Faculty Research Experts

The faculty members in our Department of Public Administration focus on local governmental and nonprofit organizations, publishing in the top journals of our field such as the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Administration & Society, and Public Administration Review (PAR). Based on their research and education, our faculty members have expertise in budgeting and finance, civic engagement and citizenship, emergency management, nonprofit organization management, organizational management, program evaluation and performance measurement, and urban and regional planning.

Faculty members have written several books and articles related to public budgeting in addition to teaching the latest techniques in their courses. The application of budgeting and finance principles to local governments and nonprofit organizations is stressed by our faculty members. Current research is being conducted by Dr. Wang on the financial health of local governments nationwide.

Peter Colby pwcolby@mail.ucf.edu

Matthew Collins mcollins@mail.ucf.edu

XiaoHu Wang xwang@mail.ucf.edu

Civic Engagement and Citizenship

The Department of Public Administration faculty conduct community-based research on civic/citizen engagement.  Dr. Naim Kapucu, as Director of the Capacity Building Institute, interacts with community organizations to provide technical assistance on organizational effectiveness to community based small nonprofits.    Dr. XiaoHu (Shawn) Wang has conducted financial feasibility and impact studies for local communities, involving citizens and citizen groups in making critical fiscal decisions.  Dr. Thomas Bryer’s research has focused on the various roles citizens have played and can play in all stages of the policy process.  He has explored this issue through community-based action research in which he has sought to enhance government-citizen relations, character profiles of leaders who have demonstrated innovative ways to work with citizens, and through theory development.

Faculty Experts:

Thomas Bryer  tbryer@mail.ucf.edu

Naim Kapucu nkapucu@mail.ucf.edu

Ronnie Korosec rkorosec@mail.ucf.edu

XiaoHu (Shawn) Wang xwang@mail.ucf.edu

The area of emergency management and homeland security provides extensive opportunities for faculty member's research to cover the comprehensive disaster management cycle (emergency planning, mitigation, response, and recovery), economic development, information systems, and transportation. Dr. Naim Kapucu has written extensively on homeland security and emergency management, while working with FEMA and other federal agencies. Dr. Kuotsai "Tom" Liou has written on economic development as part of the disaster management recovery stage, and Dr. Wendell Lawther has extensively studied transportation issues.

Naim Kapucu nkapucu@mail.ucf.edu

Kuotsai (Tom) Liou kliou@mail.ucf.edu

Wendell Lawther lawther@mail.ucf.edu

The growing field of nonprofit management encompasses many different areas of administration that have been tailored to fit the sector. Privatization is the cross-over between the public administration and nonprofit management, and several faculty members -- Drs. Korosec, Lawther, and Martin-- have written on privatization and nonprofit contracting. The role of nonprofit organizations in emergency management has been researched by Dr. Kapucu. Volunteer management is an area unique to nonprofit management, in which Dr. Feldheim, in partnership with students, has conducted research. Dr. Bryer has studied the relationships between nonprofit, for profit, and public organizations, specifically the issues of contract, network, and conflict management.

Thomas Bryer tbryer@mail.ucf.edu

Matthew Collins mcollins@mail.ucf.edu

Naim Kapucu nkapucu@mail.ucf.edu

Ronnie Korosec rkorosec@mail.ucf.edu

Wendell Lawther lawther@mail.ucf.edu

Mary Ann Feldheim mfeldhei@mail.ucf.edu

Larry Martin lmartin@mail.ucf.edu

Public Management

This broad area has been researched by several faculty members focusing on best practices and the ethics of public service. Drs. Feldheim and Liou examined the impact of downsizing on the public sector, and Drs. Wang and Feldheim developed a cadre of ethical indicators by which to assess an organization. Dr. Kapucu's research has focused on collaborative public management, administrative reforms and structural adjustment reforms, New Public Management and organizational response in emergencies. In addition, Drs. Lawther and Korosec have studied organizational management through privatization and outsourcing. Dr. Korosec has written extensively about strategic planning, and she has facilitated the strategic planning process with several agencies in the central Florida area.  Lastly, Dr. Bryer has written about the unique role of public managers and how they must negotiate responsiveness between multiple, potentially conflicted demands. 

Thomas Bryer tbryer@mail.ucf.edu

Naim Kapucu nkapucu@mail.ucf.edu

Ronnie Korosec rkorosec@mail.ucf.edu

Wendell Lawther lawther@mail.ucf.edu

Tom Liou kliou@mail.ucf.edu

Mary Ann Feldheim mfeldhei@mail.ucf.edu

XiaoHu Wang xwang@mail.ucf.edu

Program Evaluation and Performance Measurement

Several of our faculty members are doing exciting work in this area. Dr. Wang has done extensive research in the area of performance measurement, and he is considered by many to be a leader in the field of performance measurement. Dr. Martin is lead researcher for the Florida Benchmark Consortium, which is becoming a model for other states in comparative local governmental evaluations. In the area of program evaluation, Dr. Liou has worked with numerous students in the preparation of program evaluation plans for local organizations.

Kuotsai (Tom) Liou kliou@mail.ucf.edu

Larry Martin lmartin@mail.ucf.edu

XiaoHu Wang xwang@mail.ucf.edu

Urban and Regional Planning

This growing area of research and interest of our faculty reflects the changing needs of local governments to deal with growth issues in a proactive way. Dr. Jay Jurie has been involved in planning activities in central Florida for the last 20 years, and he has helped to educate hundreds of students on the basics of urban and regional planning. Dr. Korosec's research in the areas of information systems and environmental policy enhances the expertise of the faculty in this area.   Dr. Lawther has written extensively on transportation issues and Dr. Liou is a recognized expert in economic development.  Dr. Bryer has studied the role of citizens in the planning process, which is a role that has gained additional significance with rapid growth throughout Florida.

Thomas Bryer  tbryer@mail.ucf.edu

Jay Jurie jurie@mail.ucf.edu

Ronnie Korosec rkorosec@mail.ucf.edu

Wendell Lawther lawther@mail.ucf.edu

Kuotsai (Tom) Liou kliou@mail.ucf.edu