Today, March 28, 2013, the University of Central Florida Faculty Senate passed a resolution “urging caution in the implementation of STEM initiatives” and affirming the value of citizenship for higher education. The resolution was drafted in a collaborative process, and I am very proud that this is the final resolution passed by the senate atContinue reading “Urging Caution on STEM and Affirming Citizenship as a Core Value of Higher Education”
Author Archives: Prof. dr. Thomas Bryer
Assessing Impact of Community Engaged Research
In the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Central Florida, we strive to achieve impact through our research. To that end, I have developed a framework for assessing impact, along with process and outputs. What do you think? Have you seen other models?
Fragmentation in Social Services: An Interactive Exercise
Gaining access to an array of social services needed to regain self-sufficiency can be challenging, depending on where the individual or family in need of service initiates their search. Presenting a request for goods or services at a small faith-based organization, food bank, or job training center may result in a very different set ofContinue reading “Fragmentation in Social Services: An Interactive Exercise”
Good Intentions and Disparities
Last year I published an article in Public Integrity about the ethics of policy responses to the housing crisis and attempts to recover. I drew on my own experiences as a context-setting device. Read about the article here. Since writing that article in 2011 (published in 2012), more activity has occurred, which has continued to shed lightContinue reading “Good Intentions and Disparities”
2012 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner can carry about 250 passengers. This blog was viewed about 1,600 times in 2012. If it were a Dreamliner, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people. Click here to seeContinue reading “2012 in review”
2012 Experiences; 2013 Anticipations
Here we go, countdown of 2012 top experiences and 2013 anticipations. Many of the experiences and anticipations are good things; some I would probably preferred to not have happened, but there is life experience from all of it. You will see even in the negative, I found some opportunity to create a positive outcome. TopicContinue reading “2012 Experiences; 2013 Anticipations”
Not Speechless
The shooting in Newtown, Connecticut that has claimed the lives of 20 children and at least 6 adults leaves us speechless. Truly, there are no words we can utter to truly express the gravity of the hurt we all feel when so many children are taken so quickly and without reason. But we cannot beContinue reading “Not Speechless”
When Was the Last Time You Took Your School Bus for a Walk?
The Center for Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Central Florida signed a contract this week with the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) to manage and evaluate a program called Walking School Bus. This program will work with schools, parents, community volunteers, and elementary school kids within the 9-county DOT district to setup safe walking routesContinue reading “When Was the Last Time You Took Your School Bus for a Walk?”
Interfaith School Turnaround Pilot Project/Together for Tomorrow
Over the past year-plus, I have had the pleasure of working with some exemplary leaders in government, nonprofit, school, and faith-based organizations, ranging from the White House down to a local church. Download my report on the local pilot project, one of the first in the nation, that sought to join together faith-based and communityContinue reading “Interfaith School Turnaround Pilot Project/Together for Tomorrow”
Fatherhood Forum: Collaboration
Last week the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management at UCF welcomed the US Administration for Children and Families and approximately 100 people representing local government, nonprofit, faith-based, and private organizations to the university. They convened a forum on strengthening fatherhood and families. I had the privilege not only to welcome them to the university but toContinue reading “Fatherhood Forum: Collaboration”
Thomas Andrew Bryer 