Where were you working before Kent?
Before my position at Kent, I was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Arizona where I was part of a large interdisciplinary team composed of natural and social scientists working on several projects related to ecoclimate teleconnections. The team simulated, for example, how large-scale forest die-off on the West Coast impacts agricultural output in the Midwest. My part of the project involves examining how institutional, political, and network features predict the motivation or capacity of forest service personnel to adapt to these ecoclimate teleconnections or to collaborate with actors “far away.”
What is your current research?
I’m still working with my team at the University of Arizona on our Forest Service project. I’m also involved in several other research projects including one looking at the impact of collaborative governance on citizens’ perceptions of their local government and their willingness to coproduce public services. Another involves working with a team of scientists to help mitigate the impacts produced by harmful algal blooms from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie.
What did you start out teaching this [Fall 2022] semester, and what will you be teaching in Spring 2023?
During my first semester in Fall 2022, I developed one of the MPA program’s core courses, Program Evaluation, which I am now teaching in the Spring 2023 semester. In the Fall, I also taught Methods in Public Administration and am currently teaching Introduction to Public Administration this semester.
What would your dream course to teach be?
I love teaching methods courses! Two dream courses would be Environmental Policy and a course that digs into corruption in FIFA (the governing body of soccer).
What are your professional goals for the next five years?
I plan to continue my research trajectory by developing a new Ecology of Games dataset that examines the governance structure of Lake Erie. To do so, I need to procure external funding, and I want to continue building a network of folks to collaborate with. I’d also like to mentor a PhD student who is interested in work similar to mine.
Okay, now for the fun stuff. What’s your middle name (if you have one)?
Marie.
What’s your favorite type of music?
I go through random periods of enjoying totally different genres, from R&B to hip-hop to country! It depends on my mood.
What’s your favorite animal?
I love all animals! I have two dogs, a lab mix named Malachite and a Rottweiler mix named Barca. I also took in a stray kitty while living in Cincinnati during my PhD program. Her name is Bubs, and she now lives in Pittsburgh and is completely attached to my mom!
What’s something that you would like people to know about you?
I’m a huge soccer fan. I hope to go to Australia this summer for the Women’s World Cup! Also, I majored in geology as an undergrad and love rocks (one of my dog’s names, Malachite, is my favorite mineral).
This interview was conducted on 2/02/2023, by Katherine Jurak, and edited for clarity and concision.