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The MPA Online Newsletter |
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Faculty Publications Faculty Spotlight Political
Science |
From the Director The spring and summer have zipped by and we're beginning a new year already. This fall the MPA program saw a record number of new students enroll in the program, 31 in all. The new students are settling in and beginning their classes, something you can identify with. This year also sees the MPA program developing it nonprofit track more fully. We are pleased to announce that we have four dedicated internships this year with nonprofit agencies! This complements our existing dedicated internships with local governments. We have worked particularly closely with Richland County and the City of Columbia with internships and are looking forward to other localities joining with us in the future. This past academic year the MPA program completed a self-study in order to be reviewed for reaccreditation by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. A site visit team with come to the campus in the spring to complete the reaccreditation process. Last year we offered for the first time a new practicum course taught by one of our alumni, Katherine Doucett, who is a senior staff member of the Lexington County government team. She taught an applied human resource management course that received good reviews from the students who enrolled for it. This spring we will be offering again a grants course to be taught by a new adjunct joining us, Dr. Mary Baskin Waters. Also, we heard from many of our alumni as a result of the initiation of this online newsletter. Continuing with this issue we will share some of what we learned and continue to do so in forthcoming issues. Please keep us informed of your work and accomplishments. Charlie Tyer, Director T he public administration faculty continues to be highly productive in their research and publication efforts. Below is a listing of published and forthcoming books and articles by some of the faculty within the past year.
Douglas, James “Impoundment at the State Level: Executive Power and Budget Impact.” Forthcoming in American Review of Public Administration, Vol. 34, No. 3. Co-author: Kim U. Hoffman. “Making the Case for Court Funding: The Important Role of Lobbying.” (2004) The Judges’ Journal, Vol. 43(Summer): 35-37. Co-author: Roger E. Hartley.
“Sustaining Drug Courts in Arizona and South Carolina: An Experience in Hodgepodge Budgeting.” (2004) Justice System Journal, Vol. 25, No. 1, 75-86. Co-author: Roger E. Hartley.
“Budgeting for State Courts: The Perceptions of Key Officials Regarding the Determinants of Budget Success.” (2003) Lead article in Justice System Journal, Vol. 24, No. 3, 251-263. Co-author: Roger E. Hartley.
Hays, Steven W. The University announced in 2004 that Professor Hays was named the Charles L. Jacobson Chair in Public Affairs in the Department of Political Science.
Neal Woods "Political Influence on Agency Rulemaking: Examining the Effects of Legislative and Gubernatorial Rule Review Powers." State and Local Government Review (forthcoming Fall 2004). This past summer Professors Graham, Hays and Tyer worked with the City of Columbia in a service effort to study the City's organizational structure and develop recommendations for reorganization, as well as identifying other management issues the City needed to address. In August the City Manager announced to the City Council a reorganization plan and implemented many of the recommendations. Building on this effort, the City is now working with MPA interns to study city services and finances to determine the effectiveness of services and citizen perceptions of them. Professor Blease Graham continues active involvement with the West Forum discussed in an earlier newsletter. The West Forum is a civic involvement initiative in the Department of Political Science. Based on a founding idea of Department Chair Harvey Starr in 2001 the West Forum is now entering its third year. The Forum is an active partner with the Civic Education Project headed by Professor Charlie Tyer. The Forum’s major activities focus on students. Among its recent activities have been: (1) Continuation of Discussion Seminars in Maxcy and Preston Dorms. In Spring 2004, the Maxcy Seminar was addressed by State Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal, Scott Salemee, the executive director of the Central Midlands Chapter of the Red Cross, and State Representative Shirley Hinson. In Preston, Columbia Mayor Bob Coble and state Republican Party official Katon Dawson talked about their public service careers and how they got started as volunteers. Dean Burnelle Powell of the USC law school met with Preston students in April. (2) Development of Web Page. A state-of-the-art web page has been assembled by Professor Bob Angel in conjunction with the computer laboratory in the College. It is an attractive way to learn about the West Forum as well as a conduit for West Forum educational materials. Its address is: http://westforum.sc.edu/index.html A substantial library of recorded interviews with Governor West, visitors to Maxcy and Preston, and others is available on the web page for lectures, class discussions, or informal meetings. New interviews are constantly being added. (3) Development of Political Science Course. An experimental course, POLI 391Y, Civic Participation, is underway in Fall 2004. Twenty-two students are enrolled and are involved in the study of, among other things, voting turnout, the conduct of public meetings, the role of advocacy hearings, and the workings of community organizations in civic innovation. (4) Development of ITV Program. Plans are underway to develop a series of interviews with elected officials by a panel of high school students. Named “On Point,” this program will be coordinated with the state’s Instructional Television Network for use in secondary school civics education. A pilot program is planned for November. If evaluations are positive, the series will be developed more extensively in Spring 2005.
Recent Graduates and Awards Congratulations to the following MPA graduates who graduated from the program in the Spring and Summer of 2004: Wayne Adams, Jon Baggett, Jennifer Barrett, Chandrima Basak, Richard Blackwell, Matthew Brady, Mary Brunson, Beth Campbell, Margaret Griffin, Athena King, Tiffany Kirtsey, Ingrid Mitchell, Elisabeth Ondera, Raquel Pilcek, Ernest Pringle, Jeff Shacker, Carl Snyder, Chad Snyder and Peter Tecklenburg. During April the MPA program held an Awards Day luncheon for students being inducted into the honorary society, Pi Alpha Alpha, as well as others who received fellowship awards from the Sam Carter Fund for in-service students and outstanding academic honors. The in-service award for 2004 sent to Stephanie Monroe, Planning Director of the City of Clinton and part-time MPA student. The academic award went to two students: Wayne Adams (County Administrator of Edgefield County) and Chandrima Basak, both with 4.0 grade point averages for their graduate program. Those attending the awards luncheon are pictured below.
The response of alumni to our request for information on what they are doing was great! Beginning with the last issue, we shared some of what we learned about our alumns. Picking up where we left off, here is some more news. Some of these blurbs were written by the alumns themselves which makes them even more interesting. (Items are listed in the order received.) Margaret Seidler. A 1980 MPA graduate of the program, Margaret Seidler has long recognized the value of this degree. She is an organizational development consultant and trainer. She moved back to her hometown of Charleston, SC in July 2001. Previously, she worked with SCE&G and later as a consultant with UPS, Santee Cooper, a number of local governments in the Charleston area. Margaret has extensive experience as a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Examiner for the states of SC, GA and MN. She serves on the SC Governor’s Quality Forum Steering Committee (Baldrige Awards) and trained the 2003 SC Examiners. Margaret writes: Please note that much of my OD consulting practice focuses on the public sector or regulated industry. I believe these are the toughest organization sectors of all to create a high performing work culture and I really love the challenge! Visit her website at www.margaretseidler.com to learn more of what she does. Miriam Mitchell. A 1993 graduate, Miriam writes the following: I've been an employee of Beaufort County for the past 5-1/2 years. In March 2003, I transferred to the Human Resources Department of Beaufort County, South Carolina. My title is Assistant to the Deputy County Administrator. Our new Deputy County Administrator, Loretta Shields, is an expert in employee benefits. Part of my job is to work with the Risk Manager, Jan Watts, and Ms. Shields to administer the Workers' Compensation program and I am also beginning to learn more about employee benefits. On October 30, 2003, I completed the Certified County Risk Manager Training Course (CCRM) sponsored by the South Carolina Association of Counties, which was held in Columbia. Having graduated from Beaufort High School, I found that coming home has been interesting because of the tremendous changes due to development in the area. What is amazing to me is how many of my classmates never left here, which confirms that Beaufort is a wonderful place to live. Beaufort definitely is not the same place I left and it continues to grow by leaps and bounds! I live with my 87-year old Mother and 4 cats at Gardens Corner. My daughter, Meredith, is the owner of PrimeTime Fitness on Sullivan's Island and Mt. Pleasant. Bobby Boehringer. After graduating from the MPA program at the University of South Carolina, I returned home to Pennsylvania to serve as a Pennsylvania Management Associate (PMA). The Pennsylvania Management Associate Program is the premiere post-graduate fellowship in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was designed to be similar to the Presidential Management Internship program in Washington, in that, Associates are assigned to special projects in select administrative agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction. Since the program's inception [1980], the program has produced some of Pennsylvania's top administrators. While serving as a PMA, I had the opportunity to work on a number of unique and exciting assignments to include rotations in the following agencies: the Governor's Action Team (this is a economic development entity similar to Team South Carolina), the Pennsylvania Department of State, and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Labor Relations. After completing 18 months of rotations as a PMA, I accepted a permanent position with the Governor's Budget Office. My current assignment is economic development and protection. In my position, I am responsible for the programmatic and fiscal analysis for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). DCED administers all of Pennsylvania's business development activities, and PEMA administers Pennsylvania's Homeland Security activities.
[Bobby is pictured in the photo on the left with Pennsylvania Governor Mark Scheiker upon completion of the PMA program.] In addition to the experience I have gained in the PMA program and the Budget Office, I have also been an active member in NASBO [ National Association of State Budget Officers] as well as other similar state organizations since graduation. Thus far, I have found my degree to be serving me well. Mike West. Mike is one of the earlier graduates of the MPA Program, 1977. He is currently City Manager of Johnson City, Tennessee. Previously he was an assistant city manager in the City of Columbia. To learn more about Johnson City, click here http://www.johnsoncitytn.com/ . Yeva Avakyan. A 2001 graduate of the MPA Program Yeva writes: I worked as a Program Officer at World Vision Lebanon in Beirut for a few months after graduation and now moved to World Vision Armenia in Yerevan, Armenia in the same capacity. I do lots of proposal writing (for USAID, EU, etc.) in addition to being involved in staff capacity building (training on project cycle management, PRA tools, etc.). I try to regularly update my web, which has my latest resume (and some fun stuff too :) www.avakyan.com . I started working at World Vision in Lebanon as Program Officer after graduation. Was involved in writing large grant proposals in eco-tourism, organic agriculture and health services for Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon. Transferred to World Vision Armenia little over a year ago in the same capacity and have been involved in preparing grant proposals in Health, Nutrition, HIV/AIDS, Inclusive Education, Child Protection, and Community Development for USAID, the EU, Ireland Aid, GTZ, etc. In addition to program design and grant writing I am also involved in staff training in Needs Assessment and Project Cycle Management (Logical Framework). I have also been certified as a trainer in Transformational Development and conducted training in Bosnia for participants from the Balkans, the Caucasus and the Middle East. Kathy Williams. A 1988 graduate of the program, Kathy is currently Assistant Director of the South Carolina Association of Counties (since 1986). Previously she served as assistant to the county administrator in Richland County, SC and before that worked for ten years as Executive Assistant to the Director of the SC Municipal Association. To learn more about the county association visit: www.sccounties.org Jerry Thomas. A 1994 MPA graduate, Jerry served as president of the USC MPA Student Association. Following graduation he worked for the S.C. Executive Institute, which is part of the State Budget and Control Board. He then worked in S.C. Governor's Office during the Beasley administration, and for Palmetto GBA, which is a contractor for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He is now a visiting professor in the department of government at Eastern Kentucky University. Chuck Henderson. A 1997 graduate of the MPA program, Chuck attended while working full time. He writes: Things are great, here. I’ve been with the Columbia Metro Airport for 12 years now, though it really doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. I see fellow MPA Alums from time to time and we always share a good memory or two. It really was (is) a great program, and the best thing I’ve ever done academically speaking. I’m completing an online MBA course and I have to admit the online programs are worthless compared to the actual classroom experience. I believe that graduate students tend to compete with one another and they sure don’t want to show-up to class unprepared. As a result, they’re better prepared and there’s more class interaction between students and instructors. The classes are tougher and more rewarding. That just doesn’t happen online. As an employer, if a potential employee tells me he/she has an online degree, well, that won’t get anywhere the same respect as an in-residence program. I’ve enjoyed taking a few graduate courses since my MPA experience. However, with three ‘older’ kids (12, 14 and 17) it’s harder to find quiet time around the house to study. When I was in the MPA program, my kids were in bed by about 8:00 PM leaving me at least three quiet hours in the evening to study. Today, it’s a struggle to get my kids in bed by 10:00! I have a son who is a Junior at White Knoll High School, and he is planning to attend USC in the Fall of 2006. Naturally, I’d like him to consider Harvard, Stanford, Duke, etc, but I’d be proud to have him attend USC. More to come with the next issue!!! Attention Alumni!!! We need to hear from you. Let us know about events in your life, career, etc. and we'll include that in our online newsletter to share with your colleagues around the state, country and world. Photos are welcome.
Professor Tompkins has been a fixture in the MPA
Program since 1976. After earning his BA degree from Ohio State in 1968,
he spent two years teaching at the U.S. Army Medical Field Service School
as a military trainer. He subsequently earned his MA and PhD degrees from
the University of Minnesota. Mark’s
During his career in the Department, Mark has served as Graduate Director, MPA Internship and Placement Director, and on innumerable graduate committees. He is one of the Program’s road warriors, often teaching courses in the Joint Programs in Charleston and Greenville. In addition to these many contributions, he is one of the Department’s primary sources of technical support in the area of computer hardware and software. He has directed several doctoral dissertations, including one student in Charleston who just defended her dissertation in public administration and four other Ph. D. candidates in the department, also in public administration. Professor Phil Jos, of the College of Charleston PA faculty and a former student of Mark’s while at USC, and a collaborator on a recent article published in Administration and Society, writes that Mark’s Charleston class this fall is full, eager, and only slightly shell-shocked! (Most of you can identify with that.) Mark is married to an MPA alum (Trish Jerman), who manages the Sustainable Universities Initiative, led by the state’s three research universities. Their son is completing his senior year of high school. In his spare time, he is a voracious reader, and he worries about his son’s driving record. (End of spotlight) 2004 Joint MPA Program Colloquium
On March 20th the first joint MPA colloquium for faculty, students and
alumni was held on the USC campus. Faculty and students from the
Columbia, Charleston and Clemson joint MPA programs participated. There
were presentations by Professor Robert Becker, Director, Strom Thurmond
Institute, Clemson University on urbanization and the
The program was well received and plans are underway to have another this academic year. LET US KNOW WHAT YOU’VE BEEN UP TO One of the most challenging aspects of the MPA Program is maintaining contact with the hundreds of individuals who are among our alumni and friends. To help us in this regard, and to provide past classmates with updates on your lives, we would greatly appreciate it if you would take a few seconds to provide personal and/or professional feedback. And, with the advantages of on-line technology, it couldn’t easier to give us a quick snapshot of what you’ve been up to recently. Please take a moment to write us at the following email address: Any news concerning job changes, career accomplishments, families, and geographical relocations will help us to enlarge our next account of ALUMNI ACTIVITIES and to share in your achievements. Please be sure to include an email address and/or street address in your communications, and tell us what year you graduated. And, photos are encouraged!! THANKS!!
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The University of South Carolina
primary
teaching responsibilities have been in the Public Policy area, and he has
served as the Program’s utility infielder on many occasions. Among the
courses that he has taught are Public Policy, and Public Data Analysis,
Perspectives on Public Administration, Policy Analysis, as well as a
number of programmatic electives (not to mention a wide array of course
offerings in the PhD program). He has adjunct faculty appointments in the
School of the Environment, as well as in the School of Medicine and the
School of Public Health, both of which reflect his research interest in
such topics as neonatology, perinatal epidemiology, and models of
mortality risk. Other research interests include issues surrounding
professionalism, ethics, and accountability in the public sector. Mark
has published articles in many of the most prominent outlets in the field,
such as Public Administration Review, Administration and Society,
and American Review of Public Administration.
environment
in South Carolina;
Professor William Moore, College of Charleston on parties and election
trends in SC; and Professor Robert Oldendick, Director, Institute for
Public Service and Policy Research, University of South Carolina on public
opinion in SC. Representatives from the SC City and County Managers
Association also attended and spoke during lunch about career
opportunities in local government. The president of the association is
Eric Budds, City Manager of the City of Newberry, and a graduate of the
joint MPA program with the College of Charleston. Trey Eubanks, City
Manager of the City of York (pictured on the left), also attended and
spoke to the group. Trey is a graduate of the USC MPA program. For photos
of the Joint MPA Colloquium in a PDF document,