Environmental Policy ·
Public Purchasing, Political Priorities, and the Promise of AI
New research by SPA Professor Nicole Darnall examines the future of sustainable public procurement.
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The cornerstone of SPA's success is its esteemed faculty, comprised of prolific scholars, researchers, lecturers, executives, and ambassadors – all leaders in their field. They delve into the complex and pressing issues of our time, yielding real-world, practical solutions for pressing problems. Read below for our latest research highlights organized by topic.
Featured Research News
Criminology ·
Police Reporting After Sexual Assault
Issue Brief: New work by SPA Assistant Professor considers the predictors of reporting among victims who seek medical forensic care.
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Political Science ·
Does Ranked Choice Voting Work for Local Elections?
SPA professor considers whether, how, and under what circumstances RCV supports voter expression.
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International Global Policy and Administration ·
Buying Hearts and Minds, Securing Blue Helmets
Policy Brief: How UN Quick Impact Projects affect Violence against Peacekeepers
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Policy Analysis ·
The Future of Public Administration under Political Dysfunction
SPA Policy Brief: SPA Professor Ken Meier provides practical steps for policymakers and agency leaders looking to minimize systemic fallout.
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Health Policy & Management ·
Prenatal Industrial Pollution and Lifelong Economic Harm
SPA Policy Brief: new research by SPA Professor Claudia Persico explores the risks of prenatal industrial pollution.
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Criminology ·
Police Reporting After Sexual Assault
Issue Brief: New work by SPA Assistant Professor considers the predictors of reporting among victims who seek medical forensic care.
Full Story
Health Policy & Management ·
Pregnancy Exclusions in Advance Directives: A Post-Dobbs Equal Protection Argument
Issue Brief: In a forthcoming article, SPA Senior Scholar in Residence Jessica Waters and alumna Madelyn Adams (MPA, ‘25) propose an additional equal protection argument to bolster existing arguments against pregnancy exclusions.
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Featured Publications
- Fiction and misinformation: evaluating anti-establishment sentiment and trust in news outlets through fictional storytelling, DaVisio, Kaitlyn; Malet, David; Miller-Idriss, Cynthia; Dashtgard, Pasha; Daymon, Chelsea;
- “There She Is, Your Ideal”: Negative Social Comparisons and Health Behaviors, Carpenter, Christopher S; Churchill, Brandyn F;
- The Counterinsurgency Dilemma: Foreign Fighter Influence on Insurgencies in Afghanistan and Somalia, Bacon, Tricia L;
Browse by Category
Criminology
Examining the causes of crime and the the operation of the criminal justice system.
Environmental Policy
Conducting research on both policy processes and the effects of environmental issues on health and well-being.
Health Policy & Management
Analyzing the connection between public health disparities, racial inequality, and how economic insecurity can exacerbate public health issues.
Homeland Security Policy
Researching current issues facing U.S. law enforcement, intelligence, and homeland security agencies.
International Global Policy & Administration
SPA faculty across departments produce interdisciplinary research on global policy and administration challenges.
Nonprofit Management
Focusing broadly on organizational behavior of public, nonprofit, and socially entrepreneurial organizations.
Policy Analysis
Evaluating the implementation of public policy and its outcomes on society.
Political Science
Dissecting systems of government and analyzing political activity and behavior.
Public Finance and Budget
Analyzing how governments generate and use public funds to provide goods and services.
Public Management and Leadership
How governments at all levels can effectively deliver goods and services to diverse populations across policy areas.
Social Policy
Illuminating pressing social problems, inequities, and potential policy solutions to the most pressing issues of our day.
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SPA Hosts Five Research Journals
SPA now hosts five journals that span public affairs, government, and law subject matter. Our faculty expertise is a draw for these journals, and we are honored to play a leadership role for these excellent publications.SPA Summer Academy
SPA Summer Academy Scholars underrepresented among public affairs faculty receive quality feedback on research projects and mentoring advice on strategic planning of an academic career.