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Texas State University Public Administration Magazine 2013-2014 1 Master of Public Administration | A Message from the Director Looking to the Future by Dr. Tom Longoria CONTENTS Dear Alumni and Friends, public university offers the MPA between these major population centers. This We celebrate our accomplishments and vacuum creates a great opportunity for Program News �������������������������3 look forward to our future growth. our program. Alumni Updates ����������������������4 This spring marked the 40th Anniversary Second, we will work with public sector of the Texas State MPA program. Under employers and enlist their support in MPA Celebrates 40 Years ���������6 the leadership of Dr. Howard Balanoff, we revising our BPA program curriculum celebrated this anniversary and honored along a co-operative education model. CPM Program �������������������������8 our distinguished alumni. The mission This work will support a general increase International Engagement ����10 of the MPA program has historically in the level of engagement of MPA faculty been to educate public managers and with the BPA program. Starting fall 2016, Research Spotlight �����������������11 administrators in Central Texas. And of the BPA minor will be offered on the course this is still a major part of our Round Rock Campus. Faculty Publications ��������������12 mission. Today, we now aim to cultivate a cadre of practical, research-oriented This magazine documents faculty and ARPs Cited ����������������������������14 public managers and administrators. student scholarship and recognizes Administrative leaders are now tasked to some of the many achievements of our Program Faculty ��������������������15 be more creative and data driven than faculty, students and alumni over the New Faculty Welcome �����������15 ever as they seek out innovative solutions past year. In 2013-2014 faculty published to today’s complex challenges. During this over 14 articles, three books, and 11 Internship Information ���������17 year we will work on two major initiatives book chapters. We look forward to a that will strengthen public administration productive and successful 2014-2015 Internship Partners ���������������17 at Texas State. Academic Year! First, the MPA program will expand course Dr. Tom Longoria, MPA Director offerings on the Round Rock Campus to better serve communities between the Austin and DFW metropolitan areas. No 2 PA Magazine - Texas State University Program News Center for Research, Public Policy and Training The Center for Research, Public Policy, and Training has been active over the last year writing research grant proposals and organizing community engagement events. The Center has been contracted to conduct a na- tional survey of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, in order to examine the impact of the complete streets policies through the Southwest Region University Transportation Center and the University of New Orleans Transportation Institute. In addition to this research, the Center is conducting a community survey for the City of Hutto, and is working with the City of Kyle to evaluate city budgeting. The Center has also been active in the community through a series of local and national events. The Center co-hosted a legal public policy symposium in June, 2014, with the law firm of Denton, Navarro, Rocha, Bernal, Hyde & Zeck, P.C. In addition, the Center co-hosted Accessibility for All Ages and Abilities: Opportunities for Austin in 2013 with BikeAustin. Center Director Billy Fields also participated in a set of national policy round tables. In February, 2014, Dr. Fields participated in a national webinar on the future of urban interstates spon- sored by the State Smart Transportation Institute at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dr. Fields also partic- ipated, for the second year, in the Harvard School of Public Health Prevention Research Center national stake- holder meeting for the Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost-Effectiveness Study (CHOICES) in Boston in June, 2014. The Center will continue to pursue grant and community engagement activities during the coming year. Events will be publicized through the Center website. www.crppt.polisci.txstate.edu Charles “Chuck” Pinto, Receives Lifetime ence. He will also be responsible for coordinating Achievement Award the Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program in San Antonio, Texas. On June 27, 2014, Chuck Pinto, Texas State University Distinguished MPA alumnus and new political sci- ence department adjunct faculty member, received In Memoriam, Dr. Maxwell Cole Murphy the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas City Dr. Cole Murphy, Adjunct Professor of Public Admin- Management Association (TCMA), which recognizes istration and Criminal Justice at Texas State University the city management professional who has made sig- passed away at the age of 91 on August 21, 2014. Dr. nificant contributions to the field of local government Murphy taught leadership and management courses management for more than twenty years. Recipients in Texas State University’s Master’s in Public Adminis- of this award are nominated by TCMA members and tration Program and the Department of Criminal Jus- chosen by the TCMA Board of Directors, which is tice. He began his teaching careWer in 1972 while he made up of municipal administrators from across the worked for the Texas Rehabilitation Commission as state. its Budget and Planning Director. Dr. Murphy retired Chuck Pinto recently retired as the City Manager of from teaching in 2000. Seabrook, Texas, after a career of more than thirty A veteran of World War II, Cole Murphy was a gradu- years in local government law enforcement and city ate of The West Point Academy and served 30 years management. as an officer in the United States Army. He retired During the fall, from the Army at the rank of full Colonel. His favorite 2014 semester, sport was baseball and he spent 30 years as a volun- Chuck will serve teer umpire in the Little Leagues in Austin, Texas and as an adjunct was selected to umpire in several little league College professor and will World Series games. teach one state A Memorial Service was held at Austin Baptist Church and local govern- at 7016 Ribelin Ranch Drive in Austin, Texas on Sun- ment course for day, August 24, 2014. Donations in his memory may the Department be made to the Austin Humane Society at 124 West of Political Sci- Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752. 3 Alumni Updates 1985 James Quintero, M.P.A., was high- Alaric moved to this position after Brent Stroman, M.P.A., is currently lighted in last year’s newsletter for receiving his Master of Public Ad- Chief of Police for the Waco Texas his work as Director of the Center ministration degree from Texas State Police Department. Chief Stroman’s for Local Governance at the Texas University. Alaric has enjoyed some is a member of multiple Texas police Public Policy Foundation. This year martial arts success as well, having associations: Region 9 Director for he reports the biggest change for him recently received his Black Belt Six the Texas Police Chief’s Association, is welcoming a new member to the Sigma certification. State Representative for Local and Quintero family, a baby girl, due in Mitch Sellars, M.P.A., is currently a County Law Enforcement Agencies on October, 2014. Ph.D. candidate at the University of the FBI’s Advisory Policy Board, Past Florida, and has reached all-but-dis- President of the Central Texas Police 2009 sertation (A.B.D.) status. Mitch re- Chiefs, and Sheriff Association, and Floyd William Holder, IV, M.P.A., is ports three forthcoming publications; Founding Member of the McLennan currently a Government Instructor at one in Political Research Quarterly on 100 Club. Western Texas College in Snyder, TX. voter id laws, and two in an edited Transgender Rights 2011 volume entitled 2000 and Politics Sue Lee Flores, M.P.A., is a Program Amber Conrad, M.P.A., is currently . This past April, Mitch Analyst at the Workforce Technical an editor in the Executive Division won the H. Douglas Price Award and Assistance and Child Care division of of the Teacher Retirement System Best Graduate Student Paper Award the Texas Workforce Commission. of Texas. This summer she received from the University of Florida. She also serves on the Library Board a TRS agency-wide award for excel- John Sone, Col., USA (ret.), M.P.A., for the City of Pflugerville, and on the lence. Her current projects include is now City Manager of Woodcreek, Parent Teacher Organization Board of working on the organization’s new TX. He discontinued his work as a the Pflugerville Middle School. Sue social media strategy. She currently Government Relations consultant to is honored to have received a Star lives in Austin. concentrate on his new duties. Award from her agency this summer. Amanda Couch, M.P.A., is currently Andrew Thompson, 1st Lt., M.P.A., employed as a Senior Planner in the works in the Management Devel- 2005 Planning and Development Review Jennifer Sallee, Ph.D., is a school opment Program of GEICO and is Department, City of Austin. principal, overseeing pre-kindergar- commissioned as a First Lieutenant ten through eighth Grade. Dr. Sallee Lori Donley, M.P.A., is the Executive in the Texas Army National Guard. He completed her dissertation and Director of Literacy Texas, a statewide lives in Houston, TX. earned her Doctorate in Education literacy coalition. Before joining Travis Whetsell, M.P.A., is currently Leadership this year. She is also the Literacy Texas, she worked in Fami- mother of two beautiful girls. pursuing a PhD at The Ohio State ly Initiatives for the Texas Attorney University, The John Glenn School of General and, prior to that, was Lead- 2007 Public Affairs. Travis worked with Dr. ership Development Coordinator for Patricia Shields to publish an article Rebecca Kennedy, M.P.A., is cur- the Texas Classroom Teachers Associ- rently the Municipal Civil Service in a military sociology book. Travis ation.