Fields of Interest:

Public Administration, Public Policy, Research Methodology

Education: PhD, Political Science, Binghamton University, 1988

A core faculty member of the MPA program since 1991, David’s teaching interests are in the areas of public administration theory, public policy, policy analysis, and research methods. Prior to joining the UTK faculty, he spent five years as a member of the Department of Political Science at the University of Mississippi.

A main focus of David’s research is on the public service motive. Are individuals who commit to a career of public service characterized by an ethic to serve others? This question has led to examining the attitudes of public servants in terms of intrinsic versus extrinsic job rewards, the propensity to engage in prosocial behavior, spirituality, and secularism.

He also is interested in traffic safety policy, undertaking evaluations of mandatory safety belt laws, drinking-and-driving laws, and speed limits. Other projects focus on individual attitudes towards traffic safety issues.

Among the journals in which his research has been published are: Public Administration Review, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Political Research Quarterly, Policy Studies Journal, Accident Analysis and Prevention, and American Journal of Public Health.

Back to main faculty page