Public Administration, Grounded in Practice
I'm a professor of public administration at Cal State Fullerton. I teach, write, and build partnerships at the intersection of environmental policy, public management, and institutional change, with a focus on how agencies respond when the ground shifts under them.
Research
I study how institutions adapt to climate disruption, fossil fuel dependence, and emerging technologies. Current projects look at oil and gas oversight, equity in state climate investments, real-time policing tech, and how blockchain fits (or doesn't) with democratic accountability. My work appears in journals such as Environmental Policy and Governance, Policy Studies Journal, and Administrative Theory & Practice.
Teaching & Public Service
I teach courses in public administration, policy process, and collaborative governance for undergraduates and graduates, many of whom are working professionals preparing for public leadership. I try to keep the work rigorous and practical, tied to the challenges people face in cities, counties, and community organizations.
I grew up in the South and now live in California. I still find time to hike, fish, think about democracy, and read The Bitter Southerner . Public service isn't abstract to me—it's personal, political, and deeply human work.
Current Work
I'm leading or co-leading projects on:
- Directing Cal State Fullerton's MPA and undergraduate PA programs
- Regulatory performance in oil and gas states
- Climate investment implementation and inter-agency coordination
- Administrative resilience under democratic stress
- Blockchain, surveillance tech, and the reshaping of public authority