ASPA's Eighth International Young Scholars Workshop Convenes in Budapest

ASPA's 2024 International Young Scholars Workshop (IYSW), the eighth in the series, took place in Budapest, Hungary, earlier this month, bringing together scholars from across the United States and Hungary, as well as other countries, to share their research, learn from each other and make new friends and contacts to carry into the future. This year's workshop was generously sponsored by Corvinus University in Budapest, with significant support from Gyorgy Hajnal and Edit Waffenschmid, providing ASPA with the first opportunity since the pandemic to bring a cohort together for this program.

A small annual workshop, IYSW aims to strengthen academic and social exchange mechanisms for young scholars in public policy, administration and related subfields. It provides an academically rigorous platform for presenting and evaluating research, as well as social networking, in an international forum that brings together outstanding young scholars and distinguished senior scholars who serve as mentors.

The 2024 young scholars were:

• Merlene Patrice Bourdeau Quispe (University of Minnesota)
• Zachary Curinga (Rutgers University—Newark)
• Vernise Estorcien (Indiana University Indianapolis)
• Kathryn Hickey (University of Central Florida)
• Akos Holanyi (Institute for Political Science, Budapest)
• Brittany Houston (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
• Valentine Lamar (Rutgers University—Newark)
• Viktoria Nagy (Lorand University, Budapest)
• Hang Qi (University of Missouri)
• Daniel Rudy (University of Georgia)
• Yaren Varol (HOOK, Budapest)
• William Yamoah (Office of the Vice President, Ghana)
• Jiaqi Zou (University of Toronto)

• Attila Bartha (Corvinus University, Budapest)
• John Bartle (University of Nebraska at Omaha)
• Gyorgy Hajnal (Corvinus University, Budapest)
• Jessica Sowa (University of Delaware)
• Kendra Stewart (College of Charleston)
• Harvey White (University of Delaware)

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 Student and New Professional series programming.



KeepingCurrent: Emotional Intelligence in PA: Mastering Strategic Communication Skills
July 18 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. EDT
Presenter:
Ashley Kent, Rocky Mountain Leadership Strategies

While emotions are an intrinsic part of the human experience, it is the ability to harness and guide them that truly defines effective leadership in governance. In an age characterized by misunderstanding, skepticism and mistrust, cultivating trust is paramount for the legitimacy of governance. Emotional intelligence fosters transparency, integrity and authenticity, whether forging bonds of trust between administrators and the public, or between your team's professional development needs. It paves the way for transformative change. Emotional intelligence allows administrators to navigate through conflict situations with empathy and understanding. It helps them recognize their own emotions as well as the emotions of others involved in the conflict. By understanding these emotions, administrators can approach conflict resolution more effectively.




KeepingCurrent: Undermining Our Rights: A National Emergency for the LGBTQ+ Community
August 13 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. EDT
Presenters:
Christopher Surfus, Faculty Specialist I/Lecturer, Western Michigan University
Wallace Swan, Contributing Faculty, Walden University

Accurate data on the numbers of LGBTQ+ people is very important to understanding the current climate for the LGBTQ+ community on the national, state and local levels. Chris Surfus will discuss the U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey and present demographics data on the LGBTQ+ population of the United States. This data contrasts with the recently released (March 13, 2024) Gallup poll data. The importance of this discrepancy is that the LGBTQ+ population in the United States, which is actually above 10 percent of our American population, is facing critical challenges by forces opposed to human rights. Wallace Swan will review the various attacks on the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and present opportunities for advancing the LGBTQ+ community in federal data collection.




From the Archives
KeepingCurrent: The Attack on Auditor Independence
One of the most potent ways in which cities, counties and states can fight against the absence of trust in government is through the audit function. There has never been a time within memory when creating trust in government has been such a challenge. Yet, there is a perennial threat to auditors’ independence, the bedrock of their standing in government and ability to serve their residents. It is often a battle between political expedience and self-protectiveness and the auditors’ ability to do their jobs well and without interference. What is the story behind this struggle? Listen to this webinar, which was sponsored by ASPA's Center for Accountability and Performance, via our online archives now. (Members only)

In Memoriam: Merrett Stierheim

Merrett Stierheim, former Miami-Dade county manager, died earlier this month. He was 90.

Stierheim served as superintendent of county schools, Miami’s city manager and twice as county manager—the first time in Dade County and then again after the county's name was changed to Miami-Dade. He also served as director of the county’s tourism bureau and was interim manager of both Doral and Miami Lakes, among other top roles. On Florida’s west coast, he served as city manager in Clearwater and was manager of Pinellas County before he took the top job in Dade.

Stierheim had been active in ASPA's South Florida Chapter as a speaker and in other roles, and had attended ASPA Annual Conferences in years past.

Stierheim held a master's degree in governmental administration from the Wharton Schools' Fels Institute and two honorary doctorates.

Stierheim's career oversaw some of the county's most impressive public works projects. From the construction of the Metrorail and Metromover, to the county zoo’s South Miami-Dade campus, to the 29-story Stephen P. Clark Government Center, his tenure laid the groundwork for innovative projects across the county.

Otherwise known as “Mr. Manager” for the majority of his career, Stierheim also managed the county response to some of the historic crises in Miami in the 1980s. Not only did he navigate unrest from the Mariel Boatlift, the mass exodus of Cubans from the island, but also he handled the unrest and riots that ensued in Miami after the acquittal of the four white county police officers in the beating death of Arthur McDuffie, a Black insurance agent. He also created economic engines for South Florida as CEO of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and by creating the Beacon Council.

Stierheim authored Ethical Leadership in Challenging Times in 2019. He was a mentor to many young professionals and was proud of his work with the Collins Legacy Group in the establishment of the LeRoy Collins Public Ethics Academy at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) to fund scholarships for FAU students studying public administration, as well as the many ethical issues confronting young administrators today.

Along with his wife, Stierheim is survived by four daughters, nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Find his obituary online here..

Chapter and Section Leaders: Quarterly Calls Beginning in August!

If you serve as an ASPA Chapter or Section executive committee member (chairs, presidents, chairs- or presidents-elect, secretaries, treasurers) and are looking to connect with your fellow leaders, note for your calendars that ASPA will once again be hosting member calls, starting next month.

ASPA staff polled leaders in June and took your feedback seriously: Calls will be quarterly going forward and we'll make sure to have a topic of interest for discussion!

Here's the list of calls through the 2025 Annual Conference (all taking place at 1 p.m. ET):

• August 7: Focusing on member recruitment
• November 6: Focusing on fundraising
• February 5: Focusing on social media and marketing

ASPA Members: Routledge Discounts Available!

Summer means starting reading lists and adding new books to your collection! If you find yourself interested in something from the Routledge catalog, remember that ASPA members receive a 30 percent discount off purchases.

Visit our website for more information about ASPA's partnership with Routledge and to access your code, useable when you check out from the Routledge site. And, remember to look at the ASPA book series, partnering with authors for all things "public administration." From HR to government performance to local government and beyond, the list of titles has something for everyone!

Happy reading!

Miami-Dade County Seeking Registered Voters to Serve as Poll Workers in the Community

With the upcoming elections being so important this year, the Miami-Dade County Elections Department is looking to expand its team to serve voters on Election Day! If you know someone with great customer service skills who is interested in participating in the democratic process, encourage them to be a poll worker.

• Training is provided
• It’s a great way to work alongside neighbors to serve the community
• It’s a paid opportunity; and
• If a student, community service hours are provided!

• Email: [email protected]
• Or Call 305-499-8448

JSEPA 2:2 Is Out

The most recent edition of the Journal of Social Equity in Public Administration (JSEPA) has been released. Volume 2, issue 2 includes research and reviews from an array of equity-minded scholars, covering topics such as municipal sustainability, #BlackLivesMatter, critical race theory, women's philanthropic nonprofits and more. JSEPA is open access; please share articles with your colleagues, students and social media followers.

Public Administration Today Highlight



Public Administration Today features white papers, research and blogs from across the profession. 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!

Urban Farms Are a Lifeline for Food-Insecure Residents. Will New Jersey Finally Take Them Seriously?
Via Next City: No water. Pricey permits. Urban farms in Essex County, New Jersey are calling on local governments and the state to make long-term investments in combating food insecurity. In the summertime, Montclair Community Farms transforms its less-than-10,000-square-foot lot into a space with something for everyone: a garden education program for children, a job training site for teens, and a pop-up produce market for Essex County residents.

Tips, Resources and the Fun Stuff

Lie Down, Sit Still, Take a Break: Your Brain Needs a Rest
Breaks as short as 10 minutes can boost vigor and reduce fatigue, one analysis found.

How to Avoid Falling for Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories
There’s a flood of real, misleading and fake breaking news and information online. Proceed with caution.

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

• How AI Can Help and Hurt the Environment
• DHS Says Surge of Employees to the Front Lines Is Working to Ramp Up Border Enforcement
• What the Supreme Court Chevron Decision Means for Environmental Rules
• The US Intelligence Community Is Embracing Generative AI
• As GSA Turns 75, One of Its Leading Technologists Reflects on the Agency's Mission

• In Tax Code Ruling, U.S. Supreme Court Declined to Open "Pandora's Box"
• Progress on Spending Bills Might Have Been an Illusion All Along

• Weakening Regulatory Agencies Will Be a Key Legacy of the Roberts Court
• The Supreme Court Overruled Decades of Administrative Law. What Happens Now?
• Will Recent Supreme Court Rulings "Devastate the Functioning of the Federal Government?"
• The Sweeping Impact of the Supreme Court’s Chevron Reversal
• Agencies "Knew This Was Coming." What Does—and Doesn’t—Change After Supreme Court’s Chevron Ruling
• Nearly Half of All Civilian Feds Are New Hires Since 2019
• Project 2025 and Your Federal Job: Better Read Up on This One
• Supreme Court Strikes Executive Branch Power in Trio of Rulings

• Little Progress Has Been Made in Closing Racial and Ethnic Gaps in U.S. Health Care; Federal Government Should Act to Fix Structural Inequities
• The Federal Government Just Acknowledged the Harm Its Dams Have Caused Tribes. Here’s What It Left Out.

Members in the News

The Great Salt Lake City Tax Tradeoff
By Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene

What Is Project 2025?
Long-time ASPA member Mary Guy is interviewed for this piece.

Roberts Court, a Threat to Democracy’s Future
By Sharon Davies, president and CEO of the Kettering Foundation, an ASPA strategic partner.

Tell Me Something Good...

Webb Space Telescope Keeps Delivering Cosmic Surprises
The latest made-ya-look image from the James Webb Space Telescope has arrived, and it looks like ... a penguin. A giant penguin in space. NASA officials on Friday marked two full years of scientific results from the telescope with the release of the image, which actually shows a pair of intertwined galaxies, known as Arp 142, and nicknamed the Penguin and the Egg. The first is a spiral galaxy; the second is an elliptical galaxy.

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:

• Sixth World Conference on Remedies to Racial and Social Inequality
  Sponsored by the Roy Wilkins Center, University of Minnesota
  Cape Town, South Africa | September 3-5
  Registration is open
  
  
• 2024 SECoPA
  Theme: "Transforming Public and Nonprofit Governance: Shaping Sustainable Communities for Tomorrow"
  University of Memphis | September 18-21
  Call for proposals; Registration is open
  
  
• ABFM 36th Annual Conference
  Theme: "Health Care and Public Finance"
  Cleveland State University | September 26-28
  Registration is open
  
  
• 2024 NECoPA
  Co-hosted by Pace University and Baruch College, CUNY
  New York | November 1-2
  Theme: Building a Flexible Public Service through Innovation and Collaboration
  Call for proposals; registration is open

• SECoPA Call for Proposals
  The 2024 SECoPA will take place September 18-21 in Memphis at the University of Memphis. The theme will be "Transforming Public and Nonprofit Governance: Shaping Sustainable Communities for Tomorrow," highlighting the need for innovative approaches in designing, implementing and evaluating public and nonprofit programs to address the complex challenges of our rapidly changing world. It calls for the exploration of strategies that promote sustainable development, foster social and ecological well-being, and ensure effective governance for the benefit of present and future generations. The conference aims to encourage participants to share research, insights, and best practices that contribute to the transformation of public and nonprofit governance systems and the creation of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities. The deadline has passed but conference organizers are still seeking proposals for a few tracks. Click here for more information.
  
  
• PPMR Special Issue Call for Proposals
  Public Performance Management and Review (PPMR) is seeking proposals for a special issue: "Having our cake and eating it too: Exploring the Links between Fairness and Performance." Editors are Kaifeng Yang (Rutgers University—Newark) and Ellen Rubin (SUNY Albany). Can government operate in a manner that exhibits both high procedural and distributive fairness and high performance? We often present fairness and performance as a tradeoff: Fair procedures and inclusion take time and may not result in the most streamlined or cost efficient "solutions" but they may serve to build buy-in and increase the degree to which government decisions are viewed as legitimate. The goal of this special issue is to empirically evaluate the relationship between fairness and performance. We welcome papers for this special issue exploring the fairness-performance connection that are empirical or theory-building, and quantitative or qualitative. The conception of fairness should be theoretically informed, and explorations at the micro-, meso-, or macro-level are welcome. Proposals are due August 1. Contact the editors for more information.
  
  
• NECoPA Call for Proposals
  The 2024 Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA) will be NECoPA’s 15th year of bringing together scholars and practitioners from the northeast region, the United States and internationally. Taking place in person at Pace University in Manhattan, this year's theme is "Building a Flexible Public Service through Innovation and Collaboration." The concept recognizes the advancements in digital technology as well as the intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaborations in addressing wicked public service problems while advocating for and protecting our democracy. Topic areas include but are not limited to: innovation and technology in public service; financial management and budgeting; diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in public service; public service education; and performance management and program evaluation. Proposals will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. All proposals are due by August 19, 2024. Click here for more information.
  
  
• Call for Papers: Public Works Management and Policy
  Public Works Management and Policy (PWMP) seeks novel manuscripts that connect core public administration theory (including policy and management) with modern challenges in the realm of public works. This includes relevant research from all subfields of public administration, including budgeting and finance, human resource management, performance management, policy change, policy analysis and so on, provided that it 1) connects to a core body of public administration or policy theory, and 2) is aligned substantively with the public works management focus of the journal. Recent developments in technology and governance lead to a broadening interpretation of public works management that includes traditional, novel and hybrid foci. For example, papers might examine core public management or policy challenges surrounding: transportation infrastructure, including: roads, bridges, ports, airports, rail, intermodal shipping, parks and recreation and others; utilities, including: water, sewer, waste management, telephone, cellular and internet availability and connectivity; economic development, including: industrial parks, urban redevelopment such as tax increment finance districts, or higher education capacity building; capital construction projects such as schools, libraries, prisons and jails, government offices and military installations. Each of these topics is germane to PWMP’s focus, and when addressing core conceptual questions, is welcome to be submitted for consideration. Articles we are especially interested in publishing are those that address salient and timely questions about current and emerging problems, those that examine new and innovative forms of infrastructure and their use, adaptations of existing infrastructure to new uses, and the integration of infrastructure with the softer side of government—how it is used and how it affects governance for the better or for the worse. Click here for more information.
  
  

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!)

• Lasting Impact of the GI Bill on Public Service
  By Phil Wilkerson
  
  
• Gen Z Knows It’s Important to Vote but They Need Your Help Anyway
  By Kim Sullen
  
  
• Why We Democracy
  By Lisa Saye