Research

My research agenda is situated at the intersection of public administration education, curriculum design, collaborative governance, and public trust in institutions. Using both applied and empirical methodologies, my scholarly work examines how academic preparation aligns with contemporary public service demands, how institutional structures shape social equity, and how community-level dynamics influence public trust and legitimacy. This research agenda is organized around three primary, intersecting strands.

1. Public Administration Education, Curriculum Alignment, and Pedagogical Innovation

A central focus of my scholarship is examining the alignment between academic training and the evolving practical demands of public service practice. My primary curriculum analysis project, Bridging Public Administration Education and Practice, investigates the competencies required in contemporary public service to propose adaptive, evidence-based instructional design strategies that prepare graduate students for applied, interdisciplinary, and collaborative public sector work. This educational research extends into innovative media integration, including a project developing and testing satirical case studies—utilizing The Simpsons—to teach core human resource management, leadership, and organizational behavior concepts in an engaging and accessible manner. This specific body of work reflects a developing trajectory toward externally funded pedagogical research and curriculum development.

2. Public Trust, Collaborative Governance, and Applied Justice

Complementing my pedagogical work is an active empirical portfolio focused on public trust, policing, and community-level legitimacy. Through my multi-study dissertation, "Intersecting Justice Theories: A Framework for Understanding Trust in Law Enforcement," I examine the complex relationships between public trust, media coverage, and police legitimacy. Utilizing survey and interview data from Raleigh, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina, this work integrates multiple dimensions of justice—such as procedural, interactional, and social justice—to analyze how media consumption, community interactions, and police actions impact civic cooperation and crime reporting. I also engage in practice-facing, interdisciplinary collaboration with Criminal Justice faculty to evaluate and develop co-responder police training programs.

3. Equity, Identity, and Public Institutional Design

My scholarship critically engages with questions of equity, representation, and management within academic and public organizations. I am conducting an empirical and qualitative study on the structural and cultural barriers facing neurodivergent PhD students, incorporating personal testimonies and survey data to highlight the need for inclusive academic working and learning environments. This strand also includes a published case study examining social equity within the academic administration-politics dichotomy, and planning for an upcoming project investigating administrative strategies, organizational culture, and service delivery in public library systems.

My research has been supported by competitive internal funding, including two University of Arkansas at Little Rock Signature Experience Grants—which supported student-centered applied research, including the Arkansas Policy Podcast. My research has been disseminated nationally, including presentations at the Southeastern Conference for Public Administration (SECoPA) and an invited webinar for the American Society for Public Administration’s (ASPA) Student and New Professionals Series.

I am an Assistant Professor of Public Administration at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. I hold a Ph.D. in Public Administration from North Carolina State University, as well as an M.P.A. and a graduate certificate in Arts and Cultural Management from the College of Charleston. I also have a degree in Documentary Studies and Production (B.A.) from Ithaca College. My work as an academic and public servant is driven by the desire to generate insights that inform both study and practice of public policy and management.

I have served as the editorial assistant of the Journal of Public Affairs Education. Currently, I serve as a Chair of the American Society for Public Administration’s Section for Women in Public Administration and Vice Chair of Section for Public Affairs Education. I am also a member of my local ASPA chapter and was named a 2020 ASPA Founders Fellow.

I have diverse experience in regional planning, higher education, and nonprofits in the public sector. Notably, I contributed to the North Carolina Workforce Development Leadership Initiative, developing and implementing a professional training program for leaders in workforce and economic development, leading to the Certified Workforce Developer designation. 

Most recently, I worked for Central Pines Regional Council, a member-driven organization connecting communities and enhancing strategic outcomes through regional policy, collaboration, and technical assistance. As part of the Member Support & Strategy Team, I supported ongoing initiatives, improved public sector workplaces, facilitated data-driven decisions, and leveraged federal and state policies. This work is based on the belief that our region prospers when we unite with a shared vision and plan for the future.

To read more about my work, I provided my CV below. 

More recent updates can be found on LinkedIn and Google Scholar.