Enhancing professional and practical experiences for MPA students: Lessons from a manager-in-residence program

ABSTRACT

Considerable scholarly attention has been paid to various efforts aimed at preparing graduate students for careers as practitioners of public administration. One such approach is hiring practitioners-in-residence (PIR) or employing professors of practice. This paper first reports results of a web content analysis of 355 NASPAA programs that determined the extent of use of PIRs. Results show that only 17% of programs explicitly list a practitioner-in-residence. Given that less than a fifth of programs have practitioners-in-residence on their faculty, this paper provides an in-depth description of one such initiative i.e., Texas State University’s experience with the Manager-in-Residence (MIR) program. Numerous ways in which the MIR program helped connect MPA students with the practice side of public administration are described. Finally, the implications of such a program for public administration pedagogy and practice and its potential for adoption by programs are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Practitioner-in-residence
• professional competencies
• manager-in-residence

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nandhini Rangarajan

Nandhini Rangarajan is associate professor of political science at Texas State University. Her research interests are in creativity and innovation, public management, human resources and public affairs education. Her articles have appeared in prominent journals such as the Review of Public Personnel Administration, Public Productivity and Management Review and the Journal of Public Affairs Education. Her co-authored book, A Playbook for Research Methods: Integrating Conceptual Frameworks and Project Management, provides useful tools for graduate students to manage the research process. She earned a Ph.D. in public administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany.

Mark Lottman

Mark Lottman is an International Studies graduate student at Texas State University. His research interests focus on conflict and security, governance, and non-state actors. He has previously written for the U.S. Army War College on the U.S. and France’s foreign policies. 

James Earp

James Earp, CPM is the Texas City Manager Association (TCMA) Manager in Residence (MIR) for Texas State University and an active practitioner of public administration serving as Assistant City Manager for the City of Kyle, Texas since 2006. Beginning his professional career in finance and banking, Mr. Earp found a passion for public service and transitioned into municipal management seventeen years ago. An active member of TCMA, he has served as Region VII president and the regional Board Representative where he has been instrumental in the planning and delivery of professional development programs, and pivotal in creating and expanding the MIR program. Mr Earp is a Certified Public Manager, and is Director of the CPM Program for the Dallas Fort Worth Area. He holds a BBA in Finance, a BS in Economics from Tarleton State University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and a graduate certificate in Environmental Management and Sustainability of Cities from Harvard University.