Criminology ·
Beyond the Blue
SPA Professor Awarded for Work Evaluating Police Peer Support Programs
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The cornerstone of SPA's success is its esteemed faculty, comprised of prolific scholars, researchers, lecturers, executives, and ambassadors – all leaders in their field. They delve into the complex and pressing issues of our time, yielding real-world, practical solutions for pressing problems. Read below for our latest research highlights organized by topic.
Featured Research News
Environmental Policy ·
No Compromise in Defense of Mother Earth
In his new book No Option But Sabotage, SPA professor traces the rise, fall, and potential reemergence of the radical environmental movement.
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Political Science ·
Meet the Political Strategist Whose Firm Is Setting Records in Miami
Michael Worley, SPA/BA ’12, helped elect the city’s first woman mayor and first Democrat in nearly 30 years
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Policy Analysis ·
Safeguarding the US Federal Government Workforce
Policy Brief: Lessons from the 2025 assault on the bureaucracy.
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Public Finance and Budget ·
How Rent-Control Intensity Relates to Tenant Outcomes in California Cities, 2010–2019
Policy Brief: Rising rents and growing housing cost burdens in high-cost metropolitan regions have intensified policy interest in rent regulation.
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Health Policy & Management ·
Abortion Access, Economic Hardship, and Crime: Unintended Consequences of Restrictive Policies
Policy Brief: abortion policies, typically debated on moral and legal grounds, have broader economic and social consequences.
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Health Policy & Management ·
Pregnancy Exclusions in Advance Directives: A Post-Dobbs Equal Protection Argument
Issue Brief: In a forthcoming article, SPA Senior Scholar in Residence Jessica Waters and alumna Madelyn Adams (MPA, ‘25) propose an additional equal protection argument to bolster existing arguments against pregnancy exclusions.
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Featured Publications
- I’ll Bribe You Because I Trust You: Street-Level Bureaucracy, Discretion, Social Capital, and Petty Corruption in Latin America, Sanabria-Pulido, Pablo; Langbein, Laura;
- Clean Rides, Healthy Lives: The Impact of Electric Vehicle Adoption on Air Quality and Infant Health, Baran, Cavit; Currie, Janet; Dursun, Bahadir; Tekin, Erdal;
- Supply-Side Opioid Restrictions and the Retail Pharmacy Market, Burton, Anne M; Churchill, Brandyn F;
Browse by Category
Criminology
Examining the causes of crime and the the operation of the criminal justice system.
Environmental Policy
Conducting research on both policy processes and the effects of environmental issues on health and well-being.
Health Policy & Management
Analyzing the connection between public health disparities, racial inequality, and how economic insecurity can exacerbate public health issues.
Homeland Security Policy
Researching current issues facing U.S. law enforcement, intelligence, and homeland security agencies.
International Global Policy & Administration
SPA faculty across departments produce interdisciplinary research on global policy and administration challenges.
Nonprofit Management
Focusing broadly on organizational behavior of public, nonprofit, and socially entrepreneurial organizations.
Policy Analysis
Evaluating the implementation of public policy and its outcomes on society.
Political Science
Dissecting systems of government and analyzing political activity and behavior.
Public Finance and Budget
Analyzing how governments generate and use public funds to provide goods and services.
Public Management and Leadership
How governments at all levels can effectively deliver goods and services to diverse populations across policy areas.
Social Policy
Illuminating pressing social problems, inequities, and potential policy solutions to the most pressing issues of our day.
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SPA Hosts Five Research Journals
SPA now hosts five journals that span public affairs, government, and law subject matter. Our faculty expertise is a draw for these journals, and we are honored to play a leadership role for these excellent publications.SPA Summer Academy
SPA Summer Academy Scholars underrepresented among public affairs faculty receive quality feedback on research projects and mentoring advice on strategic planning of an academic career.