Public Administration and Urban Studies News

Dr. RaJade M. Berry-James is this year’s recipient of the Donald C. Stone Service Award from The American Society of Public Administration. Dr. Berry received the award in March at the organization’s national meeting in Dallas, Texas. Given annually, the Stone Award recognizes outstanding service to ASPA, the most prominent organization representing public administrators from all levels of government and from non-profit organizations. Congratulations Dr. Berry-James!

Nearly 200 people, mostly men, marched one mile around the Polsky Building on April while wearing high heeled shoes to raise awareness and money for the Rape Crisis Center of Medina and Summit counties. Dr. Ramona Ortega joined other university faculty members and PAUS instructor David Merolla in marching. Dr. Ortega is an ongoing sponsor of the TKE fraternity. This year’s march raised nearly $10,000, about twice the amount of the previous year.

Organizers of the 4th Annual Conference on Undergraduate and Graduate Student Research recognized Maria Veronica Elias, a Ph.D. student, and retiring faculty member Dr. Ralph Hummel. Ms. Elias received recognition for her nomination for the Outstanding Student Research Award, and Dr. Hummel received recognition for his nomination for the Faculty Mentor of the Year Award. Congratulations!

UA graduate students should seriously consider attending the first GSG Colloquim from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16 in the Student Union Ballroom. “Graduate Today, Leader Tomorrow: Preparing Our Graduate Students for What’s Next” is designed to prepare students for life after graduation. The full-day event is a mix of panel discussions, speakers, and workshops. A free luncheon is part of the day. Students can expect to learn resume-writing tips and interview techniques, as well as about important ways to work with others more productively in the workplace.

PAUS MPA graduate and current PAUS PhD student Nichole Bunner, who is also vice president of GSG, is playing a lead role in coordinating the event. Students are encouraged to come out for their own benefit and to support Ms. Bunner in the process. For information about registration contact Ms. Bunner at nmb1@uakron.edu.

Students Tom Reynolds and Kimberly Beckett, as well as faculty member Dr. Raymond Cox, attended the 2008 winter conference of the Ohio City/County Management Association in February. The title of the conference was “Looking Ahead: The Economy and the Future of Ohio.”

According to Mr. Reynolds, some of the most interesting seminars were: Foreclosures: What’s a Community to Do?;
Regionalism: Initiatives that Work; Ohio’s Ethics Code; Appleseeds, Filaments & You: Lessons in Leadership from Ohio’s Great Change Agents; Connecting OCMA with Ohio’s MPA Programs (presented by Dr. Cox); and Bringing Retail to Underserved Markets and Plugging Retail Leaks.