Rebecca Smith

Hometown: Durham, N.C.

Undergrad Institution and Major:
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA with a double major in Psychology and Spanish

Graduate Institutions and Major:
The University of Georgia, Masters in Public Administration (MPA), concentrations in Public Management and Public Policy
 

Research Interests:
Rebecca Smith’s primary research interest focuses on human service organizations. Smith is interested in how human service organizations engage in intergovernmental relationships and collaborative partnerships to coordinate service provision. Smith studies the relationships between organizational leaders and frontline workers within and across agencies in order to improve implementation practices and organizational processes. She also studies these organizations and these relationships to better understand service fragmentation and improve service access, quality and outcomes for underserved populations. Her secondary research interest focuses on women in public and nonprofit organizations. Smith conducts research on sexual harassment practices and policies in order to improve organizational responses and support women in public service. In her research she employs both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Relevant Professional Experience:

• Federal Government Intern with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) in Seattle, WA
• County Caseworker and Spanish Interpreter for SNAP (Food Stamps)
• Private Sector Management

Teaching Experience:

• PUBAFRS 2110: Introduction to Public Affairs (UG, Fall 2017)
• PUBAFRS 2130: Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Organizations (UG, Fall 2018)
• PUBAFRS 3140: Nonprofit Governance and Management (UG, Fall 2017)
• PUBAFRS 4011: Undergraduate Capstone in Public Affairs (UG, Spring 2019)
• PUBAFRS 5750: The Business & Government Relationship (Online) (UG/G, Spring 2018)
• PUBAFRS 6000: Public Policy Formulation and Implementation (Online) (G, Spring 2020)
• PUBAFRS 6513: Excel Basic Skills (G, Fall 2019)
• PUBAFRS 7571: Multivariate Regression Analysis (G, Fall 2019)
• PUBAFRS 7930: Masters Capstone in Strategic Budgeting & Financial Management (G, Spring 2018 & 2020)

Honors & Awards:

• Glenn College - Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award for 2018 – 2019 Academic Year (2019)
• Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society (2017)
• University of Georgia - 100 Hours of Service Award (2017)
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Public Service Scholar (2008)

Professional Affiliations:

• Academic Women in Public Administration (AWPA)
• Academy of Management (AOM)
• American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
• Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM)
• Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Actions (ARNOVA)
• Public Management Research Association (PMRA)

Research Advisor:

• Dr. Amanda Girth