Prof. dr. Thomas Bryer

NEWS FLASH: U.S. Office of Public Participation Created

Okay, so, a new U.S. Office of Public Participation (OPP) has not actually been created, but should it be? What could we do with a “Comptroller General for Civic Engagement,” appointed by the President for a 15 year term, like the Comptroller General of the United States in the Government Accountability Office (GAO)? Non-partisan (orContinue reading “NEWS FLASH: U.S. Office of Public Participation Created”

New Semester: Have You Empowered Your Student Today?

Unbelievably, the summer has ended, and fall 2012 is upon us. The timing is perfect for faculty, aspiring faculty, and students to take a look at the Summer 2012 issue of Journal of Public Affairs Education. The issue contains a symposium on Social and Technological Innovations in Teaching Public Affairs, edited by me and Dr. Angie Eikenberry from University ofContinue reading “New Semester: Have You Empowered Your Student Today?”

Center for Public and Nonprofit Management Annual Report

In September 2011, I stepped up as the second director of the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Central Florida. We have just released the first annual report under my tenure. Read about the diversity of grants and contracts received, innovative approaches to help solve community problems, and associated faculty andContinue reading “Center for Public and Nonprofit Management Annual Report”

School of Public Administration PA Focus

Every year, the School of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida publishes a year-in-review booklet called PA Focus. This year’s publication is now out. Download it here, and read about faculty, student, and alumni accomplishments and contributions to the community.

Using Research to Help Meet Basic Needs: Education and Nutrition

This summer I am working on two grants/contracts that demonstrate how applied research can impact on individual quality of life and strength of community. The first is with the United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties. They are seeking to make strategic investments in child and adult education using their finite resources. As such, partContinue reading “Using Research to Help Meet Basic Needs: Education and Nutrition”

By The Numbers….

I’m one month away from submitting my dossier to launch the tenure and promotion process. The dossier consists of two binders of material, including a one-page summary sheet. I can’t say everything on such a summary sheet, but I can communicate the numbers, so here we go: Research Research Areas: Public participation, bureaucratic responsiveness, collaborativeContinue reading “By The Numbers….”

Holy T*x!

(Warning: This post contains language that might be offensive to some individuals. Parents might consider moving their children away from the computer to watch C-SPAN or PBS. We must be sure children are safe from unsafe t*xing). When did tax (sh*t, I mean t*x) become such a dirty word? A recent headline after the SupremeContinue reading “Holy T*x!”

Identity Crisis: Searching for Personal Responsibility, Justice, and Community in the Real Estate Market Crash

The following is excerpted from a new article published in Public Integrity. If you wish to read a full copy, contact me. The discussion here includes four topics. First, there is the concern for personal responsibility. From the classical liberal and contemporary conservative perspective of the rugged individual to the communitarian perspective of the individual embedded inContinue reading “Identity Crisis: Searching for Personal Responsibility, Justice, and Community in the Real Estate Market Crash”

A Model for Public Participation Using Social Media

In a couple of months, I will participate in an international seminar in Amsterdam, discussing the “Building of a Shared City” through public participation. The focus is on public participation in urban infrastructure projects. Read my preliminary remarks on the subject of how social media tools can be used to this end. Download here. Though IContinue reading “A Model for Public Participation Using Social Media”

Building the Shared City: How Can We Engage Citizens

I have been invited to participate in a seminar of The City Factory (http://www.lafabriquedelacite.com/en) this August in Amsterdam. The theme for the seminar is: “Building the shared city: how can we engage citizens?” The seminars are described as: “Every year, The City Factory organizes a seminar on a specific theme that brings together some sixtyContinue reading “Building the Shared City: How Can We Engage Citizens”