Ph.D.

Jason Barrett

Jason Barrett is from Clarksdale, Miss. Jason has worked for the Mississippi State University Extension Service in the Agricultural Economics Department since January 2007. His focus is on public water system assistance in relation to board management training and public water system operations. His interests are in the finance and economic development factors associated with public water supplies. He completed an undergraduate degree in agricultural economics in May 2001 and a master's in agribusiness management in May 2003. Following this, Jason worked with the Food and Fiber Center with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Joseph "Dallas" Breen

Dallas Breen serves as a research fellow and systems administrator of the Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at Mississippi State University. Dallas is a graduate MSU for both his bachelor's in corporate finance with a concentration in information technology and his master's in public policy and administration, with a concentration in regional economics. Dallas has extensive coursework in economics and geospatial information systems, both of which are integral parts in his continued pursuit of a doctorate in public policy and administration. He has extensive experience in survey design and development, combined with multiple statistics courses from various departments at MSU.

Dallas serves as the principal investigator on three separate research projects dealing with various aspects of emergency management. The primary focus of his current research is in emergency warning systems and the integration of multiple technologies into the Federal Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Additionally, Mr. Breen is the co-PI on a project entitled, "Capturing Hurricane Katrina Lessons Learned Data," which is nearing completion of its second phase of work. This work involves the collaboration between the GeoSpatial Research Institute and Western Carolina University, together with the SSRC, to promote standards in geospatial layers in map products used by first responders and decision-makers. Dallas is a member of the public policy and administration honor society Pi Alpha Alpha, as well as a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, an economics honor society. He was a founding member of MSU's Lacrosse Team and serves as the faculty adviser for the Delta Chi Fraternity at Mississippi State University.

Isla-Anne Schuchs Carr

Isla-Anne Schuchs Carr graduated with a bachelor's in 2003 from the University of Mississippi where she studied print journalism and international studies. In 2004 she joined the Mississippi Teacher Corps program at the University of Mississippi and taught Language Arts in the Mississippi Delta. She graduated from the program in 2006 with a master's in education and a growing interest in education policy, which led her to apply to her current program of study in public policy and administration at Mississippi State University. Carr anticipates graduating in 2013.

Nikki Comby

Nikki Comby is a new Ph.D. student in the Public Policy and Administration program. She was recently appointed as the policy development officer for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, where she works alongside Tribal officials to create, review and implement Tribal policies.

Nikki received her bachelor's degree in child and family studies from the University of Southern Mississippi and her master's degree in public policy and administration from Mississippi State University. As a full blooded member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI), her research interests focus on Native American issues, especially those pertaining to the MBCI. These include employee motivation, Indian preference, Federal Indian policies and initiatives as well as sovereign issues.
As a master's student, Nikki was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. She is also provisionally certified as a family life educator through the National Council on Family Relations. She has been selected to be a presenter at the 2010 Southeast Conference on Public Administration for her professional experience working on policies for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Initially aiming to get her law degree after completing the MPPA program, Nikki changed her mind after her first semester at Mississippi State University. The staff was so welcoming and the classes so stimulating that she applied for the Ph.D. program. She now hopes upon completing the doctoral program to become a leading researcher and educator among the Native American community to change Tribal governments and their communities.

Yolanda Jackson Cook

Yolanda Jackson Cook is a doctoral student in the public policy and administration program. Her research interest includes leadership development, capacity building, accountability and performance of nonprofit organizations. Yolanda is interested in strengthening the collaborative efforts between local government agencies and nonprofit organizations, particularly in rural areas. She presented a poster on "The Essence of Nonprofit-Government Collaborations," highlighting the importance collaborative efforts to implement and strengthen services provided through these partnerships, at the 2010 South Central Regional National Black Graduate Student Association Conference.

In 2007, Yolanda completed the Master of Public Policy and Administration degree from Mississippi State University where she was inducted into the National Honor Society for Public Administrators and Public Affairs. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Delta State University and was inducted into the National Leadership Honor Society (Omicron Delta Kappa). Lastly, Yolanda holds a bachelor of science from Mississippi University for Women in business administration with a concentration in management.

Yolanda works with the Department of Leadership and Foundations as a graduate assistant. Her primary responsibility includes coordinating the Noyce STEM Teachers Scholars Program. Her prior work experience includes serving as the career center manager at Columbus High School, assistant director of the Women's Center for Entrepreneurship and project specialist with the Educational Opportunity Center of North Mississippi Center for Higher Educational Advancement, Inc. Yolanda's professional affiliations have included service with the following organizations: Columbus-Lowndes Development Link (Seminar Committee Chair), Columbus-Lowndes Convention & Visitors Bureau (Tourism Committee), and member of the East Mississippi Community College Special Populations Advisory Board.

Yolanda is a member of the American Society for Public Administration, National Black Graduate Student Association and Omicron Delta Kappa.

Tyson Elbert

Tyson Elbert is a research associate at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University and a Ph.D. student in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. His research focuses on public policy issues facing rural America, rural broadband initiatives, comparative rural policies, the 2010 midterm elections, and the upcoming congressional and state redistricting process.

Additionally, with the support of MSU, the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, and the Stennis Institute of Government, Tyson attended both the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) Summer School in Methods and Techniques in Ljubljana, Slovenia and the International Comparative Rural Policies Studies program at Oregon State University.

Tyson worked for the Rural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri before coming to MSU.

Melissa Emerson

Melissa Emerson plans to use her legal training to facilitate a better understanding of modern issues in public policy and administration while pursuing her Ph.D. at Mississippi State University. She was awarded the Bridge Fellowship from the College of Arts and Sciences and is currently serving as a graduate assistant in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration.
Melissa graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a double major in political science and behavioral science and law. During college, she served as a legislative intern for Wisconsin State Senator Roberta Darling (R-Milwaukee), which is where she became interested in the policy process. Melissa also served as vice president of Pi Sigma Alpha. Upon graduation, she moved to Athens, Ga, where she worked at a mid-sized law firm.
Melissa graduated Cum Laude from William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul, Minn., and practiced law in the Trusts and Estates Department of a large law firm in Minneapolis. She also served as a volunteer attorney for domestically abused, low-income women in need of legal representation. During law school, Melissa was awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for work in her Tax Planning Clinic as well as the Minnesota Justice Foundation Achievement in Public Service Award. In addition, Melissa made the Dean's List, and served as president of the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity.
Prior to moving to Mississippi, Melissa worked as a legal aid attorney in Louisiana, where she represented economically disadvantaged clients from a five-parish (county) area in a wide variety of civil matters. Melissa also served as the International Student Affairs Director for a primarily undergraduate university in Louisiana, where she was responsible for maintaining institutional compliance with immigration regulations and assisting students with visa, immigration and life issues.

Robert D. Eskridge

Bob (pictured with his wife and seven grandchildren) returned to seek a Ph.D. degree at MSU after spending 25-plus years working in local government as a finance director and city manager in Texas. Bob also spent four years working with local government in South Africa on a program funded by the World Bank that assisted local officials in implementing new budgeting and financial reporting legislation. Bob's interests include local government management, budgeting and ethics. Working with MSU professors Dr. P. Edward French and Dr. Mary McThomas, Bob has one article accepted for publication in Public Integrity and another, co-authored with Dr. French, under review in the Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management. Bob hopes to teach in an MPA program when he completes his degree.

Luke Fowler

Luke Fowler received his bachelor's in political science from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2006 at age 19. In 2007, he entered graduate study at Mississippi State University, which has remained his home. In 2009, he graduated with a master's in political science. His masters' thesis analyzed the political and policy implications of renewable energy development policy in Mississippi. In the fall of 2009, he began work on his Ph.D. His research interests focus on the issues surrounding U.S. energy policy, public budgeting and finance, as well as comparative approaches to public administration and public administration theory.

From 2008 to 2009, Luke worked as a graduate assistant for a joint project between the Stennis Institute of Government and the Congressional and Political Research Center. In this capacity, he was the author of a series of congressional research briefs focused on the contributions throughout the career of Senator John C Stennis, which can be found on the Stennis Institute's website. Additionally, he authored an Op-Ed piece for the Clarion Ledger on the ties of Senator John McCain to the state of Mississippi the week prior to the first presidential debate in 2008. Since entering the doctoral program, Luke has taught American Government as a teaching assistant for the department. Over the summer, he worked as a research assistant for fellow doctoral student Dallas Breen at the Social Science Research Center. From 2008 to 2010, Luke served as a departmental student representative. Luke is the current president of the Graduate Student Association. He is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, the American Society of Public Administration, and the Southern Political Science Association.

Robert A. Green

Robert Green is a Ph.D. student with research interest in organization change, engineering and public policy, impact of globalization on policy and ethics, and military policy. He and Dr. Jerry Emison have developed and offered a unique course titled Introduction to Engineering and Public Policy and offered it the last several years. The course is available to both engineering and political science undergraduates. Robert has a bachelor's in chemical engineering and a master's in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State. He also holds a master's in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

Robert is currently the undergraduate coordinator for the Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State and has 14 years experience as a research engineer at MSU. He is a registered professional engineer, a member of several engineering organization and has served as chairman of the Engineering and Public Policy Division of the American Society for Engineering Education. He has also served as president of the Mississippi Engineering Society and was elected to the grade of fellow in the National Society of Professional Engineers.

In addition to his duties at Mississippi State, Robert is also a Commander (O-5) in the U.S. Navy Reserve and is currently the Naval Sea Systems Command Reserve Program Manager for the Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration (CWID) a premiere annual Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff event. He is an engineering duty officer and has had six tours as commanding officer of a variety of units.

Kywaii Lawrence

Kywaii Lawrence is a doctoral candidate in the public policy and administration program at Mississippi State University. Under the direction of Dr. Robert Buchanan, her dissertation concentration is in health policy and focuses on children with autism and other developmental disabilities. She has a master's in public policy and administration from MSU and a bachelor's in public relations with a minor in marketing from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

Lawrence has presented scholarly work at several health care and public administration conferences such as the Mississippi Delta Alliance Health Care Conference, PAT-NET, and the Southeastern Conference on Public Administration. Her article "The Impact of Social, Economic, and Demographic Factors on an Individual's Access to E-Government" can be found in the 2010 edition of the Journal of Public Knowledge, Volume 2, Issue 1. Lawrence has worked as a graduate research assistant in the Office of the Graduate School and the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at MSU.

Di Miao

Di Miao received her master's in economics from East Carolina University in 2007 where she specialized in economics and public affairs. In the Ph.D. program at MSU, Di's focus is on health issues, especially in health policy, health care finance, and health economics.

Di is from China. Her hometown is located in the north of China where beautiful springs inspired her name that translates to "Spring town." Currently, Di works as a Graduate Research Assistant with Dr. Bethany Stich on a South Eastern Regional Resiliency Initiative project sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security.

Tonya T. Neaves

Tonya T. Neaves is a Research Fellow with the Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at Mississippi State University (MSU), where she conducts research on a variety of national security, public safety, and emergency management related projects. Her current research portfolio includes serving as Principal Investigator for Enhancing the Coastal IQ Survey: Measuring Knowledge and Attitudes of Gulf Coast Residents (NOAA / MS-AL SeaGrant Consortium) and The Resiliency Social Climate Survey (MS Department of Marine Resources), Co-Principal Investigator The National Highway Watch Analysis and Improvement Program (DHS / American Trucking Associations) and The 2007 San Diego Wildfire Warning and Evacuation Survey (FEMA / Oak Ridge National Laboratory), and, more recently, Project Coordinator for The Public Safety Data Lab (MS Department of Highway Safety).

As an active scholar, Tonya has published her efforts in a number of journals, including Natural Hazards Review, Public Integrity, the American Journal of Public Health, the Southern Medical Journal, and the Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, and has co-authored book chapters in New Voices in the Old South: How Women and Minorities Influence Southern Politics and Problem Solving for Better Health: A Global Perspective. She also has several manuscripts currently under review. And, as a member of the American Society of Public Administration, Tonya regularly shares her work with fellow colleagues at annual meetings, as well as serves as the Student Representative to National Council, Vice Chair for Strategic Imperative #5 - Reorganize for Change, and Communication Chair for Section for Emergency and Crisis Management.

Alongside being a full-time scientist, Tonya is also pursuing a Doctorate in Public Policy and Administration at MSU, where she holds a Master's in Public Policy and Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Geosciences. In an effort to supplement her training, Tonya has also participated in the University of Michigan's Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research, Duke University's Dynamic Management Program as well as Leadership Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Management and Innovation Program, Seton Hall University's United Nations Summer Intensive Study Program.

Additionally, Tonya has been honored as MSU's Graduate Student for University Centers and Institutes, MSU's Outstanding Graduate Woman, MSU's Department of Political Science and Public Administration's Outstanding Graduate Student and Undergraduate Student, and the Order of Omega's Outstanding Faculty/Staff of the Year as well as been inducted into a number of honor societies, including Pi Alpha Alpha, Pi Sigma Alpha, and Phi Kappa Phi.

James Orr

James Orr serves as the director of the Honor Code Council Office at Mississippi State University. In this position, he is responsible for promoting academic integrity at the institution. James has led two institutional-wide assessments and evaluation projects for the Honor Code Council Office. His research interests are in organizational behavior, higher education administration and institutional effectiveness. He recently returned from the Critical Analysis of Quantitative Data Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles in which he studied social network analysis.

James obtained a master's in public policy and administration from Mississippi State University. While a master's student, he was inducted into the National Society for Public Administrators and Public Affairs (Pi Alpha Alpha). James also served as the treasurer for the Graduate Student Association. In addition, he served on the executive committee for the Mississippi Association of Housing Professionals and as the graduate student liaison for the National Association for College Personnel Administrators.

James obtained a bachelor's in economics from the University of Tennessee at Martin. While an undergraduate student, he completed the American Economic Association Research Training Program at Duke University. He also served two years as president of the Student Government Association and as a member of the University of Tennessee National Alumni Association Board of Governors.

Kesha Perry

Kesha Perry is a Ph.D. student in the public policy and administration program at Mississippi State University and a research associate at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government at MSU. An avid political and sports enthusiast, Kesha's blog (Lift Your Voice: Engaging Black America) primarily focuses on African Americans' involvement in government and politicspolitics and also lends itself as a platform for minority experience in America.

Beth Rauhaus

Beth Rauhaus is a Ph.D. student of public policy and administration. She is currently a teaching assistant in the department where she instructs American Government courses. She has earned a bachelor's in government with a minor in English from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., as well as a master's in political science from Mississippi State University.

Her research interests include diversity and gender issues in the public sector, good governance, and citizen engagement in policymaking. She has presented academic papers at the Public Administration Theory Network conference and the Midwest Political Science Association conference.

Beth is currently serving as the President of Pi Alpha Alpha. She is also the past president of the Graduate Student Association.

Kim Roberts

Kim received her BSN degree from Mississippi University for Women in 2002. She is a Registered Nurse, with experience in OB/GYN and Pediatrics. In 2005, Kim earned a Master of Science in Health Promotion from Mississippi State University. Since June 2007, Kim has served as Director of Infection Control and Employee Health for OCH Regional Medical Center. She is also Staff Development coordinator and manages the hospital's CPR training program through the American Heart Association. Kim is a certified health education specialist (CHES), and is board certified in infection prevention and control. She works closely with the Mississippi State Department of Health on pandemic preparedness and bioterrorism surveillance. Kim serves on the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) for Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, and the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) for the local school district. Kim's research interests include public health, emergency preparedness, and health care reform. Kim is an active member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

A strong supporter of health education, Kim recognizes the significance of having effective health promotion programs in the community and in the workplace. She hopes to use the Ph.D. credential to advance her work on public health issues and regulatory compliance in healthcare.

Aaron Rollins

Aaron Rollins is currently working on a Ph. D. in public policy and administration at Mississippi State University. He received his bachelor's in political science, and his master's in southern studies from the University of Mississippi. He currently serves as the vice president of the MSU Graduate Student Council and as a member of the MSU Honor Code Council. He has previously served as the Assistant State Director of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., President of the Ole Miss College Democrats, and VP of the Black Graduate and Professional Student Association. He is a teaching assistant with the Departments of African American Studies and Political Science and Public Administration at MSU.

Hok Roth

Hok Roth is a Fulbright-funded student in the Ph.D. program in public policy and administration in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Mississippi State University.

Roth has been a public administrator since 2000. He served as deputy head of the English Department of the Institute of Foreign Languages (IFL), Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 2000 through 2004 and as the head of the Department from 2004 through February 2009. He has been the deputy director of IFL since March 2009.

He holds B.Ed. (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) from IFL (1995) and Master of Applied Linguistics from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia (1999) and several certificates, including the Certificate of the Distance Education Course on the Management of University-Industry Partnerships from the International Institute for Educational Planning and UNESCO, Paris, France.

He has been a freelance interpreter and translator since 1992. He has interpreted in over 350 workshops and conferences, including the annual government-donor consultative group meetings now called the Cambodia Development Cooperation Forum (CDCF) for five consecutive years. He is the founder of the IFL Debate Club and Organizing Committee.

Alexander Washington

Alexander (Alex) a native of Madison, MS, received his undergraduate degree in 2009 from Mississippi State University in Banking and Finance and his Masters in 2011 from Mississippi State University in Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in public finance. Currently, Alex is employed with the university as a Loan Counselor with the Office of Student Financial Aid. Working with students and parents has motivated Alex to pursue a career in higher education. Alex has been involved with diversifying Mississippi State University since 2006. Diversity contributions are represented in his presentations, collaborations and service. His activities demonstrate a wide range of service with respect to diversity via collaborative efforts as the South Central Representative for the National Black Graduate Student Association, Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, the Student Association, Minority Student Affairs, College of Business Ambassadors, and MSU and the surrounding community. Participation in these organizations shows his genuine sincerity to help others and natural ability to interact with a diverse group of individuals. He is the recipient of the 2009 MSU Spirit of State Award, 2009 MSU Diversity Award, and 2011 Division of Student Affairs Graduate Assistant of the Year Award.

Motivated experiences as MSU, Alex research interests are primarily centered on the role of public administrators at higher education institutions. With his background in finance, his research targets the financial literacy of students and higher education administrators, and ways to innovate human resources on college campus. His diversity efforts at MSU have sparked an interest in workforce diversity. Alex future career plans are to secure a position at a university in the Division of Student Affairs and to incorporate his practical and academic experience in the classroom.

Nick Wilson

Prior to returning to Mississippi State for graduate school, Nick Wilson worked for the Mississippi Municipal League. Nick represented the interests of cities and towns both in the legislature and organizations throughout the state. Nick also developed and coordinated outreach efforts for cities and towns affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Nick currently works in the Department of University Relations. Here he identifies and implements technologies and new media solutions to reach out to both the university community and the general public.

Nick's research interests are in local and state government policy. His website can be found at www.nickwilson.org.

Heather Hanna

Ms. Hanna holds a master's degree in sociology from Mississippi State University (MSU) and received her undergraduate training in psychology at the University of Mississippi. She currently serves as Project Director and Research Fellow for the Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at MSU, where she has worked for over eight years on a variety of public-health-related research projects, ranging in topic from health disparities to children's health and well-being. Her primary roles have included grant-writing, project management, and content writing/editing. Ms. Hanna's research interests include social-justice-related policy issues and the impacts of policy message framing. While working on her master's degree, she served as vice president of the Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honor Society and received an award for Outstanding Graduate Student, as well as a scholarship from the MSU Women's Club. She is currently a member of the American Society for Public Administration.

For a full bio, please see http://www.ssrc.msstate.edu/ssrc_staff/heather-hanna/.