week to the journal. There is an annual honorarium for each role. Candidates should submit their CV and cover letter to Anna Savage, journal publishing assistant, by December 31, 2022, though please be advised that earlier applications will be prioritized. Contact Anna for the full Call for Editors.
  
  
• Institute for Peace and Dialogue Call for Participants
  The Institute for Peace and Dialogue has issued a newly launched three-month executive diploma program, with special modules of instruction and experienced trainers to give participants field-based education, wide professional experience and fruitful networking, appropriate for a variety of positions. This program targets titles including manager, program coordinator, human resources officer, case manager, mediator, public relations manager, mentor, coacher, arbitrator and more. Modules are "Leadership, HR Management, Coaching and Project Management" and "Peacebuilding, Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediation, Conflict Management, International Security and Law." Participants may join either module. Applications are due beginning February 10, 2023, depending on your module of choice. Scholarships are available. Click here for more information.
  
  
• National Capital Area Chapter Issues Student Essay Contest
  The National Capital Area Chapter (NCAC) has established a student essay contest to encourage new thinking and thoughts to advance the practice of public administration and public policy. This essay contest also was established to help advance the development of future public administrators. The essays should focus on one of the following topics: social equity, intergovernmental relations, the future of government workforce, public engagement, community collaboration, new technologies and community resiliency. All entries are due by March 17, 2023; only NCAC student members are eligible to enter. Contact NCAC for full submission guidelines and other details.
  
  

PA TIMES Online

Here's a selection of current pieces on PA TIMES Online, covering a range of issues within the profession. We accept individual articles on a rolling basis; if you have a piece you think would fit our publication, submit it to [email protected] for consideration. (Please review our submission guidelines in advance!)

• We Need More Fellowships in Public Affairs Academic Programs
  By Laila El Baradei
  
  
• Surviving the Divide—The Dichotomy in Today’s Public Administration
  By Patrick S. Malone
  
  
• Studying Intergovernmental Relations During and After Crisis
  By Nevbahar Ertas