Question & Answer

What's your favorite classroom activity?

This is such a hard question! For the sake of brevity, let's say public budgeting and finance trivia (and if I can offer another, the "Democracy Madness" bracket of 64 proposed democracy reforms I created for my state and local government class in 2020). 

What public administration/affairs/policy-related thing have you been watching?

Secret City. Gotta love a show that includes the line, "shifty-eyed, arse-covering bureaucrats..."

What did you read recently that you'd recommend to others?

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach. 

Place you can't wait to explore in Montana, and why?

Bannack! I can't believe I've lived under the Big Sky for close to 20 years and have yet to make it to the (very brief) historical territorial capital.

Tell us about a research project you enjoyed in the past...

Maybe not a traditional "research project"  but in my practice career I was part of a team undertaking a large-scale community visioning project across the northern plains (think four states, 19 sovereign nations). Getting to know communities big and small and sharing conversations about the future we want to create was the honor of a lifetime. 

Ok...if you had a magic wand, what dream project would you undertake?

I've a lot of big ideas about experimental social science research and democracy. 

Applied research is hard. Why do you care about it?

What is the point of research if it isn't to serve? Perhaps it's because I came to academia after a practice career - but I just can't see it any other way. I believe it is my responsibility as a teacher and scholar to help answer questions and find solutions that matter in our communities.