1st Edition
The Craft of Teaching in Public Affairs Instructors Reflecting on the Tools and Tips of their Trade
This book explores the art and science of teaching in public affairs programs by asking top instructors to discuss their tools and tips for the trade.
Public affairs is a discipline that builds scholarly knowledge but also trains and educates public administrators to improve their careers, organizations, and communities. Instructors in public affairs programs at the university level therefore play a vital role in safeguarding the governing capacity of public bureaucracies and nonprofits, and it is crucial that their teaching is effective. Containing chapters written by award-winning teachers, grounded in first-hand experience and supplemented with education research, this book offers guidance to new and veteran instructors alike on what works (and doesn’t) in public affairs classrooms. Topics covered include teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, teaching non-traditional students, promoting inclusivity in the classroom, managing classrooms, teaching effectively online, and defining student success in the classroom, among other themes.
This book will be of keen interest to instructors currently teaching courses on public administration, public policy, and nonprofit management, as well as PhD students looking to enhance their teaching skills.
1. Introduction and Setting of the Stage
William Hatcher, Beth M. Rauhaus, Bruce D. McDonald III
Section I: Developing Skills for the Craft
2. Surveying the Literature on Being a Successful Teacher in Public Affairs
William Hatcher, Beth M. Rauhaus, Rhucha Samudra
3. Teaching Undergraduate Public Affairs Students
Madinah F. Hamidullah
4. Teaching Public Affairs Students at the MPA Level
Sara R. Rinfret, Michelle C. Pautz
5. Mentorship and Inclusive Teaching in Public Administration
Meghna Sabharwal
6. Teaching Effectively Online
Saman Afshan, Honey Minkowitz, Bruce D. McDonald III
7. How to Teach Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
Sean A. McCandless, Mary E. Guy
8. Third Culture Professors
Kim Moloney, Mehmet Akif Demircioglu, Kohei Suzuki
Section II: Becoming Experts in the Craft
9. Becoming an Expert in the Craft
Norma M. Riccucci
10. Becoming an Expert Teacher: Turn it Inside Out
Rosemary O’Leary
11. Teaching with an Informed Mind and Relentless Curiosity
Stephen Page
12. Learning How to Teach, Teaching How to Learn
Camilla Stivers
13. Practicing Curiosity as an Instructor, a Scholar, and an Individual
William Hatcher
14. Becoming an Engaged Instructor in the MPA Classroom
Beth M. Rauhaus
15. Learning to Be a Teacher
Bruce D. McDonald III
16. Concluding Thoughts on the Craft of Teaching
William Hatcher, Beth M. Rauhaus, Bruce D. McDonald III
Biography
William Hatcher is Professor of Political Science and Public Administration and Chair of the Department of Social Sciences at Augusta University, USA. He serves as the co-editor of the Routledge series on Public Affairs Education. His research has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Public Affairs Education, Public Administration Review, American Journal of Public Health, and American Review of Public Administration. He is the author of The Curious Public Administrator (Routledge, 2022).
Beth M. Rauhaus is Professor and Department Head in the Department of Political Science at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA. She recently served as the MPA Program Coordinator at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. Much of her research explores gender representation, equity, and diversity in the public sector. She currently serves on the editorial board for the American Review of Public Administration, Journal of Public Affairs Education, Administrative Theory & Praxis, and Public Personnel Management.
Bruce D. McDonald III is Professor of Public Budgeting and Finance and Director of the School of Public Service at Old Dominion University, USA. He also serves as the editor-in-chief of Public Administration, co-editor-in-chief of the Public Finance Journal, and editor of both Routledge’s Public Affairs Education Book Series and Routledge’s Public Budgeting and Finance Book Series. His research focuses on public budgeting and finance in the context of social equity budgeting and the fiscal health of local governments. His research has appeared in journals such as Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Public Administration Review, and the American Review of Public Administration.
“There has never been a more crucial time for us to teach at the apex of our expertise. The Craft of Teaching in Public Affairs delivers tangible, thought-provoking pedagogical insights for any good public affairs instructor who wants to be great. This is a must read for the modern classroom.”
Hillary J. Knepper, Professor/Associate Provost for Student Success, Pace University, USA
“This is an excellent resource for faculty interested in honing the craft of teaching Public Affairs. While there are journals that cover the topic, this outstanding book from respected public administration faculty across the globe condenses years of research knowledge about teaching public affairs into an easily accessible guide for faculty and graduate students. This is a must for PA faculty and Ph.D. programs in Public Affairs/Administration.”
Doug Goodman, Professor & Director, School of Public Administration, University of Central Florida, USA
“The Craft of Teaching in Public Affairs fills a major gap in our knowledge about teaching in public affairs, an applied field that influences outcomes significant to societies worldwide. As I read the book, I warmed quickly to three features—its comprehensiveness, reliance on evidence, and inclusion of sage advice from award-winning public-affairs teachers. I am grateful to have this book in my collection. It is a great tool for learning about my most important role, teacher.”
James L. Perry, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA
