Call for Proposals

2023 CONFERENCE THEME: 

March 2-4, 2023

Identity, place, and space are embedded in practically all aspects of everyday life. Accordingly, public administrators are challenged with understanding and managing public life from these complex lenses. Identity distinguishes the character or personality of an individual established by their own psychological view of who they are. While identity (race, ethnicity, gender, beliefs, etc.)  may be self-defined, others’ definitions and categorizations can often take precedence. In the same way, place is a portion of space available for or being used by someone, while space is broader and reflects the dimensions of height, depth, and width within which all things exist and move. This year’s theme reflects the realities of the nation and the world amid these human-made constructions that we must all co-exist and navigate through.

The complicated and sometimes obscure nature of public sector problems calls for an unmasking and deep dive into new governance arrangements and structures that encourage cross-sector collaboration in decision-making. The complexities of identity, place, and space place great responsibility on public administrators at the local, state, and federal levels to be broad-minded and innovative when addressing concerns of the varied segments of the population. 

The 2023 conference theme of “Unmasking the Complexities of Identity, Place, and Space: The Public Administrators’ Challenge” thereby serves as a call to all public servants— scholars, public and nonprofit practitioners, and community advocates and stakeholders—who seek to unmask, study, and engage in rich discussions around complex problems concerning identity, place, and space. The conference program committee thereby welcomes research and praxis from different backgrounds and methodological orientations, current updates to traditional models and frameworks, and other relevant emergent perspectives on all issues pertinent to public service. Proposals should be related to the conference theme and sub-themes as noted below:

CONFERENCE TRACKS

Track 1: Social Equity, Justice, and Disparities

• Social Equity and Justice
• Disparities (Healthcare, Housing, Education, Employment)
• Law & Criminal Justice

Track 2: International and Global Perspectives in Policy and Administration

• Comparative Public Administration
• Global Health, Systems, and Policy
• Pan-Africanism, Diaspora Affairs, and Internationalism

Track 3: Environmental Justice, Environmental Impact, and Disaster Response

• Adaptive Capacity, Resiliency, and Sustainability
• Emergency & Crisis Management

Track 4: Public Engagement and Governance Networks

• Nonprofits Management & Leadership
• Business and Economic Development
• Cooperation, Coalitions, and Collaboration
• Citizen Participation, Engagement, and Empowerment

Track 5: Public Management and Finance

• Local Government, Leadership, and Ethics
• Urban Planning & Development
• Public Budgeting, Finance, and Procurement
• Public Policy & Management

Track 6: Preparing the Next Generation for a Rapidly Changing World

• Education & Higher Education Administration
• Professional Development for Students & Young Professionals
• Big Data, Emerging Technology, and Artificial Intelligence