The new UT Dallas Institute for Public Affairs, in the School of Economic Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS), recently welcomed its first advisory council.

EPPS Dean Brian Berry made opening remarks at the inaugural meeting, and Public Affairs Program Head Dr. Douglas Kiel provided background on the formation of the institute.

“Our advisory board includes wonderful representation from both the government and nonprofit sectors,” said Dr. Kimberly Aaron, director of the institute.

“We’re particularly fortunate to have representatives from the Vinson Institute at the University of Georgia and the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on the council,” she said. “These institutes have been in existence since the ’30s and are highly respected as pacesetters in this field.”

The advisory council is charged with establishing goals for the institute and measuring progress against those goals.

Each new member will serve a minimum three-year term, with the option to be reappointed for an additional three years.

The Institute of Public Affairs advisory council members are:

  • David Ammons, Ph.D. – professor of public administration and government, School of Government, University of North Carolina.
  • Cathey Brown – founder and chief executive officer for Rainbow Days.
  • Steve Condrey, Ph.D. – senior public service associate, Governmental Services and Research, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia.
  • Ron Jones – mayor of Garland, Texas.
  • Tom Muehlenbeck – city manager of Plano, Texas.
  • Dan Petty – president and chief executive officer, North Texas Commission.
  • Amanda Rockow – vice president of public affairs, University of Texas at Dallas.
  • Mary Suhm – city manager of Dallas.

Ex-officio voting members are Aaron, Kiel and UT Dallas President David E. Daniel.

Three members were elected to serve as the council’s first officers. Tom Muehlenbeck was elected chair, Kiel was elected vice-chair and Ron Jones was selected as chair-elect. The council will meet again in the fall.

Media Contacts: Audrey Glickert, UT Dallas, (972) 883-4320, audrey.glickert@utdallas.edu
or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, newscenter@utdallas.edu


Institute Faculty

In addition to its Advisory Council, the Institute of Public Affairs has a core faculty team that includes:

  • Kimberly Aaron, Ph.D.
  • Donald R. Arbuckle, Ph.D.
  • Paul Battaglio, Ph.D.
  • Teodoro Benavides, MPA
  • Marie Isabelle Chevrier, Ph.D.
  • Simon M. Fass, Ph.D.
  • Jeremy L. Hall, Ph.D.
  • Wendy L. Hassett, Ph.D.
  • Douglas Kiel, Ph.D.
  • Richard K. Scotch, Ph.D.
  • Douglas Watson, Ph.D.