John Glenn College of Public Affairs
The Ohio State University
250P Page Hall - 1810 College Road
Columbus, Ohio  43210

Hall of States
444 N. Capitol Street, NW #445
Washington, DC 20001

April 2026

Associate Professor, since 2017
Faculty Director of Washington Programs, since May 2025
Director of Washington Studies & Enarson Fellow, 2019-22
John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Assistant Professor, 2011-2017
John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
 

Research Council, Acquisition Innovation Research Center/Systems Engineering Research Center, since 2022

Adjunct Fellow, Center for the Industrial Base, Center for Strategic and International Studies, since 2021
 

Ph.D., Public Administration, American University, Washington, DC, 2010
Fields of study: Public Administration, Public Policy, and American Politics
Dissertation committee: Jocelyn M. Johnston (chair), Robert F. Durant, and Anna A. Amirkhanyan
Dissertation: Accountability and Discretion in the Age of Contracting: When and Why do Public Managers Implement Sanctions for Unsatisfactory Contract Performance?

M.B.A., The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 2003

B.S., Public Administration and Public Policy, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, 1998

Acquisition innovation and adaptation 
Performance incentives and contract management strategies
Contract markets and buyer-supplier relationships

• 2017 Best Paper Runner-Up, Journal of Supply Chain Management. (JSCM is a 4/4 in the Academic Journal Guide – one of only four Operations and Technology Management journals with this distinction; Impact Factor 9.9).  
• Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University, 2016
• Leonard D. White Award, American Political Science Association, 2011 (Best dissertation in the field of public administration)
• Outstanding Scholarship at the Graduate Level, School of Public Affairs, American University, 2010-11
• Paul A. Volcker Junior Scholar Research Grant, Section for Public Administration, American Political Science Association, 2010
• Ann and Neil Kerwin Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, American University, 2009
• School of Public Affairs Graduate Faculty Assistantship, American University, 2006-09         
• Advanced Graduate Student Travel Grant, American Political Science Association, 2009
• Member, Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration, since 2009
• University Scholarship, Oakland University, 1994-97

(* = Student; IF = Impact Factor)

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles:

Amanda M. Girth, Rebecca Smith,* Alicia C. Bunger, Emmeline Chuang, Kathryn E. Lancaster, Rebecca Phillips,* Fawn Gadel, Jennifer Millisor, Jen McClellan, The Use of Formal Partnership Agreements to Align Service Delivery Across Health and Social Service Systems, Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, Accepted January, 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23303131.2026.2619153   
IF: 1.4

Alicia C. Bunger, Emmeline Chuang, Amanda Girth, Kathryn E. Lancaster, Rebecca Smith*, Rebecca Phillips,* Jared Martin,* Fawn Gadel, Tina Willauer, Marla Himmeger, Jennifer Millisor, Jen McClellan, Byron J. Powell, Lisa Saldana, Gregory A. Aarons. 2024. Specifying Cross-system Collaboration Strategies for Implementation: A Multi-site Qualitative Study with Child Welfare and Behavioral Health Organizations. Implementation Science, 19(1): 13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-024-01335-1. 
IF: 13.4

Emmeline Chuang, Alicia C. Bunger, Rebecca Smith,* Amanda M. Girth, Rebecca Phillips,* Edward Meich, Kathryn E. Lancaster, Jared Martin,* Fawn Gadel, Marla Himmeger, Jen McClellan, Jennifer Millisor, Tina Willauer, Byron J. Powell, Elinam Dellor, Gregory A. Aarons. 2024. Collaboration strategies affecting implementation of a cross-systems intervention for child welfare and substance use treatment: a mixed methods analysis. Implementation Science Communications 5: 127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43058-024-00666-w. 
IF: 3.3

David Landsbergen, Amanda M. Girth, and Angie Westover-Muñoz.* 2022. Governance Rules for Managing Smart City Information. Urban Governance, 2(1): 221-231. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ugj.2022.05.003. 
IF: n/a

Rebecca A. Smith,* Amanda M. Girth, and Margaret Hutzel. 2021. Assessing Organizational Role and Perceptions of Programmatic Success in Policy Implementation. Administration & Society, 53(10): 1512-1546. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177%2F00953997211011624.
IF: 2.3

Alicia C. Bunger, Emmeline Chuang, Amanda M. Girth, Kathryn E. Lancaster, Fawn Gadel, Marla Himmeger, Lisa Saldana, Byron J. Powell, and Gregory A. Aarons. 2020. Establishing Cross-Systems Collaborations for Implementation: Study Protocol for Implementation Decision Support. Implementation Science, 15(1): 1-14. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-29980/v1.  
IF: 13.4

Amanda M. Girth and Lauren E. Lopez*. 2019. Contract Design, Complexity, and Incentives: Evidence from U.S. Federal Agencies. The American Review of Public Administration, 49(3): 325-337. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074018787558. 
IF: 2.5

Adam Eckerd and Amanda M. Girth. 2017. Contract Design as Risk Management: Assessing Complexity and Mission Criticality. Journal of Supply Chain Management. 53(3): 60-75. DOI: 10.1111/jscm.12137.  
IF 9.9

Amanda M. Girth. 2017. Incentives in Third-Party Governance: Management Practices and Accountability Implications. Public Administration Review. 77(3): 433-444. DOI: 10.1111/puar.12645. 
IF: 4.9
    
Alicia C. Bunger, Yiwen Cao,* Amanda M. Girth, Jill Hoffman,* and Hillary A. Robertson. 2016. Constraints and Benefits of Child Welfare Contracts with Behavioral Health Providers: Conditions that Shape Service Access. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research 43(5): 728-739. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-015-0686-1 
IF: 2.7
    
Randall S. Davis, Amanda M. Girth and Edmund C. Stazyk. 2016. The Social and Technical Determinants of Perceived Contract Performance: Rules, Autonomy, and Ethics. Public Performance and Management Review 39(3): 728-755. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2015.1137773 
IF: 2.8
    
John D. Marvel and Amanda M. Girth. 2016. Citizen Attributions of Blame in Third-Party Governance. Public Administration Review 76(1): 96-108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12474 
IF: 4.9
    
Amanda M. Girth. 2014. What Drives the Partnership Decision? Examining Structural Factors Influencing Public-Private Partnerships for Municipal Wireless Broadband. International Public Management Journal 17(3): 344-364. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10967494.2014.935240 
IF: 3.0
    
Amanda M. Girth. 2014. A Closer Look at Contract Accountability: Exploring the Determinants of Sanctions for Unsatisfactory Contract Performance. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 24(2): 317-348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mus033 
IF: 6.3
    
Amanda M. Girth, Amir Hefetz, Jocelyn M. Johnston, and Mildred E. Warner. 2012. Outsourcing Public Service Delivery:  Competition in Local Service Markets, Management Responses, and Understated Transaction Costs. Public Administration Review 72(6): 887-900. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2012.02596.x 
IF: 4.9

Jocelyn M. Johnston and Amanda M. Girth. 2012. Government Contracts and “Managing the Market:” The Implications of Strategic Management Responses to Weak Vendor Competition. Administration & Society 44(1): 3-29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0095399711417396 
IF: 2.3

Robert F. Durant, Amanda M. Girth, and Jocelyn M. Johnston. 2009. American Exceptionalism, Human Resources Management, and the Contract State. Review of Public Personnel Administration 29(3): 207-229. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734371X09335617 
IF: 3.1
 

Book Chapters:

Amanda M. Girth. 2022. Outsourcing of State Functions. In Oxford Handbook on State Capitalism and the Firm, Mike Wright, Geoffrey Wood, Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra, Pei Sun, Ilya Okhmatovsky, Anna Grossman, Eds. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198837367.001.0001 

Amanda M. Girth. 2010. Climate Change. What Do We Expect from Our Government? Beryl Radin and Joshua Chanin, Eds. Lexington Books: Lanham, MD. DOI: doi.org/10.5771/9780739144558 

Research Reports:

Amanda M. Girth, Michael Rayo, Laura Maguire. 2025. Best Practices in Intellectual Property Management. Acquisition Innovation Research Center. https://acqirc.org/publications/research/best-practices-in-intellectual-property-management/ 

Amanda M. Girth, Michael Rayo, Laura Maguire and Miriam Balkin.* 2025. Systemic Factors Influencing Risk Aversion: Piloting the Innovation Alliance Program. Acquisition Innovation Research Center. https://acqirc.org/publications/research/systemic-factors-influencing-risk-aversion-piloting-the-innovation-alliance-program/ 

Michael Rayo, Amanda M. Girth, Laura Maguire. 2024. Systemic Factors Influencing Risk Aversion:
Diagnosing Behaviors and Tailoring Interventions for Lasting Transformation. Acquisition Innovation Research Center. https://acqirc.org/publications/research/systemic-factors-influencing-risk-aversion-diagnosing-behaviors-and-tailoring-interventions-for-lasting-transformation/ 

Amanda M. Girth, Mike Rayo, Elizabeth Newton, Asher Balkin,* Christine Jefferies,* Priyanka Tewani.* 2022. Incentives for Motivating Workforce Agility and Innovation, Acquisition Innovation Research Center. https://acqirc.org/publications/research/incubator/2022-incentives-for-motivating-workforce-agility-and-innovation/ 

Amanda M. Girth and Trevor L. Brown. 2018. Policy Brief: Examining Set Aside Policies and Growth of Small and Mid-sized Federal Suppliers. John Glenn College of Public Affairs. 

Amanda M. Girth and Trevor L. Brown. 2018. Examining the Effects of Set Aside Policies on Competition and Growth for Small and Mid-Sized Suppliers. Acquisition Research Program Sponsored Report Series Graduate School of Business & Public Policy, Naval Postgraduate School. Report No.: OSU-CM-18-232. URI: https://dair.nps.edu/handle/123456789/2737 

Amanda M. Girth. 2017. Assessing the Effectiveness of Performance-Based Acquisitions in Federal Agencies, Acquisition Research Program Sponsored Report Series Graduate School of Business & Public Policy, Naval Postgraduate School. Report No.: OSU-CM-17-210. URI: https://dair.nps.edu/handle/123456789/2702 

Amanda M. Girth and Jocelyn M. Johnston. Research Brief: Local Government Contracting. National League of Cities.

Technical Artifacts:

Collaborating Across Systems for Program Implementation (CASPI) Toolkit. (2023, March) Chapter 2: Developing formal partnership agreements. https://u.osu.edu/collaborateforchange/

Book Reviews:

Amanda M. Girth. 2018. Contracting, Civil Service Reform, and the Call to Reprofessionalize Public Service, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 28(2): 295–297. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mux046. 

Amanda M. Girth. 2014. Strengthening Contract Management Capacity to Ensure Accountability. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 24(3): 795-799. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/mut055 

Other Articles:

Amanda M. Girth, Laura Maguire, Michael Rayo. A Systems Approach to Sustainable Innovation. (2025, Nov/Dec). Defense Acquisition Magazine. https://www.dau.edu/library/damag/november-december2025/systems-approach 

Alicia C. Bunger, Emmeline Chuang, Amanda M. Girth, Kathryn E. Lancaster, Logan Knight,* Erica Magier,* Jared Martin,* Rebecca Phillips,* Rebecca Smith,* Courtney Ebersole, Fawn Gadel, Marla Himmeger, Teresa Lampl, Jennifer Millisor, Cheri Walter, Tina Willauer, Gregory A. Aarons, Byron J. Powell, Lisa Saldana, (2021, April). Collaboration Strategies are Implementation Strategies. Implementation in Action Bulletin, The Center for Implementation. https://thecenterforimplementation.com/toolbox/partnering-for-implementation 

Amanda M. Girth and Keith F. Snider. 2018. Acquisition in US federal agencies: Evidence from the world's largest buyer. Journal of Strategic Contracting and Negotiation, 4(1-2), 3-5. [Editorial] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2055563620936374 
 

Conference Proceedings:

Amanda M. Girth, Michael Rayo, Laura Maguire, E. Miriam Balkin,* Morgan Reynolds.* 2025. Tailored Interventions to Foster Acquisition Innovation: Piloting the Innovation Alliance Program. Annual Acquisition Research Symposium Proceedings & Presentations. URI: https://dair.nps.edu/handle/123456789/5403 

E. Miriam Balkin,* Laura Maguire, Amanda M. Girth, Michael F. Rayo. 2024. Leveraging Systemic Contributors and Adaptations to Sharpen Interventions: The IMPActS Workshop. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 68(1): 627-633. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10711813241269240 

Angie Westover-Munoz,* David Landsbergen, and Amanda M. Girth. 2022. Citizen Engagement in Technically Dynamic Environments, EGOV-CeDEM-ePart 2020 conference proceedings. https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2797/paper7.pdf 

Amanda M. Girth and Trevor L. Brown. 2018. Examining Small Business Set Asides: Evidence and Implications for Small and Mid-Sized Suppliers in Federal Procurement. Annual Acquisition Research Symposium Proceedings & Presentations. URI: https://dair.nps.edu/handle/123456789/1604 

Amanda M. Girth and Trevor L. Brown. 2017. Examining the Effects of Set Aside Policies on Competition and Growth for Small and Mid-Sized Suppliers. Annual Acquisition Research Symposium Proceedings & Presentations. URI: https://dair.nps.edu/handle/123456789/1529 

Adam Eckerd and Amanda M. Girth. 2016. Contract Design, Supply Chain Complexity, and Accountability in Federal Contracts. Annual Acquisition Research Symposium Proceedings & Presentations. URI: https://dair.nps.edu/handle/123456789/1933 

Amanda M. Girth. 2015. Incentives in Third-Party Governance: Management Practices and Accountability Implications, In Academy of Management Proceedings DOI: doi:10.5465/AMBPP.2015.65. (top 10% of conference papers selected for abridged version in Proceedings).

Randall S. Davis, Amanda M. Girth, Edmund C. Stazyk. 2013. A Fresh Take on Government Contract Performance: Linking Social and Technical Factors. In Academy of Management Proceedings DOI:  https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2013.10387abstract (top 10% of conference papers selected for abridged version in Proceedings).

Amanda M. Girth and Jocelyn M. Johnston. 2012. Assessing the Opportunity Costs of Contracting in Noncompetitive Public Service Markets. In Academy of Management Proceedings DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2012.17106abstract. (top 10% of conference papers selected for abridged version in Proceedings).

Principal Investigator. Systemic Factors Influencing Risk Aversion, Phase IIb $74,479 – U.S. Department of Defense, Stevens Institute of Technology, Acquisition Innovation Research Center. Period of performance: September 2024-February 2025.

Principal Investigator. Systemic Factors Influencing Risk Aversion, Phase III Incubator $60,570 – U.S. Department of Defense, Stevens Institute of Technology, Acquisition Innovation Research Center. Period of performance: September 2024-February 2025.

Co-Principal Investigator. Systemic Factors Influencing Risk Aversion, Phase II $273,074754 – U.S. Department of Defense, Stevens Institute of Technology, Acquisition Innovation Research Center. Period of performance: October 2023-June 2024.

Co-Principal Investigator. Systemic Factors Influencing Risk Aversion, Incubator $95,754 – U.S. Department of Defense, Stevens Institute of Technology, Acquisition Innovation Research Center. Period of performance: February-June 2022.

Co-Principal Investigator. Systemic Factors Influencing Risk Aversion $95,754 – U.S. Department of Defense, Stevens Institute of Technology, Acquisition Innovation Research Center. Period of performance: February-June 2022.

Co-Investigator. Collaborating to Implement Cross-system Interventions in Child Welfare and Substance Use
$719,000 – National Institute on Drug Abuse. Period of performance: July 2019-May 2022.

Co-Investigator. Identifying Strategies to Align Public Health, Social Services, and Addiction Treatment to Address the Opioid Crisis in Rural Ohio. $249,520 – Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Period of performance: May 2019-April 2021.

Co-Principal Investigator. Evaluating the Governance and Performance of Smart Cities $10,146 – Faculty Research Grant, awarded by John Glenn College of Public Affairs. Period of performance: January 2019-August 2019.

Co-Principal Investigator. Examining the Effects of Set Aside Policies on Competition and Growth for Small and Mid-sized Suppliers $119,804 – Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program, awarded by Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center San Diego. Period of performance: August 2016-June 2018.

Co-Principal Investigator. Federal Procurement and the Middle Market: Examining Competition, Subsidies, and Growth $29,859 – National Center for the Middle Market. Period of performance: February 2016-July 2017.

Principal Investigator. Assessing the Effectiveness of Performance-Based Acquisitions in Federal Agencies
$92,180 – Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research Program, awarded by Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center San Diego. Period of performance: January 2015-September 2016.

Congressional Testimony:

U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Small Business, “Roundtable: Leaving the Nest: Challenges Facing Advanced-Small Businesses,” November 14, 2017, Washington, DC.
 

Invited: 

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - Systems for Action. “Using Regional Governing Boards to Align Services for Rural Children of the Opioid Crisis.” January 26, 2022. [virtual]

Department of Political Science & Public Administration, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. “Collaboration Strategies for Implementing Cross-System Interventions: Evidence from the Ohio START Program” March 22, 2022. Charlotte, NC. [virtual]

Department of Public Administration and Policy Research Seminar, School of Public Affairs, American University. “Collaboration Strategies for Implementing Cross-System Interventions.” March 23, 2021. Washington, DC. [virtual]

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - Systems for Action. “Aligning Behavioral Health and Child Welfare Systems to Address the Opiate Crisis in Rural Ohio.” September 30, 2020. [virtual]

Mid-Tier Advocacy. “10^th Anniversary, Business Insider Webinar.” November 18, 2020. Washington, DC. [virtual]

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - Systems for Action. “Aligning Behavioral Health and Child Welfare Systems to Address the Opiate Crisis in Rural Ohio.” August 21, 2019. [virtual]

Mid-Tier Advocacy. “Examining Set Aside Policies and Growth of Small and Mid-sized Federal Suppliers,” December 7, 2018, Tysons Corner, VA.
 

Conferences:

“Fostering Innovation in Acquisition: Diagnosing and Addressing Systemic Barriers” (with Michael Rayo, Laura Maguire), panel presentation at the Annual Meeting of the 2025 American Political Science Association, Vancouver, BC, Canada, September 11-14, 2025.

“Tailored Interventions to Foster Acquisition Innovation: Piloting the Innovation Alliance Program.” (with Michael Rayo, Laura Maguire), panel presentation at the Naval Postgraduate School 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit on May 7-8, 2025.

“Development and Pilot Test of the Collaborating Across Systems for Program Implementation (CASPI) Toolkit,’ (with Alicia Bunger, Emmeline Chuang, Fawn Gadel, Elizabeth Solinger, Jen McClellan, and Olivia Pardi), poster presentation at the 17^th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation, Arlington, VA, December 10, 2024. 

“Using Contracts to Facilitate Cross-System Care Coordination,” (with Ammar Bhaiji, Nadia Safaeinili, Anthony Gómez, Leigh Ann Haley, Nadereh Pourat), poster presentation at the 14^th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation, Arlington, VA, December 14-16, 2021. [virtual]

“Collaboration strategies for implementing cross-system interventions with child welfare and behavioral health organizations,” (with Alicia Bunger, Emmeline Chuang, Rebecca Phillips, Erica Magier, Jared Martin, Rebecca Smith, Kathryn Lancaster), panel presentation at the 14th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation, Arlington, VA, December 14-16, 2021. [virtual]

“The role of contracts for bridging child welfare and behavioral health organizations with the implementation of a cross-system collaborative intervention. (with Rebecca Smith, Rebecca Phillips, Emmeline Chuang, Kathyrn Lancaster, Erica Magier, Jared Martin, Alicia Bunger), poster presentation at the 14th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation, Arlington, VA, December 14-16, 2021. [virtual]

“Understanding Collaborative Relationships in the Ohio START Model: Utilizing NVivo to conduct a qualitative analysis of Ohio START formal contracts” (with Rebecca Smith, Rebecca Phillips, Alicia Bunger, Emmeline Chuang, Kathryn Lancaster, Erica Maiger, Jared Martin), paper presented at the NVivo Conference: Transcending Boundaries in Qualitative Research. September 22-23, 2021. [virtual]

“Linking Systems to Implement Substance Use Interventions in Child Welfare,” (with Alicia Bunger, Erica Magier, Emmeline Chuang, Amanda Girth, Kathryn Lancaster, Fawn Gadel, Marla Himmeger, Elinam Dellor, Karla Shockley-McCarthy, and Christy Kranich), panel presentation at the 12th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation, Arlington, VA, December 4, 2019.

“Academic Research in Commercial Contracting,” panel presentation at Stanford-IACCM Academic Symposium on Contract and Commercial Management, Palo Alto, CA, November 8, 2019.

“Hitting the Ground Running: Embedding Students in Government,” panel presentation at the NASPAA Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA, October 18, 2019.

“Whither Public Management and Administration Education –What will the next 50 years bring?” panel moderator at the NASPAA Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA, October 18, 2019.

“Evaluating the Governance of Smart Cities: A Public Values Approach” (with David Landsbergen and Angie Veliz Munoz), panel presentation at the 2019 Public Management Research Conference, Chapel Hill, NC, June 11-13, 2019.

“Policy Implementation in Child Welfare Agencies: Assessing Perceptions of Success of the Ohio START Program” (with Rebecca Smith), panel presentation at the Fall Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Washington, D.C., November 8-10, 2018.

“Holistic Approaches to Student Success: Connecting Recruitment, Curriculum, and Student Services for a Changing Student Body,” panel presentation at the NASPAA Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, October 10-13, 2018.

“From Design to Implementation: Evaluating Performance-based Acquisitions in Federal Procurement,” panel presentation at the 78^th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Chicago, IL, August 10-14, 2018.

 “Examining the Effects of Small business Set Asides in Federal Acquisitions (with Trevor L. Brown),” panel presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, San Francisco, CA, August 31-September 3, 2017.

“Examining the Effects of Set Aside Policies on Competition and Growth for Small and Mid-Sized Suppliers” (with Trevor L. Brown), panel presentation at the 14th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium, Monterey, CA, April 26-27, 2017.

“Small Business Suppliers and Federal Procurement: Examining Competition, Growth, and the Effects of Set Aside Contracts” (with Trevor L. Brown), panel presentation at the Fall Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Washington, D.C., November 3-8, 2016.

 “Contract Design, Supply Chain Complexity, and Accountability in Federal Contracts,” panel presentation at the Naval Postgraduate School’s 13^th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium, Monterey, CA, May 4-5, 2016.

“Accountability in Contracting: Examining Contract Incentives in Federal Agencies,” panel presentation at the Annual Meeting of the 2015 American Political Science Association, San Francisco, CA, September 3-6, 2015.

“Incentives In Third-Party Governance: Management Practices and Accountability Implications,” panel presentation at the 75th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Vancouver, BC, August 6-11, 2015.

“Examining Determinants of Incentive Contracts: Evidence from Federal Agencies,” panel presentation at the 2015 Public Management Research Association Conference, Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, June 11-13, 2015. 

“Citizen Attributions of Blame in Third-Party Governance” (with John D. Marvel), panel presentation at the Fall Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Albuquerque, NM, November 6-8, 2014.

“Examining Contract Accountability and Citizen Attributions of Blame in Third-Party Governance” (with John D. Marvel), panel presentation at the Annual Meeting of the 2014 American Political Science Association, Washington, DC, August 28-31, 2014.

 “Contract Performance in Federal Agencies: Assessing the Impact of Incentives on Contract Outcomes” (with Randall S. Davis and Edmund C. Stazyk), panel presentation at the Annual Meeting of the 2013 American Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, August 29-September 1, 2013.

“A Fresh Take on Government Contract Performance: Linking Social and Technical Factors” (with Randall S. Davis and Edmund C. Stazyk), panel presentation at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, Lake Buena Vista, FL, August 9-13, 2013.

“Examining the Use of Incentives in Contract Management: Evidence and Implications,” panel presentation at the Bi-Annual Public Management Research Conference, Madison, WI, June 20-23, 2013.

“The Social and Technical Determinants of Contract Performance: Resource Availability, Contracting Rules, Discretion and Ethical Climate” (with Randall S. Davis and Edmund C. Stazyk), panel presentation at the Fall Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Baltimore, MD, November 8-10, 2012.

“Contracting for Government Services: Using a Public Values Framework” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Fall Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Baltimore, MD, November 8-10, 2012.

“Managing Contracting Complexity: A Public Values Perspective” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), paper accepted for presentation at the Annual Meeting of the 2012 American Political Science Association, New Orleans, LA, August 30-September 2. (Note: Meeting canceled due to Hurricane Isaac).

"Assessing the Opportunity Costs of Contracting in Noncompetitive Public Service Markets," (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the 2012 Academy of Management Meeting, Boston, MA, August 3-7.

“The Partnership Decision: Examining Municipal Wireless Broadband Networks in the U.S.,” panel presentation at the international symposium Neither Public nor Private: Mixed Forms of Service Delivery Around The Globe, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, May 17-18, 2012.

"Assessing the Costs of Contracting in Noncompetitive Markets," (with Jocelyn M. Johnston) panel presentation at the Fall Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Washington, DC, November 3-5, 2011.

"Examining the Costs of Contracting in Noncompetitive Markets: Evidence from Local Governments," (with Jocelyn M. Johnston) panel presentation at Annual Conference of the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management, Omaha, NE, October 6-8, 2011.

“Outsourcing Local Government Services: Holding Contractors Accountable in Noncompetitive Contract Markets” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston) panel presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association in Seattle, WA, September 1-4, 2011.

“Why do Public Managers Avoid Enforcing Sanctions for Unsatisfactory Contract Performance? Perspectives from Local Governments,” panel presentation at the Bi-Annual Public Management Research Conference in Syracuse, NY, June 2-4, 2011.

“Contract Management in Thin Markets: Examining Transaction Costs, Opportunity Costs and Contract Effectiveness” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Bi-Annual Public Management Research Conference in Syracuse, NY, June 2-4, 2011.

“From the Front Lines of Contract Management: Opportunity Costs and Public Service Contracting in Noncompetitve Markets” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Fall Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management in Boston, MA, November 4-6, 2010.

“Digging More Deeply into Contracting Transaction Costs: The Impacts of “Managing” Public Service Provider Markets” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the 6th Transatlantic Dialogue Conference in Siena Italy, June 24-26, 2010.

“Contracting for Local Government Services in Noncompetitive Markets: Management Responses and Policy Implications” (with Amir Hefetz, Jocelyn M. Johnston, Mildred Warner), panel presentation at the Fall Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management in Washington, DC, November 5-7, 2009.

“Public Managers "Managing the Market": Surveying the Effects of Strategic Interventions in Public Service Markets” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Bi-Annual Public Management Research Conference in Columbus, OH, October 1-2, 2009.

“American Exceptionalism, Human Resources Management, and the Contract State” (with Robert F. Durant and Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association in Toronto, ON, September 3-6, 2009.

“Accountability and Discretion in Contract Implementation: Examining Public Managers’ Differential Responses to Imposing Contract Sanctions,” panel presentation at the Annual SPA PhD Research Conference in Washington DC, May 8, 2009.

“Public Service Contracting and Weak Competition: Assessing the Costs and Impacts of Strategies Used to “Manage" Provider Markets” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Annual National Conference of the Midwest Political Science Association in Chicago, IL, April 2-5, 2009.

“Managing the Market:” Exploring the Effects of Noncompetitive Markets on Public Management” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Annual Conference of the American Society for Public Administration in Miami, FL, March 20-24, 2009.

“Perceptions and Strategic Response: Government Contract Managers and the Challenge of Weak Vendor Competition” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Fall Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management in Los Angeles, CA, November 6-8, 2008.

“Chasing Competition: Examining the Effects of Noncompetitive Public Service Markets” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Annual Conference of the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management in Chicago, IL, October 22-25, 2008.

“What Happens When Public Managers “Manage the Market?” Evidence and Implications” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Annual National Conference of the Midwest Political Science Association in Chicago, IL, April 3-6, 2008.

“Municipal Wireless: Innovative Public Service Delivery,” panel presentation at the Annual Conference of the American Society for Public Administration in Dallas, TX, March 7, 2008.

“How Are Public Managers “Managing the Market?” Evidence and Implications” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Annual Conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management in Washington, DC, November 9, 2007. 

“Municipal Wireless: Examining the Determinants of Public-Private Partnerships,” panel presentation at the Annual Conference of the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management in Washington, DC, October 26, 2007.

“Public Managers and “Managing the Market:” Evidence from the Front Lines of Contracting” (with Jocelyn M. Johnston), panel presentation at the Bi-Annual Public Management Research Conference in Tucson, AZ, October 26, 2007.

U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2019). Federal Contracting: Awards to Mid-Sized Businesses and Their Impact on Small Businesses (GAO-19-523). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Accountability Office. 

Idaho Transportation Department. (2017). Motor Vehicle Service Delivery: Analysis of Idaho’s Model and Policy Alternatives (RP-296). Boise, ID.

Law360. January 27, 2020. Daniel Wilson. “Federal Contracting Policy Leaves Mid-Sized Cos. In A Bind.” https://www.law360.com/articles/1236257/federal-contracting-policy-leaves-mid-sized-cos-in-a-bind  

Homeland Security Today. December 9m 2019. Bridget Johnson. “How Does a Contractor Get Through the Mid-Tier Door – and Stay There?” http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/charity-accused-of-misspending-17m-had-red-flags/nP5Hs/

Stateline, The Pew Charitable Trusts. August 5, 2014. Jenni Bergal. “Policing Private Contractors is Challenge for States.” http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2014/08/05/policing-private-contractors-is-challenge-for-states

Dayton Daily News. July 28, 2012. Andrew Tobias. “Charity Accused of Misspending $1.7M Had Red Flags.” http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/charity-accused-of-misspending-17m-had-red-flags/nP5Hs/

Manager, Public Services, BearingPoint, June 2003 - August 2007

• Project management consultant for multiple client engagements at the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development. Most notably deputy project manager for $300M global IT priority project for the Under Secretary of Management.

Project Consultant, Navigant Consulting, Energy and Water Practice, May 2002 - August 2002

• Analyzed regulatory environment, Federal Communications Commission, joint use, market and non-market forces of networked industries to develop corporate strategic plans to enhance revenue potential for investor-owned utilities.

Program and Outreach Specialist, Michigan Women’s Commission, Michigan Department of Civil Rights, State of Michigan, January 2000 - July 2001

• Coordinated projects to support improvements in women’s health, domestic and sexual violence, substance abuse, economic development, and girls and technology.

Legislative Assistant, State Representative Laura M. Toy, House of Representatives, State of Michigan, May 1999 - December 1999 

• Researched and analyzed proposed legislation for the Judiciary and Retirement Appropriations subcommittees.  

Office of Governor John Engler, State of Michigan July 1997 - May 1999

• Interim Policy Coordinator: Governor’s liaison to Departments, Legislature, and external stakeholders on disability and civil rights issues.
• Appointments Specialist: Researched candidates for appointments to boards and commissions in the Departments of Agriculture, Civil Rights, Corrections, State, and State Police.

Associate Professor, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

• Federal Policy and Administration, PUBAFRS 7600: Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2024, Autumn 2025
• MPA-DC Capstone, PUBAFRS 7980: Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2025, Spring 2026
• Public Management Capstone: Strategy for Public Organizations, PUBAFRS 7940: Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018
• Public Affairs Capstone, PUBAFRS 4011: Spring 2019
• Public Management, PUBAFRS 3500: Spring 2018, Spring 2019
• Contemporary Issues in Governance - Washington Academic Internship Program, PUBAFRS 4020: Summer 2018
• Public Affairs Research Paper – Washington Academic Internship Program, PUBAFRS 4021: Summer 2018
• Leadership in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors, PUBAFRS 2130: Autumn 2017
• New courses developed for the Glenn College:
  • PUBARFS 7980 MPA-DC Capstone 
  • PUBARFS 7610 Follow the Money: Making Sense of the Federal Budget** 
  • PUBAFRS 7600 Federal Policy and Administration 
    **Not the instructor of record

Assistant Professor, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

• Public Management Capstone: Strategy for Public Organizations, PUBAFRS 7940: Autumn 2014, Spring 2015, Autumn 2015
• Strategy for Public Organizations, PUBAFRS 812/7557: Autumn 2011, Spring 2013
• Nonprofit Management and Governance, PUBAFRS 7553: Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013
• Public Management, PUBAFRS 3500: Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Autumn 2016
• Nonprofit Management and Governance, PUBAFRS 330/3140: Winter 2012, Autumn 2012, Spring 2013, Autumn 2013
• Leadership in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors, PUBAFRS 290/2130: Winter 2012, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015
• New courses developed for the Glenn College:
  • PUBAFRS 7940 Capstone: Financial Management for Public, Nonprofit, and Health Organizations**
  • PUBAFRS 5592 Marketing for Nonprofit and Public Organizations**
  • PUBAFRS 3500 Public Management 
  • PUBAFRS 4510 Law and Public Affairs**
    **Not the instructor of record

Instructor, School of Public Affairs, American University   

• The Individual and The Organization, PUAD 653: Summer 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010
• Managing Nonprofit Organizations, PUAD 681: Spring 2011

Lecturer, School of Business, The George Washington University

• Master of Science in Project Management Orientation: August 2006, January 2007, August 2007, January 2008

Teaching Assistant, School of Business, The George Washington University                        

• Organizational Behavior Experiential Laboratory, BADM 66: Fall 2002, Spring 2003

Dissertation Advisor, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

• Rebecca Smith (completed 12-2022)

Dissertation Committee, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

• Daniel Baker (completed 8-2020)
• Zhongnan Zhang (completed 6-2020)
• Kristin Harlow (completed 11-2018)

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Advisor, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

• Sarah Hudacek

Undergraduate Honors Thesis/Research Distinction Committee, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

• Megan Simmons (Jill Clark, Advisor)

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Strategic Contracting and Negotiation, 2017-2020

Board Member, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 2018-2020

Founding Board Member, Perspectives on Public Management & Governance, Public Management Research Association, 2016-2022

Chair, Doctoral Consortium, Public and Nonprofit Division, Academy of Management, 2025 & 2026

Member, Best Paper Award, Public and Nonprofit Division, Academy of Management, 2025

Chair, Herbert Kaufman Best Paper Committee, American Political Science Association, Public Administration Section, 2025.

Member, Best Dissertation Award Committee, Public and Nonprofit Division, Academy of Management, 2021

Member, Best Dissertation Award Committee, Public Management Research Association, 2021

Panel Discussant, Equitable Procurement and Contract Management, 2020 Fall Research Conference, Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management, November 12, 2020.

Panel Chair, Markets for Public Services: Theory and Empirical Evidence, 2020 Fall Research Conference, Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management, November 12, 2020.

External Reader, Zachary Bauer, Dissertation defense, “U.S. Immigration Enforcement Governance in an Intergovernmental and Intersectoral Context,” School of Public Affairs, American University, 2020.

Chair, Herbert Kaufman Best Paper Committee, American Political Science Association, Public Administration Section, 2019.

Member, Program Committee, 2019 Public Management Research Conference

Co-chair, Doctoral Consortium, Public and Nonprofit Division, Academy of Management, 2018

Member, Nominating Committee, Public Management Research Association, 2017

Member, Program Committee, 2017 Public Management Research Conference

Selection Committee, Paul A. Volcker Junior Scholar Research Grant, American Political Science Association Section on Public Administration, 2016

Invited Participant, Academic Women in Public Administration, Inaugural Workshop, Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington, 2016

Panelist, Lean Six Sigma Roundtable, LeanOhio, Ohio Department of Administrative Services, 2015

Selection Committee, Best Dissertation Award, Academy of Management Public and Nonprofit Division, 2014

Plenary Moderator, Finding Your Policy Niche: Becoming the Expert You Want to Be, 2013 Glenn School Leadership Forum, 2013

Focus Group Facilitator, Central Ohio Organization of Public Purchasers-NIGP, Strategy Development, 2013

Selection Committee, Herbert A. Simon Book Award, American Political Science Association Section on Public Administration, 2013

Panel Chair, “Private Actors and Public Values: Street Level Behavior in a State of Agents," Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Baltimore, MD, November 2012

Executive Committee, American Political Science Association, Section on Public Administration, 2012-2014

External Referee, Charles Levine Doctoral Student Research Award, American University, School of Public Affairs, 2012

Selection Committee, Paul A. Volcker Junior Scholar Research Grant, American Political Science Association Section on Public Administration, 2011

Panel Chair, “Improved Methods for Financial Management,” Annual Conference of the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management in Washington, DC, September 2009

Panel Chair, “Transforming of Service Through Technology,” Annual Conference of the American Society for Public Administration in Dallas, TX, March 2008 

Reviewer, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Public Administration Review, Administration & Society, Perspectives on Public Management and Governance, Journal of Public Procurement, Public Performance & Management Review, Review of Public Personnel Administration, International Public Management Journal, The American Review of Public Administration, Public Administration, Public Administration Quarterly, Nonprofit Voluntary and Sector Quarterly, Public Management Review, State and Local Government Review, International Journal of Public Sector Management, Regional Studies, Local Government Studies, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Journal of Strategic Contracting & Negotiation, Journal of Supply Chain Management 

John Glenn College of Public Affairs:

Curricular

• Graduate Curriculum Committee, since 2025
• Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, since 2012
  • Director, 2018-2019
• Nonprofit Minor Committee, 2015-17
• Master’s Comprehensive Exam Committee, 2014-2019
• Nonprofit Planning Committee, 2013-15
• Public Management Track Development Committee, 2013-15
• Doctoral Exam Committee, 2014
• Public Finance Track Development Committee, 2013

Faculty Searches

• Public Management Faculty Search Committee, 2025
• Public Management Faculty Search Committee, 2024
• Public Management Faculty Search Committee, 2020
• Chair, Public Management Faculty Search Committee, 2017
• Public Management Faculty Search Committee, 2016
• Public Management Faculty Search Committee, 2012

Mentorship

• Faculty Mentor
  • Seo-Young Byun, 2025

  • Mallory Compton, 2025

     

Administration

• Dean’s Reappointment Review, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, 2017
• Strategic Planning Committee, 2015, 2019
• Appointments, Promotion and Tenure Review Committee, 2014
• AmeriCorps Planning Grant Committee, 2014

Awards

• Undergraduate Policy Paper Award Committee, 2012-16
  • Committee Chair, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
• Robert W. Backoff Research Award Committee, 2011-14

The Ohio State University:

• Faculty Affiliate, Center for Responsible Artificial Intelligence and Governance, since 2025
• Smart Columbus, Technical Working Group Policy Committee, 2018-20
• Smart Campus Faculty Engagement Group, 2018
• Presenter, Research and Innovation Series: Smart Cities, Ohio State University & Smart Columbus, 2018
• Reviewer, President’s Postdoctoral Scholars Program, 2018
• Grant reviewer, 2016 Impact Grant Review Committee, Office of Outreach and Engagement, 2016
• Student Organization Advising
  • Co-advisor, Design for American, 2015-16
  • Co-advisor, Buckeyes Against Hunger, 2015-16
  • Co-advisor, Dollars4Change, 2013-18
• COMPAS Public/Private 2013-14 Planning Committee, 2012-13
• Denman Undergraduate Research Forum Judge, 2012, 2014, 2018
• Graduate Faculty Representative, The Graduate School
  • Terra Vajcner, Doctoral Dissertation, 11/2015
  • Jennifer VanDerHeide, Doctoral Dissertation, 6/2014
  • Yim Lam Lee, Doctoral Dissertation, 5/2012
• Nonprofit Advisory Group, Outreach and Engagement, 2011-13

Member, Academy of Management

• Public & Nonprofit Division
• Operations & Supply Chain Management Division

Member, American Political Science Association

• Public Administration Section

Member, Public Management Research Association

Member, Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management

Member, Project Management Institute

• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)