Shaping the Public Leaders of Tomorrow
September 9, 2021
The University of New Mexico School of Public Administration (SPA) is launching into the Fall 2021 semester with a new director, who is laser focused on broadening the appeal and impact of the already nationally recognized programs.
Following a national search, Patria de Lancer Julnes joined the SPA faculty in August as the inaugural Rosenthal Endowed Professor of Public Administration and Director of the School of Public Administration. Her vibrant presence is captivating, and her energetic outlook is sure to motivate and mobilize students, faculty, and staff alike.
“This school is a jewel and I think it does so much more than people know,” de Lancer Julnes said. “We have really great faculty and one of the things I want to do is engage them more, both at the local and national community levels.”
She has developed a multipronged approach that includes creating programs to involve undergraduates, bolstering community-centered research, and bringing in lecturers who can speak to the social, economic, and administrative challenges in New Mexico.
“I want to have synergy between being a director and being an endowed professor,” she explained. “I want us to serve as an example for other communities, bringing in researchers, speakers and faculty who can help us achieve goals for the school.”
Those goals include increasing enrollment while elevating research and community service. She also hopes to work with faculty within SPA and UNM to bring together undergraduate students, providing them skills in nonprofit, health systems management, and public administration that can directly serve the communities of Albuquerque and New Mexico.
de Lancer Julnes brings an impressive resume of international scholarship and consultation, as well as experience in governance, that will serve SPA students studying to be civil, municipal, state, and national leaders. She is a recognized scholar and consultant in performance measurement, government capacity building, and citizen-driven governance.
“I really would like to see more interdisciplinary work with colleagues and am very excited about the possibilities here,” she explained. “My focus is on broadening the current program, expanding awareness of our incredible faculty and the research they are producing on issues like community resilience and social detriments of health, and emphasizing the importance of governance in our country and internationally.”
She received her Ph.D. in public administration from Rutgers University and recently served as Associate Dean and Professor at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College, CUNY. In addition, de Lancer Julnes has held positions at the University of Baltimore, Utah State University, the University of Illinois at and Fairleigh Dickinson University. She was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) in 2019 and is currently President-Elect of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
de Lancer Julnes and her husband are eager to continue exploring the cuisine in New Mexico, as well as the outdoor opportunities and cultural experiences. Her answer to the Official State Question: Christmas.
Credit: UNM Newsroom
