In This Issue:

• NAPA Looks for a New President and CEO
• Miami-based Public Administrator Passes Away
• ASPA Forum on the Future of Higher Education One Week Away
• Webinars, BookTalks and Student Series on the Horizon
• Founders' Fellows Application Deadline Less than Three Weeks Away!
• Public Administration Review RFP Expires Sept. 30
• ASPA 2017 Annual Conference Registration Open: Take Advantage NOW
• Member News for PA TIMES Magazine
• NECoPA 2016 Just Around the Corner
• Public Integrity Symposium Announced
• SWPA Announces Awards Call, National Conference Scholarship
• Delaware Chapter Announces Awards Dinner
• PAR Update
• New on PA TIMES Online
• New on the ASPA Blog
• Career Resources

NAPA Looks for a New President and CEO

Dan Blair has announced he will retire after five years as president and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA). The organization is now looking for his successor. NAPA's congressional charter gives it a broad mission to help improve the manner in which public purposes are pursued. This position opening comes at a time when established systems of governance are increasingly in question and in need of fresh approaches.

Interested individuals and potential candidates can find a position description for the job on the NAPA website, along with a paper describing the range of governance challenges facing the nation. The search is being led by Mark Pisano, a professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and a NAPA board member.

Miami-based Public Administrator Passes Away

Ramon (Ray) De Arrigunaga, an active member of ASPA's South Florida Chapter, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 17. Ray taught public administration for the University of Miami for many years, first as a part-time instructor and later as a full-time lecturer.

A retired U.S. Airforce Lieutenant Colonel active with the Air Force Association, he had more than 3,400 hours of military flying time, of which more than 700 were in combat.

He was a good friend and valued colleague and made substantial contributions to the Miami-Dade County government, as well as through Chapter and national ASPA leadership. He will be missed.

ASPA Hosts Forum on the Future of Higher Education
In Partnership with Public Administration Review and Arizona State

Please join us for a free forum exploring the challenges higher education institutions face. "Public Administration Perspectives on the Future of Higher Education" will take place Oct. 4, 2016, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. This event will include two panel discussions around this issue, with a reception to follow.

Distinguished academicians and administrators will discuss current challenges from research-based and hands-on perspectives, particularly looking at how colleges and universities fulfill their primary social value objectives. They will include:

• Michael Crow (Arizona State University)
• Derrick Anderson (Arizona State University)
• Geoff Cox (Stanford University)
• H. George Frederickson (University of Kansas)
• Ann Khademian (Virginia Tech)
• James Perry (Public Administration Review)
• Bob Shireman (Century Foundation)

Panelists will address such topics as:

• Measuring performance
• Ensuring emergent models' success
• Empowering critical human capital
• Managing public value

Join 100 people already registered for this event. Attendance is free but registration is required. Visit our website for more details and registration information.

Please contact ASPA chief of communications Karen Garrett or events manager Asmait Tewelde with questions.

Webinars, BookTalks and Student Series on the Horizon

ASPA's professional development webinars are ongoing throughout the year. Averaging 85 attendees per webinar and free to ASPA members, these e-learning opportunities provide you with valuable insights and information at your fingertips. Here's a quick look at upcoming opportunities. Make sure you register today for sessions that interest you and visit our website to review further details about all upcoming webinars, BookTalks and Student Series.


ASPA's New Website—Stepping into the 21st Century
Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016, 1 p.m.
Presenters:
Karen Garrett, ASPA
Erik Bergrud, Moderator, Park University

ASPA's new website has brought the organization and its digital audience into the 21st century. From updating previous material to adding new features, this site is now a one-stop-shop for all of your ASPA and public administration needs. This webinar will show you around, highlight some of the staff's favorite features and give you the opportunity to pose questions to ASPA staff. #1999to2016




Summiting the Peak: A Discussion with Denver's Peak Academy Team
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, 1 p.m.

ASPA and its Center for Accountability and Performance bring you this enlightening discussion, providing you with an opportunity to ask experts about how they are changing the culture of the city of Denver by investing in their people and building tremendous capacity to compete in the 21st century.




BookTalk: Designing the New American University
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, 1 p.m. ET
Presenter:
Michael Crow, Arizona State University

America's research universities consistently dominate global rankings but may be entrenched in a model that no longer accomplishes their purposes. With their multiple roles of discovery, teaching, and public service, these institutions represent the gold standard in American higher education, but their evolution since the 19th century has been only incremental. The president of ASU discusses a new and complementary model that offers accessibility to an academic platform underpinned by knowledge production is critical to our well-being and economic competitiveness.




Student Series: Writing a CV
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016, 1 p.m.

Ever the popular topic, ASPA's Student Series will focus on helping students and new professionals craft their CV. Dos, don'ts and musts will all be covered!

Founders' Fellows Application Deadline Less than Three Weeks Away!

Those interested in submitting a 2017 Founders' Fellows application are running out of time. All applications and nominator forms must be submitted by Oct. 14, 2016.

A Founders' Fellowship provides up-and-coming public administrators with exceptional support, networking opportunities and professional resources to focus on their career and position themselves for future success. Through work with mentors, other Fellows, development webinars and program benefits, Founders' Fellows experience significant professional advantages that make a clear difference in their career tracks.

You must be nominated to be considered for the program. Click here to access the application form.

Just a few of the benefits include:

• Complimentary registration at the Annual Conference, where they present their research
• An exclusive mentorship with senior mentors who are matched with them based on academic and professional interests
• Tailored professional development webinars that address specific educational and professional needs
• Personal and professional development through their senior mentor match

Only 25 candidates will be accepted for next year's class and the review process is rigorous. Please ensure the materials submitted are high quality and demonstrate the strength of the candidacy.

Visit our website for more details, click here to access the application and contact ASPA membership coordinator Michael Silliman with questions.

Public Administration Review RFP Expires Sept. 30

This is your final week to submit your proposal to be considered as Public Administration Review (PAR)'s next editor in chief. The Request for Proposals expires this Friday, Sept. 30, 2016.

PAR is ASPA's flagship professional journal and the editor in chief is one of ASPA's most visible leadership roles. ASPA is looking to the next editor to continue the strides made in the past several years.

Earlier this summer, ASPA conducted two webinars to answer all questions about the proposal process and the day-to-day necessities of serving as PAR's editor. You can access those presentations here. If you or a colleague have been considering submitting a proposal to serve as PAR's Editor in Chief, make the most of these resources.

Remember: proposals are due no later than this Friday, Sept. 30, to ASPA Chief of Program Operations Lisa Sidletsky. Contact her at 202-585-4312 with questions.

ASPA 2017 Annual Conference Registration Open: Take Advantage NOW

ASPA's 2017 Annual Conference is less than six months away and our special discounted rate is open! Register by Oct. 31 and receive the lowest fee available: $399 for members.

Taking place at the Atlanta Sheraton next March 17-21, this is public administration's premier event of the year. The 2017 Annual Conference theme, "Saluting the Public Service: A Bold and Noble Profession," will focus on how public administration at all levels of government—both domestically and internationally—works to build a better society.

Eleven session tracks will focus on critical public administration topics through the lens of the bold and noble work our discipline undertakes throughout the year. Track subjects will include social equity, comparative public administration, budget and finance, public administration theory and more.

The Annual Conference website can provide you with a variety of event details; we are updating it regularly with planning information, special event highlights, ongoing programs and more. Please visit the registration page for our list of registration fees and more information, as well as the link to register. While you're there, visit the hotel details page for information about our host hotel and a link to secure your room.

We look forward to seeing you in March! Register today and guarantee yourself the lowest rate possible for this stellar event!

Member News for PA TIMES Magazine

As ASPA prepares to print its Fall edition of PA TIMES magazine, now is the time to send us any member news you'd like to include!

Promotions, leadership announcements, retirements, tenure details and more are all welcome. Please send them to PA TIMES managing editor Karen Garrett for consideration. Member news items must be received by Oct. 6, 2016, to be considered for the Fall edition.

Hiring announcements and other news for the Recruiter section are treated as advertisements and will be sold as such. Contact ASPA's advertising partner, Ascend Integrated Media, for assistance.

NECoPA 2016 Just Around the Corner

The registration for the 2016 Northeast Conference on Public Administration, "Public Administration in the Era of Collaboration," being held Nov. 11-13, is now open. The conference is being held at the Crowne Plaza Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel, located at 2nd & Chestnut Street in downtown Harrisburg, Penn. Click here to read more.

Public Integrity Symposium Announced

Public Integrity seeks paper proposals for a special symposium, "Cultural Competence, Accountability, and Social Justice: Administrative responsibility and the legitimacy of American democracy." Abstracts should seek to challenge the status quo and help move the field from an academic and practitioner perspective toward cultural competence, accountability and responsiveness to all citizens. Click here to read more.

SWPA Announces Awards Call, Annual Conference Scholarship

Do you know an outstanding public manager, scholar or long serving public servant? Nominate them for a National Award from ASPA's Section for Women in Public Administration (SWPA). Nominations will be accepted until Jan. 10, 2017, from all ASPA members or other members of the professional community. Additionally, SWPA's Annual Conference Scholarship program is now accepting applications. SWPA annually awards up to three $500 scholarships (Practitioner, Master's and Ph.D.) to help defray the costs associated with attending the ASPA Annual Conference. The deadline for receiving all application materials is Nov. 1, 2016. Click here to read more about the awards program and here to read more about the scholarship program.

Delaware Chapter Announces Awards Dinner

The Delaware Chapter of ASPA is holding an Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 15, 2016. The Chapter is currently seeking nominations for two awards: the Outstanding Student Public Service Award and the Public Service Award. Click here to read more.

PAR Update


Research Articles

Performance and Management in the Public Sector: Testing a Model of Relative Risk Aversion
Research has demonstrated that management influences the performance of public organizations, but almost no research has explored how the success or failure of a public organization influences the decisions of those who manage it. Arguing that many decisions by public managers are analogous to risky choice, Sean Nicholson-Crotty, Jill Nicholson-Crotty and Sergio Fernandez (Indiana University, Bloomington) use a well-validated model of relative risk aversion to understand how such choices are influenced by managers' perceptions of organizational performance. They theorize that managers will be less likely to encourage innovation or give discretion to employees when they are just reaching their goals relative to other performance conditions. Analyses of responses to the 2011 and 2013 Federal Employee Viewpoint Surveys provide considerable support for these assertions. The findings have significant implications for our understanding of the relationship between management and performance in public organizations. Link to PAR Early View

Interstate Spillovers, Fiscal Decentralization, and Public Spending on Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services
Gerel Oyun examines the interstate spillover effect of Medicaid expenditures for home and community-based services (HCBS) and tests the relationship between fiscal decentralization and public spending. Based on the theory of interstate strategic interaction, an empirical model is specified that explicitly accounts for interdependence in states' spending decisions. The model is estimated by applying spatial econometric methods to panel data for the 50 U.S. states for 2000–2010. Findings show a positive interdependence in state HCBS expenditures that is contingent on similarity in citizen ideology between states. Fiscal decentralization, measured by transfer dependence and revenue autonomy, is positively related to Medicaid HCBS spending. Link to PAR Early View

Social Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship, Collectivism, and Everything in Between: Prototypes and Continuous Dimensions
Aaron Schneider (University of Denver) uses prototypes and continuous dimensions to place social entrepreneurship in relation to other organizational forms. This approach is more fruitful than classical attempts to stipulate essential characteristics and establish boundaries. A prototype and continuous dimension approach allows consideration of the way social entrepreneurship functions similarly to and differently from related concepts, such as traditional entrepreneurship, public social services and collectivism. These categories can be distinguished according to the degree to which control over the way value is created, allocated and distributed occurs socially or entrepreneurially. This approach offers the additional advantage of making the concept more precise, as sub-dimensions clarify the relationship to practices such as volunteerism and theories such as antidevelopment. By mapping the network of organizational forms in which social entrepreneurship can be located, we can focus on the viability and advisability of different ways of solving social problems. Link to PAR Early View

Incentives in Third-Party Governance: Management Practices and Accountability Implications
Contract incentives are designed to motivate contractor performance and to provide public managers with a powerful tool to achieve contract accountability. Our knowledge of contract incentives is rooted in contract design, yet as we move beyond contract specification and further into the contract lifecycle, we know little about why and how managers implement incentives. Amanda M. Girth (The Ohio State University) assesses public managers' use of contract incentives in practice and advances theory development. A typology of contract incentives is constructed to capture a comprehensive range of formal and informal incentives, and the factors that influence managerial use of incentives are identified. The findings shed light on the complexities of maintaining accountability in third-party governance structures and the management techniques aimed at improving the performance of public agencies. Link to PAR Early View

Citizen Expectations and Satisfaction in a Young Democracy: A Test of the Expectancy-Disconfirmation Model
Citizen satisfaction with public services has been shown to depend on citizens’ expectations and their perceptions of performance. If performance exceeds expectations, satisfaction is likely; if performance falls short of expectations, dissatisfaction is likely. The existing evidence on this process covers the United States and the United Kingdom. Nicolai Petrovsky, Jue Young Mok (University of Kentucky) and Filadelfo Leon-Cazares (University of Guadalajara, Mexico) generalize the idea of expectation-driven citizen satisfaction (the "expectancy-disconfirmation model") theoretically and empirically to an institutional context of limited accountability and widespread citizen distrust. Using a survey of a broad cross-section of the general adult population in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2014, this article finds support for the expectancy-disconfirmation model in this very different context. The authors also test for an effect of the type of expectation using an embedded, randomized experiment but do not find evidence of a difference between normative and empirical expectations. Findings support the usefulness of the expectancy-disconfirmation model in a wide range of contexts. Link to PAR Early View

Does Increasing Ethnic Representativeness Reduce Police Misconduct? Evidence from Police Reform in England and Wales
Sounman Hong (Yonsei University, South Korea) examines whether representative bureaucracy improves organizational integrity using evidence from English and Welsh police forces that implemented ambitious targets to increase the share of ethnic minority officers during 2000–2010. The evidence shows an association between an increase in police force ethnic minority representation and a subsequent reduction in police misconduct. An increase in representativeness is also shown to be associated with a decrease in the share of black complainants but not with a change in the ethnicity of those subject to complaints. This evidence suggests that diversifying a bureaucratic workforce to reflect the community it serves may effectively catalyze bureaucratic integrity. In turn, improved organizational integrity influences bureaucrats' attitudes and behaviors toward minority citizens, resulting in greater satisfaction among minority constituents. Representative bureaucracy may be an effective internal means of controlling administrative power for the good of the citizenry. Link to PAR Early View

Human Interest or Hard Numbers? Experiments on Citizens' Selection, Exposure, and Recall of Performance Information
The abundance of quantitative performance information has motivated multiple studies about how citizens make sense of “hard” performance data. However, research in psychology emphasizes that episodic information (e.g., case stories) often leaves a greater mark on citizens. Asmus Leth Olsen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) tests this contradiction using multiple experiments embedded in a large, nationally representative sample of Danish citizens. The results stress three differences between statistical and episodic data. Citizens have strong preferences for statistical data when asked to evaluate an organization. However, episodic information has in some instances a stronger impact on citizens' evaluations of an organization and often is more emotionally engaging than statistics. Finally, when asked to immediately recall recent performance information about public services, citizens report more elaborate information about personalized stories and experiences than about statistics. Overall, the results raise questions about the ability of hard performance data to dominate and crowd out episodic performance information. Link to PAR Early View

For the Want of a Nail: The Interaction of Managerial Capacity and Human Resource Management on Organizational Performance
Human resource management and managerial capacity are well documented in the public management literature as integral management functions. The field has devoted attention to the importance of human resources, but it has yet to consider whether human resource management interacts with capacity in attaining organizational outcomes. Using a large-N, multiyear data set of public organizations, Erin K. Melton (University of Connecticut) and Kenneth J. Meier (Texas A&M University) seek to rectify this gap in the literature. The findings validate scholarly arguments on the importance of public organizations' need to manage human resources and capacity effectively, identifying just the right combination for performance gains. Empirical results encourage practitioners to consider the ways in which human resource management and capacity work together to influence performance but sometimes undermine each other in counterintuitive ways. Link to PAR Early View

New on PA Times Online

New on the ASPA Blog


Looking for interesting commentary on news events and contemporary issues? Check out the ASPA Blog, which features a collection of authors writing on everyday life from the eyes of a public manager, student or young professional.

Featured recently on the Blog:

Seasons of Words

Career Resources


Find your next career opportunity at publicservicecareers.org. This online job board is the perfect resource for making a career change or landing your first job in the public sector. It lists dozens of positions in academia, government and the nonprofit sector. Below are examples of current listings.

Quantitative Policy Researcher – RAND Corp – Various Locations

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Maryland

Global Higher Education Policy Internship: Latin America Focus – NASPAA – Washington, D.C.