Faculty

Michael R. Ford, Ph.D.

Department Chairperson and MPA Program Coordinator
Associate Professor

Office: Clow Faculty Building, Room F422
Phone: (920) 424-1580
Fax: (920) 424-2319
Email: fordm@uwosh.edu

Link to CV

Michael R. Ford is an Associate Professor of Public Administration, MPA program director, and the Director of the Whitburn Center for Governance and Policy Research. His research focuses on public and private board governance, education policy and finance, and the relationship between the public and nonprofit sectors. Dr. Ford brings significant practitioner experience in state and local policy to the classroom, striving to connect academic Public Administration to real world practice. He holds numerous appointments to community boards, including the Oshkosh Common Council and Plan Commission. When not working he enjoys fishing, playing music, writing, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Samantha June Larson (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor of Public Administration
Deputy Director of the Whitburn Center for Governance and Policy Research

Office: Clow Faculty Building, Room F424
Phone: (920) 424-2213
Email: larsonsj@uwosh.edu
Link to CV

Ph.D. in Public Affairs, University of Colorado – Denver (2017)

Dr. Larson’s research interests include policy and program implementation, evaluation, and analysis, with special attention on how the field can advance social equity, belonging, democracy, community resilience, and healing. She has published in a variety of peer-reviewed journals, such as Administration & Society, the Journal of Public Affairs Education, Public Administration Review, and authored multiple book chapters and technical reports. Some of her recent leadership roles include serving on the Public Administration Theory Network Board of Directors, Co-Chair of the College of Letters and Science (COLS) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusive Climate Committee, and as a Co-PI on the UWO National Science Foundation ADVANCE Grant. Sam is the recipient of multiple awards and honors, including the UWO Queer and Trans Faculty and Staff Award and the American Society for Public Administration & National Academy of Public Administration’s Social Equity and Performance Measurement Fellowship. Prior to UWO, Sam served for more than 15 years in various public and nonprofit organizations with rural, environmental, and educational missions.

Anna A. Filipova, Ph.D.

Professor

Office: Clow Faculty Building, Room F420
Phone: (920) 424-0037
Fax: (920) 424-2319
Email: filipova@uwosh.edu

Link to CV

Dr. Filipova is a Professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She teaches core graduate courses (leadership and ethics, human resources management, organization theory and practice, introduction to public administration, thesis/field project) and elective courses (health care policy, health administration law, health care organization and management, strategic planning) in the Master of Public Administration program, as well as undergraduate public administration courses. Dr. Filipova was awarded the Edward M. Penson Distinguished Teaching Award (2016) and the Edward M. Penson Faculty Award (2014). She was also selected as the 2017-2018 Wisconsin Teaching Scholar and the 2012-2013 Wisconsin Teaching Fellow by the University of Wisconsin System.

Dr. Filipova’s research focuses on leadership, ethical, administrative and policy issues affecting health care practitioners and organizations. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, such as the Journal of Allied Health; Computers, Informatics, Nursing; Journal of Nursing Administration; Public Integrity; Nursing Ethics; Journal of Nursing Administration’s Healthcare Law, Ethics and Regulation; Journal of Healthcare Quality; Journal of Applied Gerontology. All her research has been supported with university and external grants, and university sabbatical leave.

Dr. Filipova’s university and community service is extensive. She was the Public Administration Department Chairperson and MPA program Coordinator for the period of 2015-2021. Among her many accomplishments as Chairperson were the launch of the Online MPA program (2017); the creation of the Public Administration Excellence Fund (2016); the introduction of two new emphases in the MPA curriculum, the Nonprofit Management and Leadership (2016) and the Fire Emergency Administration and Management (FEAM) emphasis (2018); and the accreditation of the MPA with FEAM emphasis (2020). She has participated in many important governance university and college committees, the Faculty Development Board, and the Faculty Senate. In the community, Dr. Filipova has served on several United Way’s panels and committees, the Evergreen Village Board of Directors, the City of Oshkosh’s Funding Consortium, and the Basic Needs Giving Partnership Grants Team of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. She is currently a member of the Evergreen Foundation Board of Directors of Evergreen Retirement Community and a member of United Way Allocations and Community Investment Committee on Mental Health. Dr. Filipova genuinely cares about people’s well-being, health, and happiness. Together with other volunteers, she has been committed to supporting organizations to achieve long-lasting, positive changes in the communities.