UWO Public Administration

Shout out to MPA professor and Whitburn Center Director Michael Ford who is quoted in this recent Chicago Tribune article on school board governance. The UWO MPA program is all about connecting research to practice.

Chicago school board approves resolution against federal tax-credit scholarship program The Chicago Board of Education approved a resolution Wednesday calling on Gov. JB Pritzker to reject the Trump administration’s federal tax-credit scholarship program.

Congratulations to Travis Wells on his appointment to City Administrator in South Milwaukee!

City of South Milwaukee Appoints Travis Wells, MPA, as City Administrator — Innovative Public Advisors South Milwaukee, Wis. (April 6, 2026): The City of South Milwaukee is pleased to announce the appointment of Travis Wells, MPA, as City Administrator. Wells was appointed by the Common Council at a special meeting held tonight, Monday, April 6, 2026, at 6 p.m. He will officially commence his servic

Check out the Whitburn Center's new quick reference resource on the process of changing to a professionally managed local government:

https://www.uwosh.edu/whitburn-center/wp-content/uploads/sites/211/2025/02/Process-of-Changing-Governing-Form.pdf

Of course you always will want to work with your municipal attorney, but we wanted to provide some answers and examples for the most frequently asked questions.

www.uwosh.edu

Professor Michael Ford will be presenting "Dealing with Challenging Budget Issues" to a group going through the UW Extension's Certified Public Manager Program this morning. The UWO MPA program has been working with the UW Extension for well over a decade on issues of public finance and governance. All about collaboration!

Congrats to our new UWO MPAs!

Was a pleasure presenting UWO governance research at Neenah City Hall this morning. A research enhanced moment...practical research involving students presented to folks on the front-lines meeting Wisconsin's local government challenges.

What was local government like 200 years ago? Join us at Noon for today's virtual webinar where UWO history professor Gabriel Loiacono will present his research on the history of local government.

Whitburn Wednesdays Event Series The Whitburn Wednesdays Event Series covers a wide range of pressing issues and features panelists representing a diversity of viewpoints. The events take place most months of the academic year, either in person and/or virtually.

“I think local government is our last best hope for democracy in America.”

Thank you Michael Ford for your valuable insight and thought-provoking idea!



📸 TEDxOshkosh Photo- Phil Weston

Want to Change the World and Not Sure How? Get an MPA! Come to our virtual event tomorrow at noon to hear from two recent successful MPA grads: https://www.uwosh.edu/whitburn-center/events-outreach/

Graduates of the UW Oshkosh Masters of Public Administration (MPA) program work in local, state and federal government. They work in politics and public policy. They hold elected office. They work in healthcare management, fire and emergency management, higher education, the nonprofit sector, and so much more. The undergraduate programs from which our students come are as diverse as their career paths. The one common thread is a commitment to making positive change in their communities.

Join us on October 23rd from Noon to 1:00 to learn about our MPA program, and hear how two recent MPA graduates, Taylor Zeinert (Class of ’23) and Jack Tierney (Class of ’22), are putting their degrees to use. Taylor, who holds an undergraduate degree in political science, currently serves as the Economic Development Director for the City of Whitewater, WI. Jack, who holds an undergraduate degree in journalism, serves as a Management Analyst for the City of Des Plaines, IL.

Whitburn Wednesdays Event Series The Whitburn Wednesdays Event Series covers a wide range of pressing issues and features panelists representing a diversity of viewpoints. The events take place most months of the academic year, either in person and/or virtually.

Are you an undergrad seeking to make a difference? Come learn about the UWO MPA program during our October 23rd webinar from noon to 1. Details are here:

Whitburn Wednesdays Event Series The Whitburn Wednesdays Event Series covers a wide range of pressing issues and features panelists representing a diversity of viewpoints. The events take place most months of the academic year, either in person and/or virtually.

Pleased to see UWO Whitburn Center research cited as a resource as La Crosse considers creating a City Administrator position: https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/Home/Components/News/News/2021/16.

Proposal to create a City Administrator position for the City of La Crosse, WI | City News | La Crosse, WI The information presented here is designed to provide some background on the nature of the position, how the addition may change operations of city government, and fiscal impacts of adding the position.

Hope to see you all there tonight at the UWO Union, Room 307. A really unique opportunity to hear from a national political figure with continued influence in higher education reform.