Exploring Cultural Competency Within the Public Affairs Curriculum

Abstract

With the increasingly changing demographics of the U. S. population, increased opportunities for an effective public sector arise. The opportunities can be found in new and innovative approaches to the government-citizen relationships, which take into account the cultural diversity of their population. Cultural competency initiatives within the public sector allow for increased effectiveness of the public sector and the public it serves. The following article explores where these opportunities for cultural competency initiatives can be placed within the public affairs curriculum. The article provides a framework for a cultural competency curriculum in public affairs based on four conceptual approaches: knowledgebased, attitude-based, skills-based, and community-based. Cultural competency discourse in academia sets the necessary foundation for future public administrators working in increasingly diverse populations.

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Notes on contributors

Tony Carrizales

Dr. Tony Carrizales is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration at Marist College. Dr. Carrizales received his PhD in public administration from Rutgers University–Newark and his MPA and BA from Cornell University. His research interests include digital governance and representative bureaucracy. Dr. Carrizales is the editor in chief for the Journal of Public Management and Social Policy.