Research Interests

My research agenda focuses on a number of central themes in public and nonprofit management and organizational theory.  I am particularly interested in privatization reforms involving partnerships between government agencies and nonprofit or forprofit service providers.  I am also interested in comparative studies examining various organizational characteristics and outcomes across public, nonprofit, and forprofit sectors.  Specific organizational processes I have focused on in my studies include decision-making, collaboration, organizational performance, and performance measurement.

Selected Publications

• Amirkhanyan, A. (Forthcoming). "Collaborative Performance Measurement: Examining and explaining the prevalence of collaboration in state and local government performance monitoring." Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory.
• Amirkhanyan, A.A., Kim, H.J., & Lambright, K.T. (Forthcoming). "Faith-based Assumptions about Performance: Does Church-affiliation Matter for Service Quality and Access?" Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. (Accepted for publication 04/22/08).
• Amirkhanyan, A.A. (Forthcoming). "Rejecting privatization: Case study analysis of local government decision-making." The Journal of Public Management and Social Policy. (Accepted for publication 03/18/08).
• Amirkhanyan, A.A. 2008. "Privatizing public nursing homes: Examining the effect on quality and access." Public Administration Review 68(4):665-680.
• Amirkhanyan, A., Kim, J., & Lambright, K. 2008. "Does the public sector outperform the nonprofit and for-profit sectors? Evidence from a national panel study on nursing home quality and access." Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 27(2):326-353.
• Amirkhanyan, A.A. 2007. "The smart-seller challenge: The determinants of privatizing public nursing homes." Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 17(3):501-527.
• Amirkhanyan, A.A., Kim, H.J., & Lambright, K.T. 2007. "Putting the pieces together: A comprehensive framework for understanding the decision to contract out and contractor performance." International Journal of Public Administration 30:699-725.
• Amirkhanyan, A.A., & Wolf, D.A. 2006. "Parent care and the stress process: Findings from panel data." Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences 61B(5):248-255.
• Amirkhanyan, A.A., & Wolf, D.A. 2003. "Caregiver stress and noncaregiver stress: Exploring the pathways of psychiatric morbidity." The Gerontologist 43:817-827.

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

• (2008) SPA Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching, American University.
• (2007) SPA Award for Outstanding Service to the University Community, American University.
• (2006) National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) Annual Dissertation Award (Honorable Mention).
• (2006) American University Faculty Research Award.
• (2006) Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Dissertation Prize, Syracuse University.
• (2004-6) Syracuse University Graduate Fellowship, Syracuse University.
• (2002-4) Summer Graduate Fellowship, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Department of Public Administration, Syracuse University.
• (2001-4) Graduate Assistantship and Tuition Scholarship, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; Syracuse University.
• (2001) Maureen Roscelli Memorial Scholarship, New School for Social Research.
• (1999-2001) Edmund S. Muskie Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship.

Professional Presentations

• Amirkhanyan, A.A., Lambright, K.T., & Kim, H.J. (2008) “Do Relationships Matter? Assessing the Impact of Relationship Design on Contractor Performance.” Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Fall Conference.
• Amirkhanyan, A.A., & Nafis Islam (2008). “Monitoring across Sectors: Examining the effect of nonprofit and forprofit ownership on performance monitoring in local government contracts.” Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting.
• Amirkhanyan, A.A., Lambright, K.T., & Kim, H.J. (2007). “Faith-based Assumptions about Performance: Does Church-affiliation Matter for Service Quality and Access?” Maxwell School Research Seminar, Syracuse University.
• Amirkhanyan, A. (2007). “Collaboration, ownership, and performance measurement: Understanding their role in effective contract implementation and management in government contracting.” Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Annual Meeting.
• Amirkhanyan, A.A. (invited speaker). (2007). "Marketing Your Nonprofit with Little or No Money" Nonprofit Forum. October 25, 2007, Washington DC.
• Amirkhanyan, A.A., Lambright, K.T., & Kim, H.J. (2006) “Comparing quality and access: A panel data analysis of performance outcomes across three sectors.” Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Fall Conference.
• Amirkhanyan, A. (2006). “Exploring the Determinants of Nursing Home Privatization" the Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting.
• Amirkhanyan, A. (2006). Discussant of the session “Those Precious Civil Servants” Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting.
• Amirkhanyan, A. (2005). “The Smart-seller challenge: Exploring the Determinants of Nursing Home Privatization," Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting.