SPAA Faculty
The School of Public Affairs faculty consists of seven full-time members, one joint appointment with the Sociology Department,
one emeritus faculty member, and part-time faculty who work in the health care, nonprofit, and public sectors. A majority of the required and elective
courses are taught by full-time faculty.
Full-Time Public Administration Faculty
| Dr. Melisa Beeson Assistant Professor |
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Contact Information Office: 227 E Walwood Hall Phone: (269) 387-8942 E-mail: melisa.beeson@wmich.edu |
Education Ed.D., Indiana University M.A., Ball State University M.P.A., University of Kentucky B.A., Ball State University (Indiana) |
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Courses PADM 2000 Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership PADM 6270 Human Resources Administration PADM 6180 Political and Economic Environment of Public Administration PADM 5830 Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations PADM 6400 Nonprofit Governance | |
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Research Areas Evaluation and Assessment of Nonprofit Organizations, Giving Circles, and Women’s Philanthropy |
| Dr. Raymond Higbea Assistant Professor |
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Contact Information Office: 223 East Walwood Hall Phone: (269) 387-8941 E-Mail: raymond.j.higbea@wmich.edu |
Education Ph.D.,
Western Michigan University
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Courses PADM 6080 Organizational Theory and Behavior PADM 6540 Strategic Planning/Management in Health Care Organizations PADM 6481 Planning in Nonprofit Organizations | |
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Research Areas Healthcare policy analysis, Managerial finance | |
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Associations & Affiliations Fellow of the American Healthcare Executives (FACHE) |
| Dr. Barbara Liggett Associate Professor |
| Interim Director, School of Public Affairs and Administration |
| Contact
Information
Office: 221 East Walwood Hall
Phone: (269) 387-8943 |
Education Ed.D., Western Michigan University |
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PADM 6270 Human Resources Administration PADM 6290 Supervisory Skills for Administrators PADM 6471 Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations PADM 6441 Human Resources for Nonprofit Organizations PADM 6630 Leading the Public Organization PADM 6800 Project Paper Seminar PADM 7120 Professional Field Experience (Graduate) PADM 7300 Doctoral Dissertation | |
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Research Areas Leadership, Human Resources, Ethics, and Nonprofit Board-Staff Relations. | |
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Associations & Affiliations Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) through Human Resources Certification and the Society for Human Resources |
| Ms. Janice W. Maatman Faculty Specialist II |
| Director of Nonprofit Education Programs; MPA Advisor - Nonprofit Concentration |
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Contact Information Office: 223 East Walwood Hall Phone: (269) 387-8945 E-mail: janice.maatman@wmich.edu |
Education M.Div., Princeton Theological Seminary |
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Courses PADM 2000 Introduction to Nonprofit Leadership, PADM 4000 Seminar in Nonprofit Leadership PADM 4100 Internship in Nonprofit Leadership (Undergraduate) PADM 5870 Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations PADM 6461 Evaluation in Nonprofit Organizations | |
| Click here for information on the American Humanics Program at WMU. |
| Dr. Matthew Mingus Professor |
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Contact Information Office: 230 East Walwood Hall Phone: (269) 387-8938 E-mail: matthew.mingus@wmich.edu |
Education Ph.D., University of Colorado M.P.A., University of Victoria, B.C. B.A., University of Denver |
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Courses PADM 6000 Historical and Legal Foundations of Public Administration PADM 6060 Analytical Methods PADM 6800 Project Paper Seminar PADM 7300 Doctoral Dissertation | |
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Research Areas Comparative Public Administration, Interorganizational and Network Theory, U.S.-Canadian Relations |
| Dr. Robert Peters Associate Professor |
| MPA Advisor - Battle Creek Campus |
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Contact Information Office: 232 East Walwood Hall Phone: (269) 387-8944 E-mail: robert.peters@wmich.edu |
Education Ph.D., The University of Michigan M.S., The University of Texas B.A., Elizabethtown College (PA) |
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Courses PADM 6070 Quantitative Data Analysis PADM 6120 Principles of Public Budgeting PADM 6150 State and Local Government Finance PADM 6170 Intergovernmental and Interorganizational Relations PADM 6530 Health Policy Analysis PADM 6800 Project Paper Seminar PADM 6840 Management of Public Financial Resources PADM 6860 State Agency Administration PADM 7300 Doctoral Dissertation | |
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Research Areas: The Politics of Infrastructure Finance, Tax Policy, Public Budgeting and Finance, and Intergovernmental Relations | |
| Dr. James Visser Associate Professor |
| MPA Advisor - Kalamazoo Campus |
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Contact Information Office: 222 East Walwood Hall Phone: (269) 387-8937 E-mail: james.visser@wmich.edu |
Education Ph.D., University of Oklahoma M.A.P.A., University of Oklahoma B.S., Western Michigan University |
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Courses PADM 6130 Local Government Administration PADM 6140 Managing Community Growth and Development PADM 6180 The Political and Economic Environment of Public Administration PADM 6660 Contemporary Issues in Public Management PADM 6800 Project Paper Seminar PADM 6930 Managing Public Performance and Information Technology PADM 7300 Doctoral Dissertation | |
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Research Areas Inter-local Governmental Relations, Inter-organizational Collaboration in Urban Regional Governance, Economic Development and Growth Management in Urban Regions, Professional and Distance Education in Public Administration. |
| Dr. Udaya Wagle Assistant Professor |
| Doctoral Director |
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Contact Information Office: 226 East Walwood Hall Phone: (269) 387-8934 E-mail: udaya.wagle@wmich.edu |
Education Ph.D., University of Massachusetts - Boston M.S. Nonprofit Administration, Eastern University M.B.A., Tribhuvan University (Nepal) B.B.A., Tribhuvan University (Nepal) |
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Courses PADM 6060 Analytical Methods PADM 6070 Quantitative Data Analysis PADM 6150 State and Local Government Finance PADM 6650 Public Policy Theory and Research PADM 6800 Project Paper Seminar PADM 7300 Doctoral Dissertation | |
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Research Areas Poverty and Social Policy, Urban Development Policy, Policymaking and Citizen Participation, Civil Society, and Comparative Studies. |
| Dr. Yuan-Kang Wang Assistant Professor |
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Contact Information Office: 2534 Sangren Hall Phone: (269) 387-3597 E-mail: yuan-kang.wang@wmich.edu |
Education Ph.D., University of Chicago M.A., Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University (International Relations) |
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Courses PADM 6070 Quantitative Data Analysis | |
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Research Areas International Relations, Security Studies, East Asian Security, U.S.-China Relations |
| Dr. Ola M. Smith Assistant Professor |
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Contact Information Office: Phone: E-mail: |
Education |
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Courses PADM 6431 Budget Development and Accounting for NPOs | |
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Research Areas
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| Dr. David DeShon Professor Emeritus |
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Contact Information Mail Box: E-mail: |
Education |
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Research Areas
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| Dr. Peter Kobrak Professor Emeritus |
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Contact Information Mail Box: 220 East Walwood Hall E-mail: peter.kobrak@wmich.edu |
Education Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University M.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison B.A., Oberlin College |
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Research Areas Politics and Administration, Public Policy, and Public Management |
| Dr. Kathleen Reding Professor Emeritus |
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Contact Information Mail Box: E-mail: |
Education |
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Research Areas
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Contact Information Off-Campus Office: 1401 Lama Road Kalamazoo, MI 49008 Phone: (269) 388-2830 Fax: (269) 388-3083 E-mail: deborah.droppers@wmich.edu |
Education M.P.A., Western Michigan University B.A., Hope College |
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Courses PADM 3000 Nonprofit Advancement - ASHA Certificate Program PADM 5840 Promoting Nonprofit Organizations |
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Associations & Affiliations The Event Company - an event management and marketing firm specializing in nonprofit fundraising and promotions. The Event Company is a learning environment that host 62 events in the Kalamazoo area. |
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| Dr. Anne J. Hacker Assistant Professor |
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Contact Information Off-Campus Office: 19885 North Avenue Battle Creek, MI 49017 Phone: (269) 963-0698 E-mail: anne.hacker@wmich.edu |
Education Ph.D., Western Michigan University M.P.A., Western Michigan University B.A., Case Western Reserve University |
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Courses PADM 6431 Budget Development and Accounting for Nonprofit Organizations PADM 6550 The Administration of Health Services PADM 6570 Management of Health Care Organizations |
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Research Areas Child Welfare and Health Care Policy, Nonprofit Program Evaluation and Assessment, Spirituality in the Workplace |
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Associations & Affiliations American Society for Public Administration, Michigan Federation for Children & Families, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Spiritual Directors International |
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| Dr. Kirk Lindquist Assistant Professor |
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Contact Information Phone: (517) 373-5005 E-mail: kirk.lindquist@wmich.edu |
Education
Ph.D., Michigan State University M.U.P., Michigan State University B.A., Augustana College (IL) |
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Courses PADM 6120 Principles of Public Budgeting PADM 6870 Legislative Relations for Public Administrators |
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Research Areas Politics and Administration, Program Accountability and Results, Non-Profit Administration, and State-Local Fiscal Policy |
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Associations & Affiliations American Society for Public Administration |
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| Dr. L. Robert McConnell Assistant Professor |
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Contact Information Phone: (517) 322-2066 E-mail: lrmcconn805@comcast.net |
Education D.P.A., Western Michigan University M.A., Wayne State University B.A., Michigan State University |
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Courses PADM 6080 Organizational Theory and Behavior PADM 6110 Administrative Law and Government Regulation |
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Research Areas Leadership & Mentoring, Rehabilitation & Disability Policy, Organization Development |
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Associations & Affiliations ASPA-Mid Michigan Chapter Board, National Rehabilitation Association: State Chapter Board |
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| Dr. Nancy Quarles Assistant Professor |
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Contact Information Off-Campus Office: 6001 North Adams Rd. Ste. 250 Bloomfield, MI 48304 Phone: (248) 498-2552 E-mail: nancy@nancyquarles.com |
Education Ph.D., Western Michigan University M.S., Central Michigan University B.S. University of Detroit |
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Courses PADM 6870 Legislative Relations for Public Administrators |
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Research Areas Politics and Administration, Public Policy, and Public Management |
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Associations & Affiliations American Society of Public Administration |
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| Dr. Robert J. Sobie Assistant Professor |
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Contact Information Off-Campus
Office: |
Education Ph.D., Western Michigan University M.P.A., Western Michigan University B.A., Spring Arbor University |
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Courses PADM
6000 Historical and Legal and Foundations of American Public
Administration |
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Research Areas Technology, Public Sector Leadership, State and Local Government |
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Associations & Affiliations American Society for Public Administration & Government Management Information Sciences |
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| Dr. James J. Walters Assistant Professor |
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Contact Information Off-Campus Office: 632 American Road Lansing, MI 48911 Phone: (517) 272-6576 E-mail: jim.walters@wmich.edu |
Education Ph.D., Western Michigan University M.S.P.A., Michigan State University B.S.B.A., Central Michigan University |
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Courses PADM 6060 Analytical Methods PADM 6070 Quantitative Data Analysis PADM 6180 Political and Economic Environment of PA |
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Research Areas K-12 Public School Finance |
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Associations & Affiliations American Education Finance Association, American Society for Public Administration, & Michigan Association of CPAs |
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Contact Information Office: 220 E Walwood Hall 1903 W Michigan Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5440 Fax: (269) 387-8935 |
Office Staff
Jackie Van'tZelfde Office Coordinator Phone: (269) 387-8932 E-mail: jackie.vantzelfde@wmich.edu |
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Jon Buffenbarger Graduate Assistant Phone: (269) 387-8930 E-mail: cpa_spaa@wmich.edu |
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Melodia Crump Graduate Assistant Phone: E-mail: |
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Mark Heydlauff Graduate Assistant Phone: (269) 387-8940 E-mail: mark.l.heydlauff@wmich.edu
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