You are here: American University School of Public Affairs PhD Programs Doctoral Students on the Market

Back to top

SPA's PhD curriculum is designed to provide doctoral students with the skills to effect immediate impact.

With expertise spanning public management, global health governance, regulatory policy and more, our PhD candidates bring the research competency and academic rigor to their respective fields and educate the next generation of public affairs leaders.

Public Administration PhD Students

Minjung Kim Adjunct Instructor

Minjung Kim is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. Her research interests include public and nonprofit management, civic engagement, phil…

  mk5083a@american.edu

Aeric Koerner Adjunct Instructor

Aeric Koerner is a doctoral candidate in American University’s Department of Public Administration and Policy. His research interests include public management, health policy, and contracting and priv…

  aeric.koerner@american.edu

Fei Roberts Adjunct Instructor

Fei Roberts is a PhD candidate in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. Her research interests include public-private comparisons, theories of motivation, governme…

  fw9435a@american.edu

Lilli Shaffer Adjunct Instructor

Lilliandra's primary area of study is in nonprofit organizations, specifically foundations. She is also interested in public administration theory and philosophy. Prior to attending American Universit…

  js4358a@american.edu

Carley Weted Adjunct Instructor

Carley Weted is a doctoral student in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at American University. Her research interests include investigations of environmental factors with effects on …

  cw3677a@american.edu

Justice, Law & Criminology PhD Students

Hillary Mellinger Adjunct Professorial Lecturer SPA - Justice, Law and Criminology

<p>Hillary Mellinger is an instructor in the <a href="https://www.american.edu/spa/jlc/">Department of Justice, Law and Criminology</a>. Her academic interests include comp…

  hillary.mellinger@american.edu

Recent PhD Job Placements

James Wright and Meghan Doughty

James Wright II is a 3rd year Doctoral Candidate. His research explores how different institutional and organizational behaviors impact goals and outcomes, primarily for people of color. He also studies the ways in which organizations/managers in various sectors tackle internal and external pressures related to collaboration, representation, performance, and accountability. In the Fall, James will be joining Florida State University's Reubin O'D Askew School of Public Administration and Policy.

Meghan Doughty will be joining the faculty at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington in the Fall of 2018. She is excited to continue her research on the effect of public administration and policy on vulnerable and marginalized populations under the auspices of Evergreen's Master of Public Administration. Evergreen's MPA program focuses on training students to be the change they wish to see in the world with three concentrations in tribal governance, public and nonprofit administration, and public policy. Meghan will be teaching Ethics in Public Service and team-teaching The Context of Public Administration PNAPP in the Fall Quarter.